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Bagan

Bagan (Myanmar)

Practical information on Bagan

  • Nature, Adventure & Sport
  • Place or Religious Monument
  • Archaeological Site
  • Place or Historical Monument
  • Essential
4 / 5 - 3 reviews
How to get there
Ten hours by bus from Yangon
When to go
From December to April
Minimum stay
1 to 2 days

Reviews of Bagan

Seasoned Traveller
20 written opinions

With its more than 2000 temples, Bagan is an incredible archaeological site, and well worth an excursion when visiting Burma!

My suggestion:
Avoid at the hottest times: the mid-afternoon sun is so strong that it makes it almost impossible to walk around. Please note: the area has become very touristy and some of the locals will try to sell you all kinds of items at exorbitant prices. 
My review

Bagan, a veritable journey back in time. In this ancient imperial Burmese city, temples, in their thousands, extend as far as the eye can see! I spent two days there, which I felt was sufficient. I was lucky enough to be able to admire the sunrise from atop the ruins of a small temple: an unforgettable experience!

It is possible to visit the site in either a horse-drawn carriage, by bicycle (for the more audacious) or by electric scooter. I chose the last option, and this enabled me to get around between the temples without too much difficulty. 

Some of the temples have been left to go to ruin, and you can pretend you're an adventurer and give free reign to your imagination as you clamber around the ruins, whereas others are well maintained. You can therefore tour the insides of these. 

A temple in Bagan
A temple in Bagan
Marine Faure Seasoned Traveller
47 written opinions

Bagan is an archaeological site situated on the central plain of Burma and made up of over 2,800 Buddhist monuments.

My suggestion:
Ask a local guide to show you the less visited temples, so as to avoid large tourist groups!
My review

Bagan is not to be missedduring your trip to Burma.

It was between the 11th and 12th Centuries that more than 4,000 pagodas, temples and stupas were built. Today, more than 2,800 remain - enough to take a least a day to visit by foot, bike or caleche!

The first time I went was about 15 years ago. Back then tourists were few and I could make the most of my trip. During my second visit, two years ago, I was surprised by the number of tourists. If you don't want to have to jostle to take a photo, ask a guide to show you the temples where fewer tourists go - that way you can fully enjoy the sights and sounds!

The temples of Bagan
michael mamane Seasoned Traveller
53 written opinions

One of the most important sites in Burma, the temples of Bagan, to the north of the country, will be an unforgettable moment during your trip to Burma.

My suggestion:
And don't miss the spectacular sunset, especially when viewed from the top of the Shwezigon Pagoda! Bagan is incredible, so plan to stay for 2 or 3 days.
My review

It has to be one of the greatest wonders in south-east Asia. The temples at Bagan are stunning and of all the historic sites I've visited, this one is definitely implanted in my memory.

For those of you who have seen the temples at Angkor, I can tell you that Bagan left me even more overwhelmed by its almost infinite number of stupas and pagodas. To really appreaciate its size and ambience, climb to the top of the Shwezigon Pagoda, where you can watch the sun go down against the jungle backdrop. An unforgettable experience.

During the day I rode around the temples by bike, as do a lot of visitors. And I suggest you spend at least 3 days here, if you want to explore the site and immerse youself in its magic. I'll also remember my arrival at Bagan, coming by boat from Mandalay along the Irrawaddy River. It was nightfall and the temple stupas cast oriental shadows across the land - an image that will stay with me forever.

View of Bagan