Category

Bo BoGyi means great grandfather, traditionally refers to the name of a guardian spirit, nat, unique to each Burmese Buddhist temple or pagoda. Bo BoGyi is typically depicted as a nearly life-sized elderly man, dressed in a curved cap and sometimes carrying a cane, to signify old...

The small pretty town of Kalaw sitting at 1300 metres above sea level on the western edge of the Shan Hills was a popular hill station during British colonial rule. Today it’s a popular place for those looking to hike through the scenic surrounding hills along trails that pass...

Every year, on the eve of the full moon day in October, the Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda festival is held, which sees the pagoda’s revered Buddha images displayed on the golden Karaweik – a replica of the ancient royal barge – and taken to villages around the lake. Unlike most other...

The 5-day Markets rotate among the villages in regular order – one village becomes the host of the market every 5th day. Exploring these markets will highlight the insight into the daily life of the ethnic Pa-O, Danu and Inthar inhabitants, who come to these markets to sell their...

Set in the heart of the vast Shan State and ringed by hazy mountain ranges, the shallow waters of Inle Lake are one of Myanmar’s most stunning scenic and cultural attractions. Its position 900 metres above sea level rewards visitors with pleasant temperatures throughout the day...

Indein is one of the small villages of Inlay Lake located on the western bank of the lake. A Buddha Image has been enshrined at a whitewashed stupa, which is on the summit of a hill. Below the stupa around the hill are cluster of hundreds of ancient stupas. The walkway of Shwe...

With a few interruptions Innwa (formerly known as Ava) was the capital of the Myanmar Kingdom for nearly 400 years, making it the longest running centre of government in the nation’s history. The city was finally abandoned in 1839 after a series of devastating earthquakes and the...

The Sawbwas of Hsipaw were well known and powerful and played fluctuating roles in regional Shan and national Burmese politics from the 11th century all the way until the 1962 military coup by General Ne Win. The Sawbwas of Hsipaw lived in the Shan Palace at the northern end of...

Preceded by associations of a rich and exotic past, Mandalay’s name resonates well beyond the borders of the country. The last royal capital of Burma and the country’s second largest city, Mandalay is considered the main economic hub of Upper Burma and is rich in Burmese culture,...

Popa In the middle of the scorched plain 50 kilometres (30miles) from Bagan rises Mount Popa, an extinct volcano set in a national reserve whose slopes are covered in lush greenery. Beautiful as it is the primary draw is a smaller rocky outcrop rising steeply out of its slopes...