Temple Hoping in Myanmar : What to See, Do & Try

Myanmar is known for its massive numbers of temple. Be it in the cities or outside, you can easily find them anywhere. In Bagan, there were once stood with over 10,000 temple, pagodas and monasteries however there's still remain over 2200 still standing at the moment. Due to the earthquake on 2016, many temples are heavily damaged the temples in Bagan.

Generally, Burmese are very friendly and helpful to everyone. Except for transportation experience, the rest of the trip received with warm and genuine welcome.

5 DAYS TRAVEL TO SEE THE  BEAUTY OF MYANMAR

Due to the corporate working life and parents unable to travel long time, we planned for 5 Days travel to Myanmar. I bought air ticket to arrive and departure at Yangon however it would be ideal to arrive to Yangon and end the trip in Mandalay as it would be nearer international airport.

Prior to the trip with elderly, I make sure I made some research and plan for the best at least convenience with 2 parents. Asking around for friends that been to Myanmar for 1st hand information. Information such as, getting the most budget way of travel in Myanmar but not to squeeze the comfort of the parents.

We chose to spend 1 Night in Yangon and Bagan and round trip of overnight bus to save more travelling time.

Yangon

Yangon is the largest city in Myanmar and is built with mix British Colonial architecture. It is a cheapest stop to fly in than Mandalay.  Considering the big cities, Yangon considering the safe cities to roam as the crime is low in the cities. The peoples in Yangon is very friendly and willing to help you. 

List of places follow my route of travel so it is easier to remembered. 

Sule Pagoda

Inside Sule Pagoda

One of the important Pagoda in Yangon. If you take shuttle bus from Airport, you will end your journey in front of Sule Pagoda. What special about this stupa is that, it located on Roundabout on the important road of Yangon downtown and built more than 2000 years ago. It is 1 of the excellent landmark and listed in must visit list.

Entrance Fee : 5000Kyats

Bogyoke Aung San Market

From Local food, souvenirs to Jewelries

 The place where you can shop for local souvenir. A stop here is sometimes required as current trend, you will be stop by souvenir shop to buy local shirts to photograph along your travel. There are variety that offer a cheap souvenir. The souvenir shop extend to opposite below the Junction City.

Holy Trinity Anglican Church

Thou the church is not as old as the pagoda, however the architecture of this church caught my attention. If you like potrait photography, this location is the best place as there are many good spot under sunlight that you can snap a good photo. 

Entrance Fee : FREE

Yangon Railway Circular Ride

Yangon Railway Station

The circular ride has live up their fame which get to experience up close with the local activities. It is a local commuter rail network that circling the station.  I was not ready with the information hence missed the stop and getting on the same track back. As it mention, circular means you get to depart and arrive at the same station. BUT WRONG. You will need to alight on another train at Danyingon Station. We missed this information and the train went all the way to Computer University and wait for the train to turn back to the same station. Or maybe there might be another train that are circular.

Ticket can be bought at Booth No.7 and only cost 200 kyats to board. Retain the ticket as there will be 2 times the conductor will check. Because at the end of the station, the English proficiency is very low and you hardly understand their meaning. Lucky enough they are able to understand Toilet and ticket so they can assist a little bit.

Return Ticket : 200 Kyats

Shwedagon Pagoda

Shwedagon Pagoda taken from People's Park

One of the must visit pagoda in Myanmar. Hence, due to very expensive entrance fee. I decided not to enter upon reaching the entrance. From outside, It does show the majestic gold stupa. Every donation and entrance fee used to upgrade the pagoda to become very majestic.

As someone who are adventure enough and someone who always have alternatives destination, I decided to  view the Stupa from far. Hence I went to People's Park instead.

Entrance Fee: 10,000kyats

People's Park

Maybe due to entrance fee, the park does not have much patron. Located opposite the West Gate of Shwedagon Pagoda, you can get a direct view of the Shwedagon pagoda from here. Many local visit and its very clean. View to Shwedagon Pagoda is better than inside the Shwedagon Pagoda. Opening time for the park is 7am - 9pm, so you will not be able to enjoy the sunrise from here. Night view in the park is perfect especially towards the shwedagon pagoda.

Entrace Fee: 300kyats

Chinatown

Visit to every corner of the world, never forget to visit Chinatown. Due to my chinese origin, I do want to see whats different of the Chinese immigrant from homeland. Because we were quite tired and not a alcoholic person, we only there for dinner and walk around Chinatown hopefully can buy some Chinese local specialties. 

Theres other places are recommended to visit, however I give up the intention as parents need to rest and not very convenient to walk very far.

Below are few places recommended spot you should also consider into your trip as I was suppose to add them on my city tour.

National Museum
Yangon Zoological Garden
Karaweik Palace
Esperado Lake View Hotel
Nan Thida Ferry Terminal

Bagan

Sunrise from Nyaung Lat Phet Viewing Mount

While Bagan is the highlight of the trip to Myanmar, one should not missed when travel here. Reason is that Bagan city itself is Unesco World Heritage Site with 3,500 12th to 14th-century stupas, temples, monasteries, fortifications and other monuments to be preserved.

Being a lot Temple, did skip a few famous temple and goes to other temples. Your itirineries of the day will be Temple Hoping. The important thing is, choose the transportation mode. I chose TukTuk as for Temple Hoping and I really enjoy the ride. Bagan road is dusty, reminder to all traveler to use face mask for temple hoping. 

Well, there are plenty of location you can stay, New Bagan, Old Bagan or a little further, Nyaung U.  I choose to stay at the edge of New bagan where it is nearer to some of the temples and the hotel has a great view for Sunrise. It was unlucky that day that we failed to catch the glimpse of the sunrise as it was raining that morning. I'd share the details of the hotel below. New Bagan has more infrastructure than than Old Bagan and Nyaung U is far from those temples.

Sleeping Buddha

Leaning Tower in Bagan

Ananda Temple

Destroyed Temple

There are many Majestic Stupa that being restored with the donations from the visitors around the world. However, this little temple is almost fully destroyed that no one seem to take note. Apparently, there are someone still taking care of the temple so I made some contribution here instead.

Bu Phaya

Sunset at Bu Phaya, Sacred pagoda on the river featuring a bulb-shaped dome originally built by the 3rd King of Pagan.

Aside the temple, I missed out a few grand Temple such as the Golden Temple, Shwezigon Temple and Mount Popa which could be extremely great experience. You can booked a shared Taxi with the Hotel and they will pick you up either morning or afternoon session. Missed it due to parents unable to climb. 


General Aung San Monument

Also do not forget to stop by General Aung San Monument located in New Bagan. One of the important figures of the Modern Myanmar and also father of the Aung San Suu Kyi.

Flight Ticket

Having been flying with Air Asia for more than 10 years. While their seating was not the most comfortable one, I find that Air Asia flying time is very suitable with my travelling. Hence, choosing to fly with Air Asia is always my preferred air transport.

Entry Visa

Before you enter the country, there's always few checklist I did. 1st, I check if I am blacklist from flying out of Malaysia (own country: https://sspi.imi.gov.my/sspi/ ). Then I check what is the requirement to enter the country. 

For Malaysian, we will need to apply Visa before enter. Fortunately, with the advance of technology applying for Myanmar e-Visa (https://evisa.moip.gov.mm/) is very convenient and doesnt takes much effort to apply. Application wrote 3 days approval for normal application however, when I applied 3 visa, it takes few hours to be approved. e-Visa cost USD50 can be paid through credit card. So its hassle free. Just remember to print the Visa to bring over to Myanmar Custom check. On application, there are need to provide accommodation address. I provide my Yangon Hotel which is my last night stay and it works. 

If you dont have time to apply, you can also get Visa On Arrival. looking on the queue, its not so long wait. 

Accommodation

To save time and expenditure of the trip, I decided for overnight bus to/from Yangon to Bagan. Save me a large amount of money for hotel stay while I get more time to enjoy the trip. Hence we break down our accommodation as below:

Night 1 : Bus
Night 2 : Temple View Hotel Bagan
Night 3 : Bus
Night 4 : Crystal Palace Hotel Yangon


Temple View Hotel Bagan

View from rooftop of the hotel

Highly recommend Temple View Hotel Bagan, as the name itself tell you. You can view the temple from your balcony(if you choose the correct room) or you can go rooftop to view the temple. I paid 3 Bedroom without window RM165.43/night and its still recommended. Receptionist are very helpful, friendly and spoke good English. 

There are small group of temples and restaurant nearby hence, you dont need to travel far to look for food. Aside, it has a good sunrise and sunset from their rooftop. Now you can view the sunrise in Bagan from your hotel. Hassle free to illegally climb the temple or sardine with other tourist to catch the best spot for photograph.

Crystal Palace Hotel Yangon

Very classic yet clean hotel

We didnt expect much on this hotel. I told my parents, I suppose to pay RM200 for the room but when I paid, it was only RM133.78/night. Hence if they are unhappy with the hotel environment we can change to better hotel. But to our expectation, the hotel retain its classic look and environment but still able to provide a great comfortable room. I personally like this hotel after arrived. Located 500m away from the famous Shewdagon Pagoda.

GETTING AROUND MYANMAR

JJ Bus Express
As many tourist suggested, I take JJ Bus as it is more reliable. JJ Bus can be booked through Online (USD19) and recommended to buy ticket earlier as it easily full house, and you can download JJ Bus Apps and purchase your ticket there. Bus to Bagan start at 8pm, hence you need to be there 30 minutes early. Just many would ask about the dinner, there are KFC 5 minutes walk away. So you can eat at KFC if you dont dare to eat their street food.

I arrived on the other side of cities, Bagan at 5am. Hence, it was a good timing to start the day. If im not mistaken, JJ bus provide shuttle service as well to Hotel, however because limited of language proficiency, I was unable to certain and drop off at JJ Bus station itself and get price slaughtered Taxi Driver. While to return to Bagan Bus Station, JJ Bus prepared a shuttle service which can pick up from your hotel.

Bagan

With our Tuktuk Driver, Mr. Win

Every transportation in Bagan is expensive, Hence you be paying 15,000kyats to your hotel. To top with sunrise view before reaching to hotel, u add on 10,000kyats. Hence total transport to Hotel is 25,000kyats for a 10km ride. 

On the temple hoping, you can opt in few choices such as Bus, Taxi and Tuk Tuk or rent a escooter. However I recommend to get TukTuk instead. Its the most exciting transports around Bagan. Hence, you pay for the driver as well. Our Tuk Tuk was arranged by the Temple View Hotel for 25,000kyats for full day tour. You can contact Mr.Win to book for his service https://www.facebook.com/winmin.htwe.5264.

Yangon
It is possible to walk around as the whether is fine during winter. It is safe to walk around and everyone is helpful to guide the way. Taxi is expensive as you will be haggling and they will never discount. Hence, Recommend to use GRAB. You can download Grab APPand payment with Credit Card. Grab price is half cheaper than taxi thou many taxi are grab driver. With Grab, it is fixed and haggle-free. Aside that, the Bus is also quite cheap preferbly to take bus for cheapest alternative however, there are only specific of time you need to wait.

MONEY EXCHANGE

Myanmar highly use KYATS and mostly accept local currencies, however some places are still using USD. You cant change MYR direct to KYATS even in Malaysia. Hence, its best you change USD/SGD currencies in Malaysia and exchange for KYATS later. Make sure the money is in perfect condition as they will check for any folded or ink. Certain places like Hotel & souvenir shop still accept USD hence, it always not worth to transact in USD.

INTERNET SERVICE

Most of the places provide free wifi. However if you are internet person, you either Roaming from your home country or you purchase Local Internet. Many blogger suggest Telenor, however I use Myanmar Speednet which i feel theres no different. I still enjoy good internet speed with wide coverage. Reload are easily available in local store as well. 

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