This Myanmar photography gallery showcases the absolute best experiences I had through this beautiful country. Golden pagodas, ancient temples, green rolling hills and some of the nicest, most genuine people I’ve ever met made Myanmar an unforgettable travel destination for me.
From the 2200 temples, stupas and pagodas of beautiful Bagan, to the rolling rice paddies from Kalaw to Inle Lake trek, and the unforgettable experience of Taung Kalat Monastery (Mount Popa, as it’s also known) – the things to do and see in Myanmar are limitless.
Enough introductions – let’s explore some of the best places to visit in Myanmar!
Explore the ancient ruins of Bagan
During the city’s height of power in the 9th – 13th centuries, over 10,000 temples, stupas and pagodas were built in the area known today as Old Bagan. Due to damage over time, including many earthquakes, just over 2,200 of the structures still exist today.
Still, looking out over the flat plains dotted with this ancient skyline of Old Bagan is an unforgettable experience making Bagan an extremely popular destination for tourists.
Renting an E-bike is one of the most common ways to get around Bagan. Many shops and hotels in Bagan offer this rental service – my hotel did and I never had an issue with battery life as many temples are close together.
Exploring the dusty streets of Bagan can lead to unexpected gems as many temples have lost their name throughout time and are known only by a number, or just ‘unknown’.
This was my favourite thing to do in Bagan, just drive the dirt tracks and see what pops up!
Climb the 777 stairs of Mount Popa to Taung Kalat Monastery
Around an hour outside of Bagan sits Mount Popa, with its 777 steps leading up to Taung Kalat Monastery. At the top of this exhausting climb, you are rewarded with stunning vistas of the plains below and mountains in distance.
Mount Popa isn’t only a popular spot for tourists and locals alike, it’s also home to hundreds of monkeys. This whole experience was part of an unforgettable travel experience I had at Mount Popa.
As a storm appeared out of nowhere, every monkey and human in the area sought higher ground and shelter – I guess it’s some form of instinctive survival trait? Unfortunately, the top of Mount Popa, at the entrance to Taung Kalat was not large enough for both hundreds of people and monkeys as well.
These wild animals were climbing over the walls, the railings, the stairs – everywhere. Their thundering footsteps on the tin roof of the stairs was even more unnerving than the actual thunder! These cunning Mount Popa monkeys (one even stole gallows straight from a man’s face) made for an intense trip to Taung Kalat Monastery – one I’ll never forget!
Kalaw to Inle Lake Trek
Hiking is one of my favourite travel activities – you get to immerse yourself in rural culture and meet some amazing people along the way. Myanmar’s amazing Kalaw to Inle Lake Trek was no exception. This trek takes 3 days and lets you experience the ways of life of the local farmers in the area
Many people in the lush rural areas between Kalaw and Inle Lake enlist the traditional help of water buffalos to help plough fields and other work to produce crops these locals rely on. These large animals are common throughout many parts of Asia.
They do get some free time to roam and graze the land though.
This giant Banyan tree was on the 3rd and final day of the 60+ km trek to Inle Lake. Banyan trees are an important piece of Buddhist tradition as it’s said that Buddha himself gained enlightenment under one of these giants. It was huge! The branches seem to extend forever! If it wasn’t considered so sacred, it would be a perfect tree-house tree.
Explore Inle Lake
At the end of the Kalaw trekking experience is Inle Lake – a part of Myanmar known for its unique fishing style (they use one leg to paddle, freeing their hands to lay nets, etc). One of my favourite moments around Inle Lake was at Red Mountain Winery, where a storm rolled throughout of nowhere (seems to be a common occurrence in Asia’s monsoon season) and drenched the valley below.
Explore the ancient city of Inwa/ Inn Wa
Inwa is an ancient city in central Myanmar, just outside the city of Mandalay. This area is mainly known for its 14th to 19th-century ruins. There are many decaying temples in the area with intricate designs that allow a small insight into the history of Inwa (or Awa as it’s locally known), “Mouth of the Lake”.
While most structures lay in ruins, one is still used as it was intended many years ago. Made from Teak wood, Bagaya Kyaung is a working monastery and is beautiful to look at. There is a fee of 12,000 Kyat ($10 AUD) to enter, but just looking at the amazing architecture, it’s well worth it!
One of my favourite buildings to look at in all of my travels through Myanmar was the spectacular Maha Aungmye Bonzan, or Me Nu Oak Kyaung Monastery. Built in 1818 by Queen Me Nu, from the Konbaung dynasty, this place of worship is absolutely beautiful. Many of the amazing structures from this time period were built from wood and burnt down. An earthquake in 1838 damaged Maha Aungmye Bonzan Monastery and it was refurbished four decades later to its current state.
Shwedagon Pagoda
Dominating the Yangon skyline sits the 99m (326ft) tall, bright golden Shwedagon Pagoda. This active, easily spotted symbol of Yangon is considered the most sacred in all of Myanmar as it is believed to contain four strands of Buddha’s hair. Legend has it that it was built over 2600 years ago, but historians believe it was constructed between the 6th and 10th century. If it is the former of the two dates, that would make it the oldest Buddhist stupas in the entire world.
Hike up Mandalay Hill
This 760ft hill breaks up the flat ground that the city of Mandalay sits on. Walking the covered staircase, passing through many temples and shrines, it gives a breathtaking panoramic view of the city from the summit. For obvious reasons, sunset is a popular time to visit Mandalay Hill – unless you decide to go on the cloudiest day in history as I did!
Wander the streets of Yangon
Before I arrived in Yangon I was expecting just another big city that, like most others, doesn’t pique my interest compared to the more rural communities. I was totally wrong. Within these narrow streets is a wealth of character, and every local I interacted with were incredibly kind and inviting. If you look closely between the two dogs, you will see a lady hiding and laughing. Probably at me as I had zero clue she was there until my partner pointed her out around 6 months later.
Why should you travel Myanmar?
Whatever type of traveller you are, travelling Myanmar won’t disappoint! From busy, bustling cities like Yangon, to the quiet, green rolling hills around Kalaw and Inle Lake, there’s plenty to see and do! Finding your spiritual side throughout the golden temples and stupas, or exploring the ruins of forgotten temples around Bagan (plus many unforgotten ones as well), there’s always something memorable waiting just around the corner for you in Myanmar!
If you’ve been to Myanmar I would love to hear your experiences, or if you would love to travel this beautiful country where would you like to go? Leave me a comment below!
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