Bagan

The Temples

The temples of Bagan range from the enormous — Dhammayangyi, the largest, with walls so thick that the inner chambers are only accessible through narrow corridors — to tiny single-room shrines half-buried in the scrub. The Ananda Temple, built in 1105, is considered the finest expression of Mon architecture in Myanmar. The Shwezigon Pagoda, built by King Anawrahta, was the prototype for all Burmese pagodas that followed. The murals inside many of the smaller temples — frescoes painted in the 12th and 13th centuries — are extraordinarily well preserved and rarely visited.

The Practicalities

Myanmar's political situation since the 2021 military coup has made travel there complicated and ethically fraught. Tourism revenue is difficult to direct away from the military government. Before planning any trip, research the current situation thoroughly and consider how your visit and spending can best support local communities rather than the regime. The Bagan region's archaeological zone is administered independently and most tourist spending goes directly to local businesses. But this requires research and intention.

Research the current situation carefully before booking. When visiting, stay in locally-owned guesthouses, hire local guides directly, and eat in family restaurants rather than hotel restaurants.