Myanmar (Burma) Vacation Travel & Tourism Information

Myanmar, formerly known as Burma, is located between the two greatest civilizations of Asia: India and China. Although these two neighbors influenced Myanmar in some ways, it managed to establish a different culture. In other European languages, Myanmar is known as French: Birmanie, Portuguese and Spanish: Birmania, German and Polish: Birma, Russian: Бирма.

Whether or not tourists should travel to Myanmar has been controversial for almost two decades. Some argue traveling to Myanmar could benefit the government. Proponents of Myanmar travel claim the more tourists come to Myanmar, the better for the lives of local people, thus getting more exposure to the outside world and in return tourists will learn more about Myanmar. Whatever rhetorics are being used here and there, visitors should be well-informed and attentive to their choices while traveling in Myanmar.

Tourism Overview

Myanmar tourism is slowly being paid the attention it deserves despite the global recession and the economic sanctions imposed on the country. According to statistics, 227,400 tourists visited the country in 2009. It was a 25% increase from 2008. A total of 47,161 European tourists visited Myanmar in 2009, representing 20 per cent of total arrivals. France made up the largest group of European visitors, with 10,225 visitors, followed by 8788 German visitors. There were 14,400 visitors from the United States. Some 148,000 of the visitors last year were from Asian countries, including 42,700 from Thailand and 23,634 visitors from China. On the other hand, neighboring Thailand enjoys approximately 14 millions of tourists every year while 3.77 millions of tourists visited Vietnam in 2009.

Major Tourist Attactions

Bagan

Bagan, a symbol of Myanmar culture and its uniqueness, is a major attraction of Myanmar tourism. Temples and pagodas in Bagan were built one thousand years ago at the plain of central Myanmar. It would be like seeing hundreds of Angkor Wat in one place. Bagan is notable for the number and size of individual temples. There are as many as 4,400 temples in Bagan. The majority of those buildings were built during the height of Myanmar's first kingdom (11th and 13th centuries). Bagan was submitted to become a UNESCO heritage site but was not designated as a World Heritage Site. Many speculate of politics as partly the reason for the exclusion.

Yangon

In Yangon, the former capital of Myanmar, the glittering Shwedagon pagoda dominates the skyline of the city. This magnificent pagoda is the most sacred Buddhist building in Myanmar, with relics of Buddha enshrined within. To foreign visitors, the pagoda represents the best of Myanmar arts and culture. Its environs constitute a veritable museum of the cultural aspects of Myanmar.

Mrauk U

Along the Bay of Bengal, in the northwest corner of Myanmar, lie the splendid ancient capital city of Mrauk U in Rakhine State. This city boasts its exclusive, marvelous Shitthaung, Kothaung, Dukekanthein and Lay Myat Hna buddhist temples. Those were built during 15th~16th centuries. Present-day Mrauk U, however, declined to a small town, the palace site, several ancient pagodas and temples give rise to a fast becoming tourist attraction in Myanmar.

Mandalay

Mandalay, the residence of the last Myanmar king, is a second largest city in Myanmar. The palace serves as a major tourist attraction. Rudyard Kipling's "Mandalay" poem and the Road to Mandalay song by Frank Sinatra gave the world its first inkling of the exotic city. The other well-known places in Mandalay include the Great Mahamuni Image, Kuthodaw pagoda, Kyauktawgyi pagoda, Mandalay Hill and some famous ancient monasteries such as Shwenanadaw and Atumashi. In Kuthodaw pagoda, there are 729 large slabs of stone on which the Three Pitakas (complete teachings of the Lord Buddha) have been inscribed. Mandalay is also a place the largest number of Buddhist monks can be found in the world.

Inle Lake

Inle Lake is the second largest lake in Myanmar. It lies over 2900 ft above sea level and surrounded by mountains. Tourists visit Bagan to study ancient temples, but they travel to Inle to enjoy peace, quiet, fine weather and natural beauty. There must be few places indeed that can beat Inle in providing rest and recreation to travel-weary tourists. Speedboating across a vast, clear and calm expanse of water among blue mountain ranges is a thrilling experience rarely encountered in humdrum city life.