Nyaung-U (Bagan) Overview

Nyaung–U, also known as Bagan, is a fascinating land of adventure and hundreds of temples. Easily reached by air from Yangon and Mandalay, or Chiang Mai (Thailand), or even by boat, Bagan is primarily recognised as being the largest area of Buddhist religious structures in the world.

Bagan lies along the banks of the mighty Irrawaddy River. While some might think it lacks the splendour of Angkor Wat or Borobudur, it is an impressive sight nonetheless, making up for what it lacks in majesty by weight of numbers; there are temples here as far as the eye can see. The temples date back to the 11^th century when Pagan was the Burmese capital and wielded great power.

The sheer number of temples here makes it possible only to visit a tiny fraction, but Ananda Temple should be high on any agenda. Ananda is a stunning white temple that sits next to the Ananda Ok Kyaung monastery, a rare survivor from the early Bagan ear.

Many people rate the Shwezigon pagoda as the most impressive of the Bagan temples, and it has been in use since the 12^th century. It’s a remarkable sight and a significant landmark. Another of the many ‘must-sees’ in the region is Thatbyinnyu, one of the tallest structures in the region. The Gawdawpalin temple is another vast structure, located close to the banks of the Irrawaddy.

Bagan has a long tradition of producing beautiful lacquer-ware, and Bagan is a perfect place to pick up handicrafts to take back home. While the shopping is not as good here as it is in larger cities in Myanmar, the main market provides most basics.

Nightlife is limited, but all hotels and many restaurants provide the perfect setting in which to enjoy a cool beer while taking in the view of the temples. Old Bagan is the most popular are in which to dine, with everything from local to Chinese dishes on the menu as well as some excellent value all-you-can-eat buffets.

The vast majority of hotels in Bagan fall into the mid-range category and commonly offer services such as a swimming pool, internet, and an on-site restaurant. Accommodation prices peak in the summer months, but significant discounts can be had during other times of the year. Tourists can travel here direct from Mandalay and Yangon. Visitors will find a region with excellent value accommodation and fantastic sights yet to be spoilt by mass tourism.

Bagan, the ancient capital of Myanmar, has some of the most impressive archaeological sites in Southeast Asia and as a result is a major tourist destination in the country. The origins of Bagan date back to 849 AD, when settlements were established on the banks of the Irrawaddy River around 300 miles north of Yangon.

The golden age of Bagan was in the 11^th century when King Anawratha of Bagan ascended to the throne. This period is also known for its rich architecture. Soon after his accession, King Anawratha converted to Buddhism and led his army into battle with the Mon town of Bago in an attempt to take possession of the Tripitaka (holy Buddhist scripts). The war allegedly followed earlier attempts by Anawratha to get King Manuba to surrender the scripts voluntarily.

After months of bloody battle, Manuba finally surrendered and Bago was left in ruins. The Tripitaka were triumphantly taken to Bagan on the backs of a herd of white elephants. However, victory in the war provided Bagan with much more than just the Tripitaka. The army returned with 30,000 Mon prisoners, many of who were highly skilled artisans and craftsmen who in the coming years helped to enrich Bagan’s culture.

Bagan’s glories were relatively short-lived, however. In the late 13^th century, Kublai Khan led hordes of Mongolian horsemen to conquer Bagan and many of the wooden buildings were burnt to the ground. The original town was never re-established and Bagan broke up into a number of smaller kingdoms.

One of the most significant events in the modern history of Bagan was the 1975 earthquake that destroyed and damaged many of the temples and pagodas. Despite this, there is still a vast array of archaeologically and architecturally interesting sites here.

Today, visitors to what is predominantly an archaeological site may find it hard to imagine the dominance Bagan once held. Bagan isn’t as well known as Cambodia’s Angor Wat, but it is often compared in terms of its archaeological importance. There are around 2,000 pagodas in an area of just 25 square miles.

Bagan has a typically tropical climate and as a rule it’s relatively hot and dry throughout the year. The summer (March to May) can be seriously hot, with the temperature rising to 43°C in the day and only falling to the mid 20s (°C) at night. Humidity is not too high however, making it more comfortable than other places in Asia; relative humidity rarely gets above 50 per cent.

The winter runs from November to February and while temperatures are cooler, it’s not winter as many people know it. Typically, daytimes in winter see temperatures of around 30°C and night-times of 10°C. Relative humidity is low and as in the summer, there is little or no rainfall.

Outside of winter and summer, there is often heavy rainfall in Bagan. The monsoon runs from June to October and peak rainfall is generally at the beginning and end of this period. The temperature tends to hit the mid 30s (°C) in the daytime and the mid 20s (°C) at night, making this perhaps the least comfortable time to visit.