Myanmar (Burma) Cities - Myanmar (Burma), Yangon, Mandalay, Bagan, Bago, Inle Lake (Heho), Kalaw, Monywa, Mingun, Amarapura, Pindaya, Thandwe

Yangon

Formerly called as Rangoon, Yangon was the capital of Myanmar before 2005. Nowadays, Yangon is still the social, economic and cultural center of the country, as well as the most important getaway to travel around the Myanmar. As a modern and commercial city, Yangon maintains majestic British colonial architecture and numberless Buddhist pagodas of ancient times.

We can easily recognize Yangon on one picture from its famous landmark - Shwedagon Pagoda, which is the holy heart of Yangon and a must-see to foreigners. In addition, green parks, open gardens, and interesting museums are of great interests to visit.

In Yangon, Bogyoke Market is good place to shop about four to five hours. Besides, you are highly suggested to see Aung San Suu Kyi’s House on the side of the Inya Lake, if you heard the name and knew the story of this strongest women before.

Recommended Tours with Yangon

Mandalay

Majority of over 1 million Mandalay people are practising Theravada Buddhism, evens so, Mandalay is not only a city of monasteries and temples, it also regarded as a royal city. Mandalay is the former capital of Myanmar, founded by Burmese King Mindon in 1857. Having a slower pace of life, Mandalay brings the comfort and romantic feel to visitors.

As a city of royalty, Royal Palace is a necessary spot to feel old glorious Burmese Kingdoms. While the most famous attraction of the city is Mandalay Hill. After it, Amarapura, about 11km south from Mandalay, is a popular tourist area to hit since it sits U Bein Bridge, also known as the Bridge of Love.

Recommended Tours with Mandalay

Bagan

Located on the banks of the Ayeyarwady River, Bagan is the most remarkable destination of Myanmar for standing more than 2,200 temples and stupas in a dessert-like plain area. Bagan, named as Pagan in the past, was the capital of Myanmar’s first dynasty. With more than 1,000 year history, temples, pagodas and monuments, make up a vivid image of Bagan.

Today, thanks to the booming tourism, Bagan offers high standard travel service and luxurious accommodation, such as many hotels and resorts on the riverside, ensure an ideal vacation for visitors.

In Bagan, it is truly worthy taking a balloon to have a unique view of the city, though the rate is big deal. Mount Popa usually is the priority for Buddhist fans. What is more, travelers can take a sunset boat trip along the Ayeyarwaddy river to enjoy the beautiful sunset.

Recommended Tours with Bagan

Bago

Bago, also named Pegu, is a former capital of Burma. It is a small and scrappy town with religious theme containing a greater density of budhhas and pagodas in southern Myanmar.

Featuring its unique Buddhist buildings, Bago has many holy places that you must see to purify your heart and acquire inner peace. Shwe mawdaw Pagoda, Shwethar lyaung Pagoda and Kyaik Pun Pagoda…are the most attractive spots in Bago.

Recommended Tours with Bago

Inle Lake (Heho)

Not a city as the former ones, Inle Lake is established small center for tourists. With a few attractions, Inle Lake evokes a different side of Myanmar. The closet airport is Heho, which is about 1 hour drive to Inle Lake. Nyaung Shwe is the entrance to visit Inle Lake tourist area.

Besides temples and pagodas like in other cities, peaceful and calm Inle Lake presents travelers its primitive lifestyle of local Inthas, beautiful village views and amazing riverside activities.

Recommended Tours with Inle Lake (Heho)

Kalaw

Kalaw is a hill town in the Shan State of Burma. Founded as a hill station by British civil servants fleeing the heat of the plains, Kalaw feels like a holiday resort in the hills. Kalaw sprawls along a ridge on the western edge of the Shan Plateau, making it a logical place to break the journey east to Inle Lake. It is home to Hsu Taung Pye Pagoda, Thein Taung Pagoda, Shwe Oo Min Paya, etc. Kalaw has a significant population of Nepali Gurkhas and Indian Hindus, Sikhs and Muslims.

Most of the tourists to Kalaw are Western backpackers and international tour groups. The most attractive activities in Kalaw is trekking, due to its unique geographical position and landform.

Monywa

Located in 136km northwest of Mandalay, Monywa is an engaging, slightly scrappy trade city on the eastern bank of the lovely Chindwin River. Monywa is a major center for trade and commerce and for agricultural products and hardwoods from the surrounding Chindwin valley, especially beans, orange, pulses, etc. It sees lots of trade to and from India, which is transported across Chindwin Bridge built in 2004.

The best attraction of Monywa is the way it embraces its river, unlike other cities in Myanmar. Walking along the Chindwin River to appreciate the beautiful sunrise or sunset view is really an enjoyable experience.

Mingun

Mingun is a town in Sagaing Region, northwest Myanmar (Burma), on the western bank of Irrawady (Ayeyarwady) River.

Mingun is famous for Mingun Paya, which would have been the world’s largest temple if King Bodawpaya hadn't died before it was finished in 1819.

Mingun can be reached most easily by boat, and boats arrive at different places depending on water levels. Sites are scattered along the Irrawady (Ayeyarwady) River.

Recommended Tours with Mingun

13 Days Myanmar Exploration Tour

Amarapura

Situated in 7 miles south of Mandalay, Amarapura is a former capital of Myanmar and is the penultimate royal capital. With the name meaning “City of Immortality”, it was founded by Bodawpaya in 1783. Now Amarapura is a modern town located in 7 miles of Mandalay. Little remains of the old Amarapura palace. The city walls were torn down to make quarry material, while most of the wooden palace buildings were disassemble and taken to Mandalay.

Amarapura is famous for the many day-trippers for its 1849 pedestrian bridge built of over 1000 teak posts, lying over the wide Taungthaman Lake which is also a gorgeous site with much interesting to see.

Pindaya

Pindaya is a town in the Shan State of Myanamr, located on the Shan Plateau. It is one of the most densely farmed areas in Myanmar, adorned with the patchwork of fields and picturesque landscape.

Pindaya is famous for the limestone caves called Pindaya Caves where thousands of Buddha images have been consecrated for worship over centuries. It is home to the famous Shew Oo Min Cave, a massive limestone cavern filled with thousands of gilded Buddha statues.

Pindaya is also one of the towns that host an itinerant market every fifth day.

Thandwe

Thandwe, formerly known as Sandoway, is located about four miles inland to the northeast of Ngapali Beach. As a major seaport with an area of 9,800 km2 in Rakhine State, the westernmost part of Myanmar, Thandwe is home to some 50,000 residents and nicely fill a hilly valley its low-key streets. It has been a key Rakhaing center for centuries. Thandwe is also the third fiddle to Ngapali Beach in terms of travel appeal.

Thandwe has a tropical monsoon climate. It is very warm in the whole year. The period of November to April is Thandwe’s winter dry season, while the summer wet season is from May to October.

Myanmar / Burma Cities