Bagan - Myanmar

An overnight bus trip from Mandalay to Bagan ( Old Bagan )  costed USD $ 11. After a 7 hours of bumpy ride with my neck and back aching, I finally arrived Old Bagan bus station at the wee hours of morning. It was cold since it was winter. Bagan is divided into Old Bagan and New Bagan. Old Bagan is suitable for those on a budget while the opposite for New Bagan. 




Stayed at Pann Cherry Hotel (Old Bagan ), operated by a local family with 3 sons making sure that all customers are well treated. I paid USD $ 8 , crashing in with a Japanese stranger , Miyako  in a double room since all others in town were taken. I then moved on to own my single room for USD $ 8 per night once it was available. It was a pleasant place to stay though the WIFI connection was not the best in town. 




Single room was lovely. You get your own room with fan, dressing table, hook-on-clothes all for your own use without having to share with others. Staff was friendly and cheerful when you take your time to explain in simple English, as it is not widely spoken yet. They will appreciate you better for being patient in communicating.






A bicycle for rent would cost you USD $ 1.50 per day. Cycling is the most recommended way to go around Bagan as there are many temples / sites that you can choose to go. Distance from one to another is not far. Hence, you would find many people riding along with you.  It is a good exercise too. Alternately, you may want to rent an E- Bike for less than USD $ 10 per day if you do not fancy cycling for an entire day.  USD $ 15 per pax is what you have to pay to visit the archaeological sites like the temples , pagodas and many more.






Temples / Sites I visited while cycling in Bagan :

1. Htilominlo Temple - Where you can purchase ticket to archaeological sites.
2. U Pa Li Thein
3. Ananda Temple
4. Ananda Ok Kyaung
5. Tharabar Gate
6. Shegugyi
7. Gawdapalin Temple
8. Thattbyinnyu Temple
9. Shwesandaw Pagoda - Best place for Sun Rise
10. Manuha Pagoda - Best place for Sun Set
11. Minanthu Village
12. Tower - USD $ 5 to go up the tower. You may stay for sun set / sun rise as well.
13. Shwezigon Pagoda - strongest FREE WIFI connection in whole Bagan. I even skyped here!


Some say it is impossible to finish it all within months as there are more than 2000 temples and pagodas to tick off your list.








USD $ 1 to USD $ 1.50 would be sufficient for a dinner if you are on a shoestring budget like me. This could get you a nice good dinner such as fried rice or noodles with chicken. Portion was big enough for me.


Not sure of what else you can explore in Bagan ? Why not make a trip up Mount Popa during the day for USD $ 10 per pax on a shared taxi?  It takes half a day to make this trip possible. You may arrange this at your accommodation. There will be a quick stop on the way for you to witness how palm sugar , alcohol and candy being made on the spot. You may buy some home to share with your mates too.



Mt Popa, Bagan


Mount Popa as explained in Wikipedia  is a volcano 1518 metres (4981 feet) above sea level, and located in central Burma (Myanmar) about 50 km (31 mi) southeast of Bagan (Pagan) in the Pegu Range. It can be seen from the Ayeyarwady (Irrawaddy) River as far away as 60 km (37 mi) in clear weather. Mount Popa is perhaps best known as a pilgrimage site, with numerous Nat temples and relic sites atop the mountain.


There will be temple at the peak. Do spend some time to read the history on how Mount Popa came about while enjoying the landscape.  It will be worth the trip !




I would strongly recommend this to do in Bagan, not because it is one of the tourist spots, but because it is worth the trip to see a different side of Bagan. There are accommodations available at Mount Popa if you decided to spend the night. I have not heard of hiking trip up Mount Popa as many are interested in doing it ( including me ! ). I hope the authority plan to come up with something.


What are you waiting for... get going already !


Get more of Myanmar from my other entries:

Yangon: http://bit.ly/1ho3esY

Mandalay : http://bit.ly/1sbLPsc

Sagaing / Amarapura / Inn Wa: http://bit.ly/1lt0mKX

Inle : http://bit.ly/Uk4FP8


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