three words and I was sold: hot air balloons.
A simple mention of Bagan conjures up an image of hot air balloons floating above an ocean of temples at dawn. If that wasn’t enough to convince me to someday pay a visit, I don’t know what could. even when I had to endure a total of 10 hours on the plane (I was flying from Dubai) and another eight hours on the bus from Yangon, I was a happy traveler. too bad, there were no hot air balloons when I arrived because, uhm, I didn’t plan this trip well. (And you should learn from me. That’s why I’m creating this guide. LOL.)
Still, I was not complaining. Bagan may be smack at the heart of a vast, almost barren land, but it is brimming with beauty, there’s hardly any place for disappointment.
Mitä tässä oppaassa on katettu?
Understanding Bagan
Best Time to check out Bagan
How to get to Bagan from Yangon
Where to stay in Bagan
Search for hotels here: Bagan Hotels
Getting around Bagan
Temples to See
Tips for the poor Traveler
Things to watch Out For
Sample itinerary + Breakdown of Expenses
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Understanding Bagan
Shading the banks of the Ayeyarwady (Irrawaddy) River, the ancient city of Bagan in Myanmar’s Mandalay region is located 688km northwest of Yangon. Bagan was once home to over 10,000 Buddhist structures, built during the reign of the Kingdom of Pagan from the 9th-13th centuries, scattered throughout the 42 sq. km plain. Today, however, only 2200 of these stupas and pagodas remain standing, making up what is now called the Bagan Archaeological Zone.
Bagan just after dawn
Most visitors could not help comparing it to Cambodia’s famous Angkor site. Both harbor countless Buddhist monuments spread across hectares and hectares of land. but the similarities stop there. Angkor is tucked in a rainforest; Bagan rises above an arid, desert-like territory. Angkor’s spires resemble corncobs, tall and slender; Bagan’s look like pineapples and ice cream cones, wider and rounder. Angkor’s temples are grander and more ornate; Bagan’s are smaller and simpler. but what Bagan can’t deliver in size, it makes up for in volume. Bagan is considered the largest and densest collection of Buddhist ruins in the world.
Myanmar is predominantly Buddhist and the whole Bagan site is sacred to them, hence there are rules in place. most importantly, if you’re entering temples or monasteries:
Cover your knees and shoulders. Tees are okay. Shorts are okay as long as they cover knees.
Remove your shoes. and your socks, while you’re at it.
Locals are very non-confrontational that they don’t usually call out visitors even when their behavior offends them. Still, it shouldn’t be an excuse to disrespect their culture. always follow the rules especially when entering temples and monasteries. Locals are very friendly and helpful. even when they don’t understand English, they just smile and point you to someone who does. Let’s show them some respect.
The official currency is the Kyat, typically shortened as MMK or Ks.
Best Time to check out Bagan
For many, the relatively amazing months of November to January are the best time to check out Bagan. It isn’t that hot, the skies are clear (perfect for wide landscape shots of the stupas), and hot air balloon companies are operational. However, this is also the peak season, so expect to share the sites with hordes of other tourists.
Bagan is situated in what many regard as Myanmar’s driest region. It is generally hot year-round, but March-April temperatures can be brutal, sometimes playing around 43 degrees Celsius. exploring is unbearable.
August and September are months to stay away from too. These are the wettest months and the peak of the monsoon season. June, July, and October are also monsoon months, but they are generally okay. A bit risky because of the chance of rain, but it is after the rain that the temples are best photographed, when there’s no dust to muddle the view and colors are more vivid. prices are also at their lowest.
If you’re after hot air ballooning (like I was), check out between mid-October and mid-March. Don’t make the mistake of not researching before your trip (like I did).
How to get to Bagan from Yangon
Nyaung U airport is the closest air gateway to Bagan, but it is not directly connected to any city abroad. It serves flights to and from Yangon, Mandalay, and a few other domestic destinations. If you’re coming from another country, you’re most likely to enter the country via Yangon because it has Myanmar’s most connected airport. below is a list of cities that you can fly to or from Yangon (as of July 2016)
Bangkok – Bangkok Airways, Myanmar Airways, Myanmar national Airlines, Nok Air, Thai AirAsia, Thai Airways, Thai Lion Air, Thai Smile
Beijing – Air China
Chengdu – Air China
Chiang Mai – Bangkok Airways, Myanmar national Airlines, Qatar Airways
Delhi, India – Air India
Dhaka – Biman Bangladesh Airlines, NovoAir
Doha, Qatar – Qatar Airways
Dubai, UAE – Emirates
Gaya, Intia – Air India
Guangzhou, Kiina – Kiina Southern, Myanmar Airways
Hanoi, Vietnam – Emirates, Vietnam Airlines
Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam – VietJet Air, Vietnam Airlines
Hong Kong – Dragonair, Myanmar National Airlines
Kolkata, Intia – Air India
Kuala Lumpur, Malesia – AirAsia, Malaysia Airlines, Myanmar Airways
Kunming – Air China, China Eastern Airlines, Myanmar Airways
Nanning – China Eastern Airlines
Penang, Malesia – Airasia
Soul-Incheon, Korea-Korean ilma
Singapore – Jetstar Asia, Myanmar Airways, Myanmar National Airlines, SilKair, Singapore Airlines, Tigerair
Taipei-taiyuan, Taiwan-China Airlines
Tokio – kaikki Nippon Airways (Ana)
Yangonin lentokentältä voit saavuttaa Baganin jollain seuraavista:
Lentokoneella. Voit yksinkertaisesti ottaa uuden lennon Nyaung U: n lentokentälle. (Alin edestakainen hinta on noin 200 dollaria.) Lentokentältä voit matkustaa New Baganiin autolla 7000–10 000 kyat.
Bussilla. Yangonin Aung Mingalarin linja -autoasemalla, nouse linja -autoon Bagan Nyaung U. Säännölliselle hinnalle 12,9 – 17,22 USD, aikataulusta ja kantoyrityksestä riippuen. Jos haluat mukavasti, varaa istuin VIP -bussiin, joka on välillä 17,49 – 19,99 USD. Suosittelemme tätä, koska hinnoilla ei ole paljon eroa, mutta paljon mukavuutta. VIP -istuimet tuntuvat todellakin yritysluokalta lentokoneessa: virvokkeilla, elokuvilla laivalla, viltti, lepotuotteet ja huomattava jalkatilo. Matka -aika on 8 tuntia. Tarkista linja -autojen aikataulu tai kirja tällä verkkosivustolla.
Bagan Shwe Pyi Highway Bus -terminaalista voit saada ohjaamon uuteen Baganiin 7000 mmk.
Junalla. Catch Train nro 61, asetettu jättämään Yangon klo 16.00 ja saavuta Bagan seuraavana päivänä klo 10.00. Lippu maksaa 4500 MMK (4 USD) yhteiselle istuimelle; 12 000 ks (12 USD) ylemmän luokan istuimelle; tai 16 500 mmk (17USD) ylemmän luokan nukkujalle.
Kuljetusmuodosta riippumatta sinun on maksettava pakollinen 20 USD (MMK 25 000) Bagan -matkailumaksu. Se on hyvä 5 päivää. Älä menetä lippusi. Matkailuviranomaiset vaeltelevat sivustoa ja he tarkistavat, jos olet jo maksanut matkailumaksun silloin tällöin.
Missä yöpyä Baganissa
On kolme aluetta, joilla voit yöpyä: Vanha Bagan, New Bagan ja Nyaung U., jotka valita, riippuu budjetistasi.
Nyaung U on siellä, missä suurin osa budjettimatkailijoista päättävät asua monien edullisten majoitus- ja ruokailumahdollisuuksien takia. Se on vilkkain ja voi tarjota kurkistaa tapaan, jolla paikallisten elämäntapa. Markkinat ovat myös alueella.
Uusi Bagan on budjetti keskitason hotelleihin ja hostelleihin. Täällä ei ole paljon nähtävää, ollakseni rehellinen, paitsi joitain ravintoloita.
Vanha Bagan saattaa kuulostaa parhaalta paikalta viettää yötä, mutta siinä on kalleimmat hotellit ja lomakohteet. Jos haluat välttää lompakkosi vahingoittamista, tämä ei ole oikea paikka sinulle.
Etsi hotelleja täältä: Bagan -hotellit
Saatavuuden vuoksi yöpyimme 4-vuodeisessa asuntolassa Ostelo Bello Baganissa (Kayay St, New Bagan). Se oli miellyttävä oleskelu: ystävällinen henkilökunta, kodikas tunne, puhdas jaettu kylpyhuone, ilmainen aamiainen ja rajoittamaton kahvi. Maksoin 22,5 dollaria per yö, en halvin Baganin kasvavassa boutique -hostelliluettelossa.
Kiertäminen Baganin ympärillä
On todennäköistä, että olet kiinnostunut asettamaan jalka tänne nähdäksesi sen tuhansia temppeleitä. Mutta on olemassa monia tapoja kokea tämä poikkeuksellinen sivusto.
Pyörällä. Silti halvin tapa kiertää. Varmista, että valitset sellaisen, joka on hyvässä kunnossa. 1000-2000 mmk (1-2 USD).
E-pyörä. Mitä suosittelemme, koska se on paljon vähemmän uuvuttavaa, mutta ei myöskään niin hinta. 5000-7000 mmk (4-6 USD).
Autolla/taksilla. Yläpuoli: Ilmastoitu! Woohoo. 20 000-60 000 MMK (20-50 USD).
Hevosvaunulla. Hevoskärryt ovat saatavana enimmäkseen auringonnousua varten. Se on pölyinen, kuoppainen ratsastus ja voi olla melko uuvuttava, mutta se on mielenkiintoinen tapa tutustua sivustoon. Hinta: 20 000 mmk (17 USD).
Kuuma ilmapallo. Maagisin tapa nähdä Bagan on maailman huipulla. Hinnat vaihtelevat sen mukaan, minkä viraston varaat sen kanssa ja kuinka monta matkustajaa ilmapalloa kohden: 320-330 USD per henkilö 12-16-matkustajapallolle ja 380-390 USD / päätä 8 matkustajapallolle.
Mitä tahansa valitset, älä unohda saada auringonnousua ja auringonlaskua. Et koskaan tule katumaan sitä.
Temppelit nähdä
Bagan voi olla aika pelottava. Aloitimme matkamme kadonnut. Saimme kartan jo varhain ja oletimme, että koska keskeiset temppelit oli merkitty, ne olisi helppo löytää. Mutta kaikki pagodit ja stupit eivät ole kartalla. Kun olet yhdessä, voit jo nähdä seuraavan ja sen vieressä. On helppo eksyä, sekoittaa toisiinsa. Rakenteita on yli 2000, eikä niitä ole luotu tasa -arvoisiksi.
Vierailemistamme temppeleistä tässä on joitain, jotka tekivät meille melko hyvän vaikutelman. Katso yksityiskohtaisempi kuvaus jokaisesta: Baganin parhaat temppelit
Shwesandaw Pagoda (auringonlaskun pagoda)
Ananda -temppeli
Dhammayangyi -temppelin sisäänkäynnin portti
Thatbyinnyu -temppeliHtilominlo -temppelin portti
Shwezigon Pagoda
Sulamani temple Ground
Tips for the poor Traveler
Bagan local selling souvenirs. She actually helped us to get the perfect view of Htilominlo Temple.
Bring a liter of water when exploring. Don’t get dehydrated. While there are sellers in major temples, you might need to drink while still on the way to your next stop. There are also refilling stations at some sites.
Put on some sunscreen. The sun is your biggest enemy out there. A hat would help, too. Be sure to protect your skin.
Bring a dust mask. It can get really dusty!
Wear slip-on shoes or slippers. I still prefer wearing a good pair of rubber shoes especially when biking, but most of our companions found a pair of slippers more convenient because you will need to remove them at every temple you’re gonna enter.
Buy a tourist SIM at the airport. You may also get a Ooredoo SIM with 10MB data for 1500Ks. You can then simply top up depending on your browsing habit, but the price is 1000Ks per 100MB. If you’re a heavy data user, MPT offers a tourist SIM that costs 10,000Ks and it comes with a 1.5G data allowance. It’s valid for 10 days.
Make a sidetrip to Mandalay. Mandalay is a few hours away from Bagan. You might also want to spend a day or two or more here.
Things to watch Out For
Scams. The locals are generally friendly and lovely, but like many other destinations, Bagan has its share of scammers. You’ll find locals (often children) approaching tourists to ask for a foreign currency note to add to their collection, to sell them fake gemstones, or to insist to tour them around. just say no politely. They are hard to shake off sometimes, but just keep on refusing.
Paying for the entrance fee more than once. If you have already paid it as you enter the town, don’t pay again when you’re getting into the temples. The fee should cover the entire Bagan Archaeological zone and is good for five days.
Sample itinerary + Breakdown of Expenses
Here is a sample 4-day itinerary that you may follow (at your own risk, of course). also included are the costs of each item. note that this assumes that you are traveling alone and that you’re riding a hot air balloon. feel free to make changes to this itinerary to suit your needs.
DAY 1 – ARRIVAL IN YANGON, BUS TO BAGAN
Arrival at Yangon Airport
Get local SIM (10,000Ks, 8.5 USD)
Taxi transfer to Bus station (6000 Ks, 5 USD)
Overnight Bus travel to Bagan (20 USD)
DAY 2 – ARRIVAL IN BAGAN
Arrival in Bagan (25,000 MMK or 20 USD tourism Fee)
Check in at hotel (Dorm, USD 22.5 per night)
Lunch (6000 MMK, 5 USD)
Rent E-bike (7000 MMK or 6 USD)
Explore Bagan Temples
Watch sunset
Dinner (6000 MMK, 5 USD)
Nukkua
DAY 3 – hot AIR BALLOON, more TEMPLES
Hot Air Balloon ride (330 USD)
Breakfast (FREE)
Rent E-bike (7000 MMK or 6 USD)
Continue exploring temples
Lunch (6000 MMK, 5 USD)
More temples, watch sunset
Explore Nyaung U
Dinner (6000 MMK, 5 USD)
Nukkua
DAY 4 – BACK TO YANGON
Breakfast (FREE)
Taxi to Bus station (5 USD)
Bus back to Yangon (20 USD)
Lentää ulos
Additional expenses: 10,000 MMK (10 USD) for random bottled water purchases. Refill at your hostel.
If you follow the itinerary above and assuming you’ll spend only 5 USD per meal, you’ll end up spending 520 USD (24,500 PHP) excluding airfare to Yangon.
Note, however, that the bulk of it is the hot air balloon ride. cross that out of the itinerary and you’ll end up shelling out only 180 USD (8500 PhP). pretty cheap, huh?
You can still bring down the cost if you’re traveling with someone so you could divide the cost of some items (like taxi rides) with them.
Of course, you will be spending more if you make a side trip to Mandalay after your time in Bagan.
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