Driving 50 miles south-east of Pagan you reach the famous Mount Popa (meaning 'flower'), Rising 2,000 feet out of the Irrawaddy flood plain Mount Popa is one of the most sacred sites in Burma and home to the 'nats' (Burmese spirits).
Most of the Burmese, no matter what their religion worship "nats" originally animistic -associated with hills, trees, lakes and other natural features, the Burmese believe that the "nats" control all aspects of day to day life. There are 37 nats in all and particular ones are worshipped depending on various factors such as the day of the week you were born or how many siblings you may have.
If you wish you can climb part way up the mountain to visit some of the pagodas and temples that dot its slopes. The main reason for visiting this area is the volcanic outcrop which has become one of the holiest sites in Burma.
There are 777 steps to climb to the shrine at the top of the outcrop, and if you have the energy it is worth the climb for some fantastic views. Don't take food however, as there are some hungry monkeys en route!