Sign in with Facebook"Bagan - the fabulous fairyland" Top 5 Page for this destination Bagan by tremendopunto
Bagan Travel Guide: 307 reviews and 1,204 photos
Bagan, the promised "Buddhafield" is a wide plain of approx. 42 square kilometers with formerly more than 4.000 pagodas, temples and monasteries - maybe the most impressive manmade symbol of human longing for redemption. The legend goes that Buddha himslef once stayed in Bagan and predicted that the next Buddha would appear here. So for his followers the area of Bagan is a Buddhafield where you can receive the biggest merits for your reincarnation. Making sacrifices here will give you the multiple credit of doing the same somewhere else. This resulted in one of the biggest collection of pagodas since every king or wealthy person that could afford to build pagodas, did so in this plain.
Take a look at my first Bagan Clip No.1. And here is theSecond Part and the Clip No.3.
Also for its decline there is a legend saying there was a prediction for the last king, Nahathihapati, that when he would finish his pagoda - the Mingalazedi Paya - his empire would be extinguished. So he stopped all work.....for a while......but finally did finish it just to see the Mongols at the gates. The king fled in panic, letting down the promised Buddhafield, the holy city of Bagan. For the Burmese a betrayal of their belief, they lost all trust in Bagan as the connection between heaven and earth - and left the place abandoned.
But even today, a long time after its hey-days, the pagodas are still in use and pilgrims come here to pray.
Nearly every pagoda has a story to tell or hides some dark secrets like Dhammayangyi Paya. Take your time to explore this wide area with its mass of amazing buildings. You can get lost for days in this maze of temples and pagodas......
Everybody is talking about Angkor, but Bagan offers the same magnificence WITHOUT the millions of masstourists. Especially now, the people of Burma are in desperate need for (the attentive) visitors. Calls for (tourist)boycotting this country only hits the common people - not the Junta leaders. I mentioned "attentive" tourists, because you have to look carefully where you spend your money. Avoiding all profit for the Generals and their crew might be impossible since visa fees, taxes or also entry fees end up in their pockets, but by all means avoid luxury 5-star hotels, government airlines and all business involved with the Junta and the generals who try to keep all business within their "families".
For Bagan, especially avoid the watchtower - those 10 bucks certainly go to the wrong pockets.
For Burma, I guess individual travelling is the best solution, since you have a better control of your spendings. You can minimize the Juntas profit and maximize the benfit to the common people.
And for security worries, according to my experience, Burma is a very safe country with the nicest people you can imagine.
More coming soon..........
Reviews (41)
Myauk Guni Temple
Things to Do
(19)
Located south-west of Dhammayangyi this is just a minor temple that doesnt get much attention from tourists. Everywhere... more travel advice
Balloon over Bagan
Transportation
(7)
If you wnat to burn some cash for a good, if not the best over Bagan, try the Balloonservice. I didnt seriously think... more travel advice
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Comments (11)
nice tips!
Thanks Jim! But I will have to update my Burma impressions soon - there is a BIG change going on in the country at the moment and for the better - let´s hope for the best!
been checking your bagan page and been dreaming again :0) great tips, thanks for sharing. and advanced birthday greetings too! more adventures for you chris ... happy travels!
Chosen New Park Hotel, a notch above I guess, mate...nothing too fancy smancy but not that rustic either....grin
Leaving soon to Bagan, your tips are very helpful. Thanks.
Great photos and descriptions. I've never left Europe so things like drinks in a bag or those overcrowded pickup trucks seem very exotic. Must have been a great trip for you.
hey great tips and pics ny freind keep up the good work and travels. stay safe
A great job !!!! Beautiful photos and very interesting tips for Bagan Gracias!!!!!
I'm sure this will be THE difinitive guide to Bagan on VT when you finish Chris! Fantastic photographs and great work on the text info. One of my favourite places.
haha. good. i dont need to check others but check with my gege instead if i wanna be there one day .
Good I didnt use Air Bagan then. Still, it is difficult to check on each company`s background, though I did my best.