Temple Hopping In Burma’s Beautiful Bagan

A monumental domination of the landscapes

With more than 2,000 glorious temple ruins condensed into an area of around 26 square-miles (67 square-kilometres), it could be argued that it is the sheer volume of temples, as opposed to any individual site, that makes Bagan so attractive. Many of the individual ruins might not be so impressive; collectively, Bagan’s ruins are magical!

Standing at ground level, you’ll notice many ruins all around you. Climb up higher though for some of the best views of the dramatic temple-studded landscapes. Many pagodas can be climbed, offering amazing vistas of Bagan’s beautiful ruins stretching far into the distance. If you’re feeling particularly flashy, you could also consider taking a hot air balloon ride. Prices start from around 320 USD (approximately 416,000 MMK).

Glorious ancient ruins of all shapes and sizes

Big ruins, small ruins, symmetrical ruins, irregularly-shaped ruins, remains in great states of preservation, remains that are crumbling and decaying, busy sites, quiet sites … you’ll find such an amazing and diverse array of interesting sites in Bagan!

You’ll find Buddha statues in various sizes and postures, some standing, some sitting, and some reclining. Some have weathered the years well, whereas others are really showing their age. Some ruins have beautiful colourful murals on their inner walls, and you’ll notice lots of brilliant decorative details both inside and out. A top tip is to take a torch with you on your adventures – many of the temples are very dark inside.

There is a charge of 20 USD (approximately 25,000 MMK) to enter the historical area of Bagan. Even if you don’t get stopped when arriving in Bagan, you may encounter ticket booths at some of the larger temples. Whilst many places accept both US dollars and Myanmar kyat, this fee is commonly asked for in the local currency.

Some of Bagan’s best temples to explore

It is very unlikely that you would want to try and visit each individual ruins (more than 2,000!), so you need to be somewhat selective when visiting Bagan. Of course, branch away from the tour groups and follow paths a little less trodden, but remember: certain sites are popular for a reason! Don’t skip somewhere just because it’s a bit busier than elsewhere.

Ananda Temple is the most revered temple in Bagan. Indeed, locals say that you haven’t been to Bagan unless you’ve visited the stunning Ananda Temple. A large temple, it houses four Buddha statues that face in each direction. Shwegugyi Temple is in a fantastic state of preservation, allowing you to easily see the splendour of Bagan’s temples in their prime. You can gaze up at Bagan’s tallest pagoda at Thatbyinnyu Temple.

The gleaming golden gem of Shwe Zigon Temple is particularly entrancing, especially when the sunlight shimmers and shines off its curved stupa, and you can spot the different architectural styles of traditional Burmese and Indian at Gawdaw Palin Temple.

Of course, this is just a tiny selection of the many spectacular sights of Bagan – grab a free map, available at most hotels, guest houses, tour companies, and pretty much anywhere frequented by tourists, to help you plan your time.

If you only have one day to spend in Bagan, you can manage to cram in most of the main temples. It would be such a pity to rush though! Ideally, it is recommended to spend at least a few days enjoying the majesty of Bagan.

Getting around the wonderful ruins

Walking will only get you so far in Bagan; using some other form of transportation is highly recommended to help you maximise your time in this splendid ancient city. A few sad-looking horses drag tourist-laden carriages around the ruins, although it is a lot kinder to look into other ways of getting around.

You could charter a taxi to take you between your chosen spots, with prices starting from around 38 USD (approximately 50,000 MMK) for a day. Prepare to haggle hard! Cycling along the bumpy and dusty tracks is a terrific way to get out and explore. Bicycles are available to rent in many places and will cost around 5 USD (approximately 6,500 MMK) per day.

Note that if you are planning to wake up early to watch one of Bagan’s famous sunrises over the temples to take a torch. In fact, take several! Roads are very poorly lit and you may find that your bike does not have a light.

A quicker option is to rent an electric bike. There are lots of rental outlets. Expect to pay around 15 USD (approximately 20,000 MMK) for a full day. Some places also charge by the hour. Just make sure to keep your battery charged! Several restaurants and shops offer charging facilities, or else, if you’re caught in a sticky situation, you can peddle for a while to get some power.