Reasons to Visit Burma
The famous Irrawaddy River flows through the heart of the country for 2,000km to a vast Delta region southwest of Rangoon and provides an important role in everyday life. A journey on this most majestic of rivers is a highlight of any trip.
Burma is home to an astonishing number of ethnicities each with their own traditional dress and customs, and in many cases, language and religion. For the most rewarding encounters we recommend heading to the hills of Shan state where it’s possible to stay in remote villages and receive the most genuine of welcomes and hospitality.
Burma is steeped in history and the legacy of various kingdoms and rule is very much in evidence throughout the country from former ancient capitals and grandiose royal palaces around Mandalay to the faded colonial grandeur of Rangoon’s municipal buildings built by British hands.
Whether you are shopping for gems in Rangoon’s Scott Market, betel nut in Kalaw or intricate lacquerware in Pagan there is no better way to immerse yourself in the way of life than to soak up the atmosphere of a local market.
Wherever you travel in Burma you will only be footsteps away from a temple providing an opportunity to witness the quiet reverence of the Burmese people. Climb up to a viewpoint amongst the ancient stupas of Pagan at sunset, visit stilted temples by boat at Inle Lake or marvel at the shimmering Shwedagon Pagoda.
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The Thande is one of the oldest hotels in the area having opened in 1922 for the visit of King Edward VIII. The simple accommodation that has an air of faded grandeur.
The Thande is one of the oldest hotels in the area having opened in 1922 for the visit of King Edward VIII. This is a good value hotel which has an unrivalled central location and overlooks the Irrawaddy river.
All 78 rooms are clean, comfortable and offer en suite facilities and the hotel is set in well-tended grounds with a small swimming pool that provides a welcome relief from the heat of the Pagan plains. The hotel has a delightful riverside restaurant serving a range of international and local cuisine, and breakfast is served in the garden when the weather is fine.
Less famous than the temples at Angkor or Borobodur, Pagan is unquestionably one of the 'must sees' in Asia. There are over 3,000 temples here, and a popular way to see them is via a hot-air balloon trip.
Our rating: Medium
Pagan
Our rating: Deluxe
Further reading:Tours in BurmaWhen to GoHighlightsItinerary IdeasPlaces to GoThings to DoAccommodationAbout BurmaCountry Guides
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