Make Your Way to Myanmar
Myanmar is finally flourishing after a turbulent history. Life in Myanmar is now much more democratic, after the 2015 elections of a new government. Life has changed dramatically as a result for the 51 million people who call this country home. As sanctions have been dropped, Myanmar has opened its borders completely to tourists and now is a great time to visit before influence from the outside world changes the country forever.
Myanmar is bordered by five different countries – India, Bangladesh, China, Laos and Thailand – and there are more than 100 ethnic groups within the country. This makes for a truly fantastic mix of language, culture, history and ways of life that visitors will love discovering for themselves.
Mandalay
Mandalay is the second largest city in Myanmar and can be found in the central region of the country. It is the economic and financial capital of Upper Burma and is incredibly lively, with traffic everywhere and with more skyscrapers joining the landscape seemingly every week.
Beyond the hustle and bustle, there are a multitude of monasteries, pagodas and charming, traditional teahouses. Don’t skip the chance to visit Mahamuni Buddha Temple, one of the most important Buddhist pilgrim sites in the country. It was built in 1785 and is an incredibly ornate and beautiful building that visitors are welcome to enter and explore.
Naypyidaw
Despite not being the largest city in the country, Naypyidaw has been the capital of Myanmar since 2006. It is an incredibly new city, having been founded on a greenfield site in only 2002. This gives the city a rather interesting and artificial feel as everything is brand new and there are no historical buildings.
Many features and buildings you would expect to find in a major city have not been constructed yet, but one building that stands out is the Uppatasanti Pagoda. This golden pagoda was constructed in 2009 and the name translates to ‘Peace Pagoda’. It stands 99 metres tall and is the most prominent landmark in the city.
Yangon
Yangon is the most exciting and visited spot in Myanmar and is also the largest city in the country. Since the governmental changes in 2006, Yangon has been blossoming and a tirade of new restaurants, bars, cafes and shops have opened across the city. Visitors to Yangon will love the bustling, energetic open-air markets, street food vendors, colonial architecture, great nightlife and the friendly and welcoming locals.
Amidst all the growth and modernisation in the city there is still much tradition to be found. There are temples, mosques and churches throughout Yangon, many of which are open to visitors. Be sure to visit the Sule Pagoda, which is reputed to be over 2,000 years old. Others you shouldn’t miss the chance to see are Shwedagon Pagoda, Yangon High Court and Botataung Pagoda.
Mandalay, Naypyidaw and Yangon are three of the most popular destinations in Asia that Chapman Freeborn charter private jets to and from. For more information contact our expert team today.
