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 Myanmar, once known
as Burma, shares its borders with Bangladesh,
India, China, Laos and Thailand. Regarded as a
top travel destination with great outdoor
adventures, it is a country with a total
area of over 670,000 square kilometers and it
stretches over 2090 kilometers from north to south over
925 kilometers east to west. It has a 2832 kilometers long
coastline on the Indian Ocean and over fifty
percent of its land area is covered with
forests and in the countryside, rice paddies are
farmed by water buffalo and traveling in Shwe Thar Lyaung
in Bago ox
cart is the frequently used mode of
transportation. Myanmar is renowned as the land with
its ancient palace, city walls, terraces,
glittering golden pagodas, traditional customs
and ancient cultural heritage which makes this
wonderful country a very interesting and unique
travel destination in Asia.
 Myanmar has a rich
cultural and historical heritage with great
places to visit like the glittering Shwedagon
Pagoda in its most diverse place and capital
city, Yangon (formerly called
Rangoon) and Bagan. The natural environment is
equally brilliant with many parts of the country
still covered in rainforest while green rice paddy
fields dominant much of the remainder.
More than one
hundred different national races exhibit many unique
characteristics and this is what makes this
country very special. Yangon is home to the
gold-plated Shwedagon Paya, one of the world's
greatest Buddhist Pagodas built 2,500 years ago
which is best viewed at sunrise. Other places of interest include the Sule
Pagoda, Bogyoke Aung San Market (Scott Market)
and the colonial buildings which add to
the architectural mixture.
A very short drive out of
Yangon takes you to Bago where the huge
reclining Buddha of Shwe Thar Lyaung can be seen
and it is a very Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon
famous religious site in
Myanmar and this city is also a convenient stop
on your way to Kyaikto or Mowlamyaing. Bago used
to be the ancient capital city of the Mon
Kingdom in the 15th century.
 Mandalay, also known
as Ratanabon meaning City Of Gems, is located in
Central Myanmar, north of Yangon. This sprawling
cultural centre gives the true representative of
Burmese life, history, culture and the is the
centre of Buddhist learning. Mandalay Hill, 230
meters in elevation, commands a magnificent view of
the city and the surroundings country side. Eventhough the Mandalay Place complex was
destroyed by fire during World War II, a number
of palace buildings have been reconstructed
within the premises as evidence of the Majestic
Palace City. Around Amarapura, Sagaing, Ava and
Mingu are ancient pagodas which is worth
visiting. Mingun is famously known for its
incredible Mingun Bell and the gigantic
unfinished Mingun Pagoda. Pyin Oo Lwin (Maymyo) is a hill
station and cool refuge from the lowland heat.
Visitors can ride a stage coach, stay in Tudor
Mingun Pagoda style villas and enjoy the peaceful botanical
gardens.
 Bagan, one of
Southeast Asia's most stunning archaeological
sites is located on the eastern bank of
Ayeyarwady River. Being the capital of first
Myanmar Empire, Bagan has over three thousand
well preserved pagodas and temples of the
11th-13th centuries and is also the centre of
the expanding Myanmar lacquerware industry.
Mount Popa, 50 kilometers southeast of Bagan, is a 1500
meters high extinct volcano and has become a
recreational resort for international tourism
whereby travelers can appreciate the green and
beautiful scenery around this area.
The tranquil waters
of Inle Lake in the Shan State is Asia's most
beautiful natural lake with the famed leg rowers
worth seeing and enjoying. The nearby hill
stations of Kalaw offers cool climate and
Pindaya Caves with their 10,000 Buddha images. Miles of empty white
sand beaches, brilliant turquoise seas, all
backed by towering coconut palms make beautiful Ngapali (Thandwe)
as Kyauktawgyi Pagoda
Myanmar's premier beach destination. Intimate
resorts offers visitors the chance to swim,
sail, kayak and feast on lobsters and prawns by
candlelight as the sun sinks lazily into the
Indian Ocean.
Whether it be
cruising down the mighty Ayeyarwady River,
drifting over the ancient city of Bagan by hot
air balloon, mountain trekking and rafting in
the far north or to world class diving in the
Mergui Archipelago near Kwathaung, the
southernmost part of Myanmar, the beauty of tranquility of
Myanmar awaits you to experience and enjoy.
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