MYA - T 05: MYSTERIES OF MYANMAR, 6 days (L)
Yangon – Bagan – Mandalay - Heho - Inle
Lake - Nyaung Shwe - Heho – Yangon
Day
1 Yangon
Arrival
at Yangon airport, meet on arrival and transfer to the hotel. Your journey
begins with sightseeing in Yangon. Visit Sule Pagoda - the 48 meter high
golden dome, dating back over 2,000 years ago, the magnificent reclining Buddha
at Kyaukhtatkyi Pagoda and after a photo stop at the floating barge
(Karaweik Hall) on Kandawgyi (Royal) Lake. Afternoon stroll through the Bogyoke
Aung San Market with hundreds of food, clothes, handicrafts and gems
stores. Complete your first day in Myanmar with an extended visit to one of the
world’s most spectacular monuments the Shwedagon Pagoda and watch the
effects of the setting sun before transfer back to hotel.
Overnight in Yangon
YANGON lies in
the fertile delta of southern Myanmar, on the wide Yangon River. The city is
filled with shaded boulevards, while shimmering stupas float above the
treetops. The city became the capital only in 1885, when the British completed
their conquest of Upper Myanmar and Mandela’s brief period as capital of the
last Burmese kingdom ended.
SULE PAGODA: this 48 meter
high golden dome was used by the British as the nucleus of their grid pattern
for the city when it was rebuilt in the 1880s. The pagoda's peculiarity is its
octagonal-shaped stupa, which retains its shape as it tapers to the spire.
KANDAWGYI LAKE: also known as the
Royal Lake, this natural body of water located in the city center is a good
place for strolling and picnicking. The lake is attractive at sunset when the
glittering Shwedagon pagoda is reflected in its calm waters.
KYAUKHTATKYI PAGODA: the temple
contains a gaudy, modern, 70 meter long reclining Buddha, built in 1966 and
housed in an iron pavilion. The temple doubles as a monastery and a center for
the study of Buddhist manuscripts.
BOGYOKE AUNG SAN MARKET: also known as
Scott Market, this building contains over 2000 stalls and is the best place in
Yangon to browse through the complete range of local handicrafts.
SHWEDAGON PAGODA: the highlight of
any visit to Yangon, this pagoda dates back about 2500 years and was built to
house eight sacred hairs of the Buddha. Its original shape has changed beyond
all recognition over the centuries. Its bell-shaped superstructure, resting on
a terraced base, is covered in about 60 tons of gold leaf, which is
continuously being replaced.
Day
2 Yangon
– Bagan
After breakfast you
will be transfer to the airport for domestic flight to Bagan.
Upon arrival, transfer to the hotel. After refreshment, continue the day with visit to the most significant pagodas and temples of Bagan including Shwezigon Pagoda - built by King Anawrahta in the early 11th century as a religious shrine, Gubyaukhyi Temple at Wetkyi-Inn - the great colorful painting about the previous life of Buddha and the distinguished architecture make this temple an interesting site for a visit, Ananda Pahto -one of the finest, largest, best preserved and most revered of the Bagan temples. Gubyaukgyi Temple - a temple with superb murals of Jataka scenes, Manuha Temple - was built by King Manuha in 1059, it enshrines the unusual combination of 3 seated and one reclining image Buddha and visit Shwesandaw Paya to enjoy significant view over Bagan.
Overnight in Bagan
BAGAN:
is a spectacular plain stretching away from the Irrawaddy River, dotted with
thousands of 800-year old temple ruins. Although human habitation at Bagan
dates back almost to the beginning of the Christian era, Bagan only entered its
golden period with the conquest of Thaton in 1057 AD.
SHWEZIGON PAYA: King Anawrahta
started the construction of the Schwezigon Pagoda to enshrine some relicts of
Buddha. The construction was finished by his successor, King Kyansittha between
1086 and1090. Originally the Shwezigon Pagoda marked the northern end of the city of Bagan. The stupa's
graceful bell shape became a prototype for virtually all-later stupas over
Myanmar.
GUBYAUKHYI TEMPLE at Wetkyi-Inn: This Temple was
built in the early 13th Century and repaired in 1468. The great colorful
painting about the previous life of Buddha and the distinguished architecture
make this temple an interesting site for a visit. This temple is not to be
confounded with the Gubyaukgyi Temple in Myinkabe.
ANANDA PAHTO: one of the finest, largest, best preserved and most revered of the Bagan temples. Thought to have been built around 1105 by King Kyanzittha, this perfectly proportioned temple heralds the stylistic end of the Early Bagan period and the beginning of the Middle period.
GUBYAUKGYI TEMPLE at Myinkaba: built in 1113 by Kyanzittha's son Rajakumar, this temple is famous for its well-preserved Stuccos from the 12th century on the outside walls. The magnificent paintings date from the original construction of the temple and are considered to be the oldest original paintings in Bagan.
MANUHA TEMPLE: King Manuha, the
King of Thaton, who was brought captive to Bagan by King Anawrahta, built The
Manuha Temple in 1059. It enshrines the unusual combination of 3 seated and one
reclining image Buddha. It is said that this temple was built by Manuha to
express his displeasure about his captivity in Bagan.
SHWESANDAW PAYA: In 1057 King
Anawrahta built this Pagoda following his conquest of Thaton. This is the first
monument in Bagan, which features stairways leading up from the square bottom
terraces to the round base of the Stupa. This Pagoda is ideal to watch Bagan's
magnificent sunsets.
Day
3 Bagan
– Mandalay
After breakfast, transfer to the airport
for domestic flight from Bagan to Mandalay. Upon arrival, excursion to Sagaing
to visit Thabyedan Fort - built by the Burmese as their final resistance
against the British forces in the third Anglo-Burmese war in 1886, Kaungmudaw
Paya - the most important temple in Sagaing, Tupayon Paya,
Aungmyelawka Paya - builds in 1783 on the site of his home before he became
king. It is built of sandstone and based on Shwezigon Pagoda. Datpaungzu Paya and Pagoda of
Many Elephants (Hsinmyashin Paya) before process to Mandalay
Afternoon, you will experience the sights and sounds of Mandalay including one of the most revered religious monuments in Myanmar, the Mahamuni Paya, Maha Gandayon Monastery - a superb example of a traditional wooden building, visit Mandalay Palace and Shwe In Bin - a monastery was built by Chinese merchant, it is built of teak, has Burmese carved doors and paintings depicting General Prendergast negotiating with court ministers prior to King Thibaw's exile.
Overnight in
Mandalay
SAGAING: located on the right bank of the
Irrawaddy River, it is widely regarded as the religious center of Myanmar. It
is popularly known as 'Little Pagan' as the Sagaing ridge is crowded with
around 600 pagodas and monasteries in which there are more than 3000 monks.
There are also around 100 meditation centers in the area.
THABYEDAN FORT: fort built by the
Burmese as their final resistance against the British forces in the third
Anglo-Burmese war in 1886.
KAUNGHMUDAW PAYA: this is Sagaing's
most important temple. It was built by King Thalun in 1636 and styled after a
Ceylonese (Sri Lankan) pagoda in commemoration of the re-establishment of Ava
as the royal capital.
TUPAYON PAYA: constructed by
King Narapati of Inwa in 1444, Tupayon is of an unusual style for Myanmar: it
consists of three circular stories each encircled by arched niches.
AUNGMYELAWKA PAYA: situated on the
riverfront, this zedi was erected by Bodawpaya in 1783 on the site of his home
before he became king. It is built of sandstone and based on Shwezigon Pagoda.
DATPAUNGZU PAYA: a comparatively
recent pagoda, which houses many relics from other older temples that were
demolished when the railway was built through Sagaing.
HSINMYASHIN PAYA: built in 1429 and
known as the Pagoda of Many Elephants because of the elephant statues stationed
at each entrance-way.
Sightseeing in
Mandalay (half day)
MAHAMUNI PAYA: originally built
by King Bodawpaya in 1784 when a road paved with bricks was constructed from
his palace to the paya's eastern gate. The centerpiece of the shrine is the
highly venerated Mahamuni image that was transported to Myanmar from Mrauk U in
Rakhaing in 1784.
SHWE IN BIN: Kyaung Shwe In Bin: A Chinese merchant, U Set Shwin, married a local Burmese lady and with his newly acquired fortune built a monastery for his religious wife. It is built of teak, has Burmese carved doors and paintings depicting General Prendergast negotiating with court ministers prior to King Thibaw's exile.
Day
4 Mandalay
- Heho - Inle Lake
After breakfast,
transfer to the airport for domestic flight from Mandalay to Heho
Upon arrival, process by road to Nyaung
Shwe (25km – 1 hour) an excursion by boat on Inle Lake.
Overnight in Inle
Lake
INLE
LAKE: located in Shan State, it is beautiful with very calm waters dotted
with patches of floating vegetation and busy fishing canoes. High hills rim the
lake on all sides. The lakes shore and islands bear 17 villages on stilts,
mostly inhabited by the Intha people. Enjoy the spectacular scenery and observe
the skilled fishermen using their “leg-rowing” technique to propel themselves
around the lake. Visit a local market and an Intha Village around the lake.
Day
5 Nyaung
Shwe - Heho – Yangon
After breakfast,
transfer by boat to visit Nyaung Shwe Market, after a stroll through the
colorful local market continue drive from Nyaung Shwe to Heho - Journey north
along Highway 43 and then west from Shwenyaung on Highway 4.
Flight from Heho to
Yangon
Upon arrival
Yangon, transfer to the hotel
Afternoon at
leisure or shopping
Overnight in Yangon
Day
6 Yangon
After breakfast at the hotel and free time
at leisure before transfer to the airport for departure
End of Services **Note: Itinerary subject to change due to flight availability and schedules