The delightful nature of Asia will show you here in all its glory: the north of the country is inhabited by mountain ranges, and the coast seems to be a real paradise. Myanmar is a kind of archeological reserve in the light of not only charming beauties, but also local sights. An extraordinary collection of values and cultural heritage is stored in the ancient Buddhist temples, looking at them as if you feel something completely incomprehensible.
There are many places of interest in Myanmar, and it seems almost impossible to list everything. You can even just talk about some of them for hours. Therefore, we will try to summarize clearly what is worth seeing in Myanmar in the first place.
Top 10 most impressive and fascinating sights of the country
- Bagan . The ancient capital of the country is called the city of thousands of churches. Perhaps, Bagan (Pagan) is the most important tourist attraction in Myanmar. Today there are 2229 religious buildings here. The most famous temples are the Ananda temple , the Schwesigong pagoda, the Tabinnyu temple. All of them are preserved in their original form, although they look now slightly shabby.
- Shwedagon Pagoda . The golden heart of the country. A whole complex of pagodas and temples, in the center of which is a huge gilded dome. In height it is slightly less than 100 m, and its spire is crowned by a sphere of pure gold, decorated with diamonds and other precious stones. According to legend, in this place are the ancient relics of the four Buddhas. It is the center of religious pilgrimage and the spiritual life of the country.
- The Chaittio Pagoda, or the Golden Stone . Another sacred place for the people of Myanmar. At the top of the mountain, a huge stone block balances the most incomprehensible way. According to the legends, she does not allow her to fall off the hair of the Buddha, which is stored at the base of this design. Across the circumference, the stone is plastered with plates of gold leaf, and on top of it a stupa of 5.5 m high rises.
- Inle Lake . The second largest in the country. It is located at an altitude of 1400 m above sea level and is simply amazing with its beauty. In the center of the lake there is a temple on stilts - the Monastery of Leaping Cats, and several villages are stretching along the coast. Here you can learn about the way of life and traditions of the indigenous people of Myanmar.
- The Mahamuni Pagoda . Another deeply revered temple in Myanmar. In the pagoda is stored a 4-meter statue of Buddha, it is also the oldest. According to legend, when it was created, Gautama Buddha himself was present. What is characteristic, women are forbidden to touch the statue, and men, as a sign of honor, mold on it plates of gold leaf. In addition, the pagoda of Mahamuhi holds a unique gong weighing almost 5 tons.
- City Mingun . It contains several valuable relics of Myanmar, and it is not even possible to single out the whole ode from them. It is certainly worth mentioning the Pagoda Mingun Pathodogy, which was to become the largest of its kind, but because of the terrible prophecy the construction was stopped. In Mingun also there is the largest active bell in the world. Its weight is more than 90 tons. And here is perhaps the most beautiful temple of Myanmar - the Synbume-Paya pagoda. It appears before us in a snow-white color, and every detail carries a certain subtext. In the center of the pagoda stands the sacred mountain Mera, which is surrounded by 7 undulating ridges.
- Taung Kalat . Another wonder of Myanmar. It is a mountain of volcanic origin, on top of which there is a Buddhist temple. A ladder of 777 steps leads to him. From the top of the mountain are wonderful views of Bagan and surrounding areas.
- The town of Moniv . In this list, it combines the sights of Myanmar, like the thirty-story Buddha building, the Garden of a thousand Bodhi trees and the Tanbodhi pagoda. By the way, next to the first one is a huge statue of a reclining Buddha 90 meters long. Inside there is an entire gallery with images illustrating the religious idea of hell and paradise, and in the Garden there are actually more trees and beside each one there is a small Buddha figure. It looks very impressive.
- Caves of Pindaya . Another place of pilgrimage. In the caves collected about 8 thousand Buddha statues. Thus, the local residents tried to protect them from the encroachments of the Burmese army, and eventually this place turned into a shrine altogether. At the entrance to the caves is Shwe U Ming pagoda, and its stupa reaches 15 m in height. In addition to religious shrines, you can also admire the natural features - stalactites and an underground lake.
- Tattooed women of the Chin tribe . Perhaps the last item on our list will not be a religious shrine or even a curiosity of nature. Today, these are old women with drawings on their faces, since 50 years ago a ban on this kind of tradition was issued. Women of the Chin tribe were famous for their beauty, so they were pilfered by men from other villages. Hence the tradition of painting girls faces to reduce their beauty. Every year, there are fewer such women, but you can meet them in the villages of the Lemro River valley.
Each city of Myanmar stores in itself some unique corners with a luxurious view, rich history and mysterious legends. Of course, most of them differ in religious meaning, sometimes they seem monotonous, but this is not so. Myanmar's attractions are amazing with its luxury, and the locals are surprised by the breadth of their soul.