BAGAN AREA (PAGAN)

Phone code: 06

Tourist Office: Myanmar Travel & Tours (MTT). Open from 8.30am-16.30pm.

Post Office: Located in Anawrahta Road. Open from 9.30-7pm.

 

Get here:

By boat

Mandalay>Bagan: Cost 10$. It takes about 5 hours. Wednesday and Sunday departs at 5.30 am

Pakokku>Bagan: 5.30am, 1pm (3.000 Kyats)

Bagan>Pakokku: 9.30am, 15.30pm (3.000 Kyats)

From Bagan docks to Nyang U cost about 3.000 Kyats, Old Bagan 4.000 Kyats and New Bagan about 5.000 Kyats.

By plane

There are daily flights from Yangon and Mandalay to Nyaung U airport. Taxis to/from this aiport cost from 5.000 kyats to Nyaung U, 6.000 Kyats to Old Bagan and 7.000 to New Bagan.

 

There is a 10 $ fee for all foreign visitors to Bagan area. When you check-in/out the guest house/hotel, they should require you, because hotels are supposed to report to the government this payment. I have to admit I didn’t know  that and I spent my first day visiting temples and I didn’ t pay anything. Only second day when I got to a big temple where everyone goes to see the sunset, they asked me for the ticket and I had to pay because I went there with other travelers. I also met two guys that didn’ t pay the ticket during their stay in Bagan and when they checked out, the staff in the guest house asked them to show the ticket or pay 10$.
 

Some bus companies drop you off at the hotel. Most of the travelers on a budget find a place to sleep in Nyaung U.

Around Bagan area there are 3 main towns: Nyaung Oo (Main area full of guest houses, more appealing for low budget travelers). New Bagan has a quite atmosphere and some charming hotels. Old Bagan (On the heart of the archeolagogical area. There are mainly luxury and expensive hotels)

The temples are on the way from Nyaung Oo to New/ Old Bagan or vice versa.

Best way to see the area is hiring a bicycle. Also hire a carriage for around 12-15.000 kyats/day. In Old Bagan is more expensive, around 20.000 Kyats/day.

Another original and spectacular way to see Bagan is with Balloon. Departs from Wet Kyi Inn Village at 6am and 5 pm (sunrise and sunset). Takes from 45 minutes-1 hour. Fly from October-March. ( (+95) 1 652809 www.balloonsoverbagan.com    

 

Getting out

 

Bagan>Inle – There are several buses around 7 to 8 am but they’re not famous for their punctuality. Getting to Kalaw takes about 7 hours
 

NYAUNG OO (U)

The cheapest place to sleep and the best area to see the local daily life.

 

Accommodation

 

New Heaven Hotel- From 4$. Clean compact rooms.  (061-60921).

 

Pann Cherry- From 5$ (coach), 8$ single room. No breakfast included. Address: Main road, first guest house on the left (Coming from the bus station and after the Shwezigone Pagoda). (061-60075

 

Pyinsarupa Guest house- From 8$/room (single/ twin room with fan and shared bathroom) There are also double and triple rooms with fan, shared or private bathroom for 12-15$/room. Curtains are falling down. Fans sometimes don’t work very well and shared bathroom is a bit filthy. Definitely it’ s not the best guest house I’ve been but good enough for the price. Breakfast included. Staff are helpful, they can arrange to book any ticket, rent bikes or whatever you need. Address: Main rd. (061-60607

 

 

Eden Motel- 5–25$ (double room with bathroom). Breakfast included in the nice terrace of the Motel. There are two buildings, on either side of the road. The old one has some rooms with hard wood floor and bamboo walls, while the new building has better, bigger rooms with cleaner bathrooms. (061-60815, 061-60812. Address:  Anawrahta Road.

Golden Village Inn- Price starts at 8$ up to 18$ with TV and bath tub. Rooms are clean and comfortable. Good breakfast. (061-60921. Address: Nieopodal Anawratha Main Road, Block 5, Nyaung U

Greenwich Hotel- Double from 18$. Offer bungalow type rooms with attached bathroom and A/C, minibar, TV, wooden floor and hot water. Address: Block 4, Thiripytsaya Street, Nyaung U. www.myanmargreenwich.com

 

Inn Wa Guest House- 5–8 $ for fan rooms on the ground floor and 15–18 $ for air con rooms with attached bathroom on the 1st floor. Breakfast is included and is served on the roof top which is the best part. (061-60902, 061-60849 Address: Lanmadaw Road, Ywar thit Ward..

 

May Khalar Guest House- Price range from 7 $-15$. The owner and the staff are friendly. Rooms are basic and clean. There is air-con and hot water in every room. Breakfast included. Rooms on the first floor have TV. Bagan Main Road. (061-60306, 061-60907, 60664. It’s located near the Central Market. Address: Main Road, Nyaung U.

 

Lucky Seven Guest House- Address: Lanmadaw, Sone Kon Ward. Nyaung U. ( (061) 60474

 

New Park Hotel- From 16-25$. 24 bungalow style rooms. Upper rooms are wide, with TV, minibar, A/C and attached bathrooms with hot water in all rooms. New rooms also has a fridge. Breakfast included. They can arrange any transport booking or hire some bicycle, horse carriage or car rental for you. Address: Thiripytsaya, Block 4. Located in front of Kan Thar Oo and 10 minutes driving from Nyaung U Airport. ( (+95) 061-60322, 061-60484  www.newparkmyanmar.com

 

Yar Kinn Tha Hotel- From 30$ bungalow. Rooms have A/C, TV, minibar, nice and clean bathromms with hot water. Breakfast included. Address: Anawrahta Road. (60501  www.yarkinntha.com

 

Yoon Myo Thu Guest House- Address: Kyan Sit Thar Ward, Bagan. Nyaung U ( (061) 70272 ,70273.

 

NEW BAGAN

Bagan Central Hotel- 35$ AC, clean and private bathroom.  No wi-fi. There are 26 rooms cottages style. Breakfast  included. The owner is extremely helpful. Nearby you can use the Wi-Fi from the Green Elephant restaurant. 5/16 Khayae Street, New Bagan.

 

Blue bird hotel- Prices around 100 $. 24 deluxe non-smoking rooms, Widescreen LCD TV with satellite channels and dvd. I also has a swimming pool and wifi,. Breakfast is included. Address: Naratheinkha (10) , Bagan Myo Thit. Check for offers here: www.bluebirdbagan.com

 

Kaday Aung hotel- 15$ Style- Hotel imitates Pagoda style. Large beds in tatami style. It has a nice garden and swimming pool. Address: Hninn Pann Street. kaunglayinn@myanmar.com.mm (65070.

 

Kumudara hotel- Suites 36-48$. Bungalows are a bit old but rooms of the new blocks are very wide and includes fridge and microwave. Regular rooms include A/C, minibar, satellite TV, phone and swimming pools. There are fantastic views of the temples from the hotel. Address: Intersection 5 Street and Daw Na. (65142. www.kumudara-bagan.com

 

Ruby True hotel- Myat Lay Road, New Bagan. Ph.: 061-65043,061-65065  www.rubytrue.com

 

Thiri Marlar hotel- 30$ (27.000kyats) standard room and Superior 45$ (40.000 kyats) (internet on-line booking) or published rates: Standard 45$ (32.000 kyats) and Superior 50$ (45.000 ks). All rooms have A/C, free Wi-fi, hot water and minibar. On the top floor they have a terrace with great views, where they serve breakfast, included in the room. www.bagan-thirimarlar-hotel.com      

 

TIP! Keep in mind that gets dark around 6pm. If you are planning to get back from the temples later than that by bicycle, it is recommended to bring a headlight, as the roads around Bagan have no street lights at all! There are also some areas full of mosquitoes on these roads.
 

Visit

It`s possible to rent a bike to tour Bagan (3,000 Kyats/day).

 

Mount Popa  is about 1 hour south of Bagan. Climb up 777 steps to see the temple to the top of the mountain.
 

Shwezigon Pagoda-  (free entrance) it is a fabulous building in the small town of Nyaung U. It was first built by King Anaweahta and finished by Kyansittha (1084-1113). Shwezigon enshrines one of the four replicas of the Buddha tooth brought from Sri Lanka.

 

Eat

Nyaung U

Aroma 2- Excellent family restaurant based in indian cuisine. Open from 11am- 2pm and dinner from 5.30pm-10.30pm.

Eden BBB- Main Rd, Wet Gyi Inn, Nyaung U (061-60040)

Fuji Sone Gone Ward, Nyaung U (062-70295)

Green Elephant restaurant- They have fast Wi-Fi, but the food was expensive and does not taste good. We only went there for the atmosphere, the drinks.

Htar Gyi Near Thande Hotel- Myoma kwet Thit Ward. (061-60489

Min Thiha (Myanmar Buffet) Near Shwe Zigon Pagoda. Nyaung U (061-60464

Mya Yadana Restaurant Main Rd, Wet Gyi Inn.Nyaung U (061-60882

Nanda restaurant- It’ s a bit expensive but food is worth. From 8.000 Kyats. Offers live shows (Burmese music, puppet shows, traditional shows,..) usually from 6.30 and 7.30pm. Wet Gyin Village.

Naung U Minthar Resturant- Main Rd. Myoma Kwet Thit Ward, Nyaung U. (061-60693

Pho Cho Restaurant- Thiripyitsayar 4th St, Nyaung U. (061-60433

Pyiwa restaurant- 1.500-7.000 Kyats. Located near Yarkhintar hotel. Good Chinese cuisine. Tampawaddy Lanmadaw St, Ywar Thit Ward. Nyaung U (061-60868

The Black Bamboo- Prices start from 3.000 Kyats. Charming café with garden in a little oasis. Open from 9am-11pm. Address: Yar Khin Thar Street, Nyaung U. Cell (09 -650 1444 baganblackbamboo@gmail.com

Wonderful Tasty- Small restaurant. Address: No 5, Yar Khin Thar Hotel St, Thiripyitsayar Ward., Nyaung U.

 

New Bagan

Green Elephant Yamonar (River View) New Bagan. Thiripyitsayar Ward. (061-60238, 02-67099

Mar Lar Theingi (Myanmar Buffet) North of Anandar Pagoda, Old Bagan. (061-60397,09 2042

Pwint Mar Lar(Myanmar Buffet) East of Market, New Bagan. (02-67148

 

Old Bagan

The Moon restaurant- From 3.000 kyats. It’s an open-air restaurant that prepare delicious vegetarian food. It’s probably the most famous veggie restaurant in Myanmar. Located North of Ananda Temple (near the Old Gate), in Old Bagan, Bagan. Mon-Sun: 7.30 am 9.30 pm. (+95 9 430 12411 themoonrestaurantbagan@gmail.com

 

Where to buy

Central Market

Museum Thanaka Shwe Pyi Nann- It’ s a shop and a museum. It’s the only thanaka Museum-Gallery in the world. It has also a restaurant, a massage service and Internet shop. Address: Intersection F.I.T. Road with Main Road. Phone: 60179 www.shwepyinann.com (this web is not working right now)

In New Bagan, Bagan House. It’ s a lacqueware workshop that displays a wide range of products. It’ s also possible to visit the workshop. Bagan lacqueware’s are unique around the world. Some artists can take between 6 months and 1 year to finish it.