Bagan is one of the most religious cities in Asia and some call Bagan the ancient royal capital of Myanmar. It is situated about 680 kilometers from the northern Yangon. The trip to Bagan takes an hour long flight or driving by using a motorway could give a great look at the scenery of the countryside. If starting from Mandalay, Bagan is accessible via either a 3 hour drive or an overnight cruise which is a pleasant riverine trip.
There are over 2,000 temples, pagodas and shrines, representing the rich cultural heritage of the 11th to 13th centuries. Nearly all tourists visit Bagan’s famous pagodas such as the Shwezigon Pagoda, the Htilominlo Pagoda, the Ananda, Thatbyinnyut Temple, the Gubyaukgyi, Dhammayangyi Temple and Bupaya Pagoda. Some pagodas could be explored on foot or by biking. There is an excellent place in Bagan for ecotourism and that is at the sacred Mount Popa located around 80 km Southeast of Bagan.