Golden Land
Beautiful Burma
November 16 – 26, 2010
CROSSROADS OF ASIA
With one look at Myanmar, a first-time visitor will feel like this
country combines the best that Southeast Asia offers. It begins with
the magnificent diversity of landscape, from pristine beaches to
snow-capped mountains, from virgin rainforests and dense jungles
to lush river deltas. Add into that a vibrant culture comprising
over 135 different ethnic groups and a glorious heritage spanning
more than two thousand years with spectacular monuments and ancient
cities to show for it.
For all of its traditional delights and
unique qualities, Myanmar is still much of a mystery. It remains to
this day one of
the most
undiscovered destinations in the world. To the uninitiated, it seems
like the country just emerged as an ancient artifact into the modern
world. Much of that mystery and inaccessibility has been due to military
regimes that brutally keep the country under its collective thumb and
under wraps to the outside world.
Originally known as Burma, the country
was a group of city states that all fought with one another for centuries
over wealth, influence and
territory. Eventually, these independent states grew into a central
kingdom, one of the most vast in all of Asia. Burma’s great size
and position as a port on the Andaman Sea made it a prime target of
British Colonialism. The Brits came in 1824 and ruled the country for
the next 62 years. By 1886, Britain had incorporated Burma in the British
Raj, as a province of India until 1937 when it became a self-governing
colony.
During World War II, the British administration collapsed in the face
of Japanese invasion. Their withdrawal paved the way for years of unrest
and ongoing power struggles that still continue to some extent to this
day. However, visitors should know that Myanmar is considered one of
the world’s safest destinations for travelers.
Despite its problematic history, the
country itself, with its friendly people (eager to have contact with
the outside world), beautiful scenery
and abundant wildlife, is all the reason one needs to decide to visit.
Fortunately, the country does boast highly rated hotels in all the
major centers, as well as stunning mountain and coastal resorts. You
definitely don’t have it rough it in the wild, if that’s
not your cup of tea.
Yangon (formerly Rangoon), the cosmopolitan
capital city, still maintains its colonial charm with wide tree lined
avenues,
tranquil
lakes, and gracious turn
of the century architecture. Bagan is one of the most remarkable archaeological
sights in Asia, if not the world, with ancient temples that dot the
landscape as far as the eye can see. Mandalay, situated on the banks
of the magnificent Irrawaddy River, still evokes images of a romantic
bygone era. Inle Lake, famous for its leg rowers, floating markets
and prolific birdlife, is a unique wetland environment, where whole
villages sit on floating islands on the lake.
Myanmar sits at the crossroads of Asia’s
great civilizations of India and China. Whether seeing the mighty Irrawaddy
River, the ancient
city of Bagan, or searching for an elusive tiger, there is always a
feeling of adventure wherever you go. Above all, Myanmar offers the
warmest welcome in Asia, making this truly a “Golden Land.”
ITINERARY
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Depart USA
Depart your home city today on an overnight international flight
to Yangon, Myanmar. (Search for flights using the airport code: RGN)
One convenient entry route is through Bangkok. Our travel partners
in Asia will be happy to help you make your air reservations from Bangkok
to Yangon, and also for the Cambodia extension if you would like. Click
here to see recommended flights.
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Arrival in Myanmar / Shwedagon Pagoda
Plan to arrive in Yangon, Myanmar, as early as possible today. You
will be met at the airport and transferred to our centrally located
hotel
in the
city. Depending on the time of your arrival, you will have free time
to relax and recover from jet-lag.
Before sundown we meet in the hotel’s lobby and enjoy our first sightseeing
excursion to the Shwedagon Pagoda.
The highlight of any visit to Yangon is
the Shwedagon Pagoda. It towers over the city and is the most sacred
spot in the country, built to house eight hair relics of the Buddha. The
Shwedagon and surrounding shrines are particularly beautiful during
the sunset hour, as the golden stupa reflects the changing colors of
twilight. After the sun has set, we will enjoy a Welcome Dinner at
Kipling’s Restaurant in our hotel.
Overnight in
Yangon. (Dinner included)
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Sightseeing in Yangon / Fly to Bagan
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.
National Museum: A museum with several interesting
exhibits, especially the 8 meter high Sihasana Lion Throne, used
by King Thibaw
Min, the
last Burmese king, and returned to Burma in 1908 by Lord Mountbatten.
The main floor contains jewelry, old black and white photos of
Mandalay Palace and Yangon, royal relics, Hintha opium weights and
inscribed
tablets.
This afternoon we transfer to the airport for a
domestic flight to Bagan, where we transfer to our hotel for overnight. (Breakfast
/ Dinner)
Friday, November 19, 2010
Sightseeing 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. Among the famous sights we see today are:
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 throughout Burma.
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: The Manuha Temple was built in 1059 by
King Manuha, the King of Thaton, who was brought captive to Bagan by
King
Anawrahta.
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 an ideal spot from which
to watch Bagan’s magnificent
sunsets.
Lacquerware Workshop: The villages around
Bagan are known for producing the finest lacquerware in Myanmar.
Stop by
one
of the
workshops
and
learn about the painstaking process of laquerware making and decoration.
Overnight in Bagan. (Breakfast
/ Dinner)
Saturday, November 20, 2010
Sightseeing in Bagan
After breakfast we continue exploring more of the majestic and extraordinary
temples of Bagan. These temples not only make up the most wondrous
sight in Myanmar, but rival Cambodia’s Angkor Wat in terms of scope
and wow-factor. Today’s visits include:
Mahabodhi Temple: Inspired by the Mahabodhi at
Bodh Gaya in India, this temple was built during the reign of King
Nantaungmya (1211
to 1234). Temples of this nature only appeared during the Late
Bagan period
and the Mahabodhi is the only one of this style in Bagan.
Dhamayangyi Temple: The brickwork of
this temple is said to rank as one of the finest in Bagan. Built
in the 12th century,
it is
not
exactly
clear which King actually started the construction. Some sources
say it was King Narathu, others say it was constructed a little
earlier, during the reign of King Alaungsithu.
Sulamani Temple: Built in 1181 by King
Narapatisithu, this temple is one of the best examples of the later,
more sophisticated
temple
styles.
Carved stucco on moldings, pediments and pilasters represents
some of Bagan’s finest ornamental work, and is in fairly good condition.
Nandamannya Temple: This small, single
chambered temple dates from the 13th century. The mural paintings
in the
interior
tell
the story
of the temptation of Mara.
Thatbyinnyu Temple: This temple rises
up to 61 meters and is one of Bagan’s tallest monuments. It is
also called the Omniscient
Temple
and
its enormous size makes it a classic example of Bagan middle period.
King Alaungsithu built the Thatbyinnyu Temple in the 12th century.
Overnight in Bagan. (Breakfast
/ Dinner)
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Mandalay
We check out of our hotel this morning and fly from Bagan
to Mandalay. The last capital of royal Burma, Mandalay is still one
of
the largest
cities
in Myanmar,
and
a cultural
and
spiritual center. Neighboring Sagaing is home to over sixty percent
of the country’s
monks, while the artisans of Mandalay continue to turn out the finest
crafts in Myanmar. This morning we visit Mahamuni Paya. The
Mahamuni image enshrined here is perhaps the most venerated image
in
Myanmar,
covered in over 15 cm of gold leaf. Worshippers flock daily to the
shrine at four in the morning to observe the unique face-washing
ceremony. Enroute to the pagoda, stop to observe the laborious process
of gold leaf beating, where gold is painstakingly hammered into tissue-thin
squares. Before breaking for lunch, visit a workshop specializing
in
one of the arts for which the city is famous: bronze-casting, marble-carving,
wood-carving, or puppetry.
The afternoon’s touring includes some
of the city’s most interesting temples and palaces. Begin at Shwenandaw
Kyaung, or the Golden Teak
Monastery.
Built entirely of golden teak, this intricately carved wooden monastery
was once part of the Mandalay Palace, used as private apartments
by King Mindon and his chief queen. Continue to Kyaukawgyi
Paya, famous
for its monumental seated Buddha, carved from a single block of marble,
and the elegant Sandamani Paya. Finally, visit Kuthodaw
Paya, known also as the world’s biggest book. Around
the central
stupa
are miniature
pavilions, each housing a slab of marble. Numbering altogether 729,
these slabs are inscribed with the entire Tripitkata, or Buddhist
scriptures. Overnight in Mandalay. (Breakfast
/ Dinner)
Monday, November 22, 2010
Excursion to Amarapura, Sagaing, and Inwa
This day of touring includes visits to three former royal capitals,
each with its own unique atmosphere. In the morning, drive to Amarapura and
visit Mahagandayon Monastery. Every day at mid-morning,
monks and novices line up to receive their daily offering of alms and
food from faithful
Buddhists. Next,
head to Sagaing, the spiritual center of Myanmar.
Hundreds of stupas, monasteries, temples and nunneries are to be found
in Sagaing
Hill,
sometimes known as a living Bagan. Thousands of monks and nuns retreat
here for meditation and contemplation. Stop at some of the most famous
temples, such as Tupayon Paya and Hsinmyashin
Paya (the Pagoda of Many Elephants).
Cross the river by ferry to Inwa, situated
on the banks of the Irrawaddy River. Once a royal capital, Inwa is
now a quiet rural oasis. Enjoy
a leisurely horsecart ride around the peaceful countryside,
briefly visiting Bagaya Kyaung, a beautiful teak wood
monastery, Maha Aungme Bozan Kyang, and Nan
Myint Tower. On
the way, stop and observe how local artisans make the famous alms bowls
out of iron. Finally, return
to Amarapura to end the day at U Beina’s Bridge, a
picturesque teak bridge which extends over one kilometer across Taungthaman
Lake.
At dusk, the bridge teems with monks and local people as they stroll
home or linger to enjoy the colors of the sunset. Overnight in Mandalay. (Breakfast
/ Lunch
/ Dinner)
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Heho / Inle Lake
Check out of our hotel this morning and fly from Mandalay to Heho, where
we transfer to Inle
Lake. Located in Shan
State, Inle Lake is beautiful and tranquil. Its calm
waters
are dotted
with
patches
of
floating vegetation and fishing canoes. High hills rim the lake on
all sides.
The lake’s shore and islands are home to 17 villages built on stilts
and mostly inhabited by the Intha people. Enjoy the spectacular scenery
and
observe the
skilled fisherman using their leg-rowing technique to propel themselves
around the lake. Visit the floating gardens, a floating market and
a Intha village around the lake (please note that no markets take
place on full moon or new moon days). Our sightseeing also includes
visits to the Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda, Inn Paw
Khon Village to see lotus
and silk weaving, and the Nga Phe Kyaung Monastery. Overnight
in
Inle
Lake. (Breakfast / Lunch
/ Dinner)
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Boat Excursion on Inle Lake to Indein
Travel by boat to the western shore of the lake where a stairway
leads to the hidden Indein Temple Complex. Located
on the shore of the lake,
this site consists of hundreds of small stupas overgrown by moss and
jungle greenery. Overnight in Inle Lake. (Breakfast
/ Dinner)
Thursday, November 25, 2010 (Thanksgiving Day)
Return to Yangon / Farewell to Burma
Transfer this morning from Inle Lake to Heho for our return flight
to Yangon. We transfer to our hotel and enjoy free time for last-minute
souviner shopping and independent sightseeing prior to our Farewell
Dinner at our hotel’s fine restaurant. Overnight in Yangon. (Breakfast
/ Dinner)
Friday, November 26, 2010
Departure
This tour of exotic Myanmar concludes officially
after breakfast this morning. Those who are going home today can book
flights
departing
Yangon at any convenient time. The airport code is RGN. Those continuing
on the Toto Tours Cambodia Extension will transfer to the airport for
a flight to Siem Reap, Cambodia. The cost of this flight is not
included. (Breakfast)
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