In Photos – The Beautiful Temple Town of Bagan

Bagan is one of those places that I wished I could have stayed longer in. It was so laid back, I love the flavors of the local food, there’s not much vehicles and you could just cycle anywhere in town, the locals were so friendly and the whole town is incredibly beautiful. However the cost of accommodation was really expensive but I’m sure that in the future, the price will go lower as more and more guesthouses gets built to accommodate the increasing number of visitors.

It is said that there are thousands of temples and stupa scattered all over the town and I think I just saw handful of them when I was there. Anyway, enough of my blabbering and here are some pictures of Bagan.

Here’re some tips that could help you have a safe and affordable trip to Bagan:

1. If you’re on a every tight budget and if you’re traveling with a friend, always ask for the cost of a single room first. Most single rooms that they’re offering in Nyaung Shwe could fit two people (with double and twin beds – shared bathroom) but they don’t offer it right away. We only found it out on our second day. So after they show you the single room, ask how much will they charge if two people stays on the room that they showed you.

2. If you’re traveling solo, and if you’re traveling on a very tight budget then you might as well look for someone that you can share the room with. I usually do this once I meet fellow travelers inside the bus or at the bus station.

3. Prepare for the climate, we went to Bagan last February and during that time, the mornings were a bit cold but it was sunny and quite hot by noon and in the afternoon and it was raining late in the afternoon and at night. Make sure to check the weather forecast on the date of your traveler so you could bring appropriate stuff such as jackets, windbreakers etc.

4. Bicycle rental cost us $1.50 on our second day we haggled and we got to lower it to $1 because we rented it for around four days.

5. Always bring bottled water when exploring the town to keep yourself hydrated especially during the summer months as it can get very hot.

6. Apply sunscreen and wear long sleeve cotton shirts (and pants) to protect your skin from getting sun burnt.

7. Eat local food! It’s affordable and delicious! And also, try to eat in different restaurants to distribute the money to various small local businesses.

8. Wear face mask if you must, especially during the summer months when it’s very dry and dusty in Bagan.

9. Do not leave your belongings especially your valuables in your bicycle’s front basket. There are so many people that come and go in temples and in areas where bikes where usually parked.

10. Please bear in mind that some of the huge temples are still being used as places of worship. Kindly observe silence especially when there are locals praying inside the temples.