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bagan and around
Bagan
 This
is “the” highlight of any journey to and through Burma.
Unforgettable Bagan is one of the world´s biggest and
most important sacred venues encompassing, at one time
(as also reported by Marco Polo) there have been 12000
temples and pagodas on a territory of only 40 square km!
With the advent of the 11th century and till the end of
the 13th century, kings, generals and dignitaries spared
no effort to have brick put upon brick, to built temples
and pagodas one after the other with the solitary aim of
favourably influencing their re-incarnation. Religious
fanaticism
found its expression in unbridled building. Much has
been destroyed during the intervening centuries –
earthquakes, wars, thieves all contributed to the decay
– yet what is left today is still more than enough to
fill the brim of several days of intensive visiting. 20
temples and pagodas along the main tourist route are
generally visited, but this can be adapted according to
individual needs and preferences with the help of the
available maps. A must are the visits to Shwezigon,
Bagan´s only Golden Pagoda, and the caves used for
meditation of Kyanzittha Umin with their wall paintings
as well as Ananda Temple, named after one of Buddha´s
disciples. Originally the name was derived from “ananta
panna”, dedicated to Buddha´s infinite wisdom. The
experienced traveller limits his daily intake to no more
than 6 temples to avoid the “temple rally feeling”.
Remember: Unforgettable sunrises and sunsets must be
experienced atop pagodas as well. A stay of three days
is ideal and for those who cannot get enough of Bagan,
you can take an early morning balloon ride and have a
birdseyeview of those inimitable treasures.
Mount
Popa
Amply a half-day´s excursion leads to
Burma´s “Olympus of the spirits” – Mount Popa. Like a
blossoming flower (Popa =flower) this volcanic plug
towers the arid plain with its sugarpalm trees
(Palmyra). A monumental covered staircase with 700 steps
leads to the top and small Buddha temples crown the
summit. Mount Popa is the centre of the Burmese nat-faith
(nat means spirit). Nats, playing much the same role as
saints in the Catholic Faith, are the guardians of
mankind´s well-being. Mount Popa is the venue of all
celebrations honoring nats.
 Sale
In
combination with the visit of Mount Popa we recommend
Sale, a river trading post and market village. Of
special interest: Lovely Yoke Son Monastery with its
artistic and ornate teakwood carvings.
Pakokku
Pakokku, situated on the Ayeyarwady
river banks opposite Bagan, has actually little of
interest to offer. The only interesting site is
Pakhangyi Monastery (approx. 20 km NE of Pakukko) which
ranks among the country´s finest and oldest Buddhist
teakwood monasteries.
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