From the sun-soaked plains of Bagan to the mist-shrouded mountains of Shan State, ancient religious edifices reach for the sweltering skies throughout Myanmar. Temples and pagodas tell tales from times gone by, and their stupas and stones glisten with the day’s first and final rays from the tropical sun. In Myanmar, still also known as Burma, temples and pagodas offer a unique opportunity to get a feel for the spiritual and historical past of one of the planet’s least touristy nations.
By area, Myanmar is the largest country in Southeast Asia, but it sees the smallest population of tourists. Aside from Buddhist temple tours, there are plenty of natural and other cultural experiences to enjoy in Burma. Temples and pagodas may be our focus here, but the country also offers excellent trekking among ethnic hill tribes, cruises down the Irrawaddy River, and the stunning scenery surrounding Inle Lake.
Before we delve deeper into the pagodas and temples of Burma, let’s quickly clarify the distinction between these two types of Buddhist structures.
Understanding Burma Temples and Pagodas
To Buddhists, including in Myanmar, temples are places for meditation or worship, playing a similar role to the church in Christianity and the mosque in Islam. Temples, or temple complexes, often feature a number of buildings, some of which may be pagodas.
A pagoda, known as a paya in Burmese, is a memorial building that usually features a relic chamber. The term pagoda is thought to have its roots in the Sinhala word dagaba, meaning “relic chamber” in the Sri Lankan language.
Myanmar’s Most Iconic, Historic, and Unusual Temples and Pagodas
1. Shwedagon Pagoda
Location: Yangon, Yangon Region, Myanmar
Built: 1363 CE
Best Time to Visit: From November to early February is the cooler, dry season, and the early-morning light during these months offers the best conditions for visiting and for photography.
Sitting atop the small Singuttara Hill, the tip of the 112-meter (367 ft) pagoda stands 170 meters (560 ft) above sea level. Thanks to more recent rules that limit the capital city’s buildings to 127 meters (417 feet) above sea level, the pagoda will take center stage in Yangon’s skyline for years to come.
Among the myriad Buddhist pagodas of Myanmar, Shwedagon is seen as the most spiritually important and is said to house the relics of four previous Buddhas. Also known as the Great Dagon Pagoda and the Golden Pagoda, the pagoda’s base is built from gold-plated bricks, and its umbrella crown, the ornament that tops most Burmese pagodas, is tipped with 5,448 diamonds and 2,317 rubies.
Visiting Tip:
Shwedagon is open from 4 a.m. to 10 p.m., 7 days a week. While the golden hours around both sunset and sunrise offer the best light for photography, sunrise is much cooler and is the ideal time to visit.
2. Ananda Temple
Location: Bagan, Mandalay Region, Myanmar
Built: 1105 CE
Best Time to Visit: Plan your visit to coincide with the Ananda Festival, from December to January, to see the temple at its finest.
One of the more famous temples of Bagan, the Ananda Temple features four standing Buddha statues that face towards each of the four cardinal headings of a compass. The cruciform, white temple has been dubbed the “Westminster Abbey of Burma,” and it is also one of the most sacred temples of Burma.
The temple’s interior is equally as impressive as its exterior. Inside, you can find around 1500 stone statues, and the prayer halls are decorated with numerous historic wall paintings. The complex also features a museum where you can learn about Ananda and the other temples of Bagan, making your visit even more fulfilling.
Visiting Tip:
Bagan is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and paying the Bagan Zone Fee will grant you access to all the temples of Bagan. Ananda Temple is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day, and be sure to take in the Tharabha Gate located in the southeast corner.
3. Dhammayangyi Temple
Location: Bagan, Mandalay Region, Myanmar
Built: 1170 CE
Best Time to Visit: Dhammayangyi is suitable to visit all year.
Dhammayangyi has a similar cruciform design but a different look to Ananda Temple and is the largest of the famous temples of Bagan. Burma has a rich history, and Dhammayangyi was built during the reign of one of its more bloodthirsty rulers, King Narathu. The monarch seized power by killing his father, Alaungsithu, and his elder brother, but he in turn was assassinated and never saw the temple’s completion.
From a distance, the incomplete structure resembles an Egyptian pyramid, and the temple’s inner sanctum is bricked up, with the four porches and the outer corridors being the only accessible areas.
Visiting Tip:
The temple’s main entrance faces east, making sunrise before it gets too hot and humid the best time to visit, especially for photography.
4. Thatbyinnyu Temple
Location: Bagan, Mandalay Region, Myanmar
Built: 1151 CE
Best Time to Visit: Bagan is suitable all year, although between November and January is a little cooler.
Situated a short distance to the southwest of Ananda. Thatbyinnyu was one of the first multi-story structures in Bagan and is one of the more prominent sights of the Bagan Plains’ skyline. The Theravadin Buddhist temple suffered some damage during earthquakes in 1975 and 2016 and is currently undergoing restoration work scheduled to finish in 2028.
The five-story brick building is still an impressive sight, and it is the tallest temple in Bagan; its height is surpassed by Bagan’s Shwesandaw Pagoda, though.
Visiting Tip:
Thatbyinnyu Temple is around half a mile from Ananda, and you can easily explore both temples before the sun reaches its zenith.
5. Shwezigon Pagoda
Location: Nyaung-U, Mandalay Region, Myanmar
Built: 1102
Best Time to Visit: Plan a trip to coincide with the Shwezigon Festival, which takes place in October or November each year.
Located in Nyaung-U, on the banks of the Irrawaddy River, the gold-leaf-gilded Shwezigon Pagoda is one of the most eye-catching of the pagodas of Myanmar. The bell-shaped pagoda lies five kilometers northeast of Old Bagan, and it houses a bone and tooth from Gautama Buddha. The base of the pagoda is decorated with more than 500 green-glazed terracotta tiles that tell the birth stories of Gautama Buddha.
At the southeast corner of the pagoda, there is a shrine dedicated to the 37 Great Nats, and at each entrance to the complex, you can find two large lions guarding the gates.
Visiting Tip:
Take a look at the shadow of the pagoda when you visit; it is said that it never strays outside the boundary walls.
6. Mahamuni Pagoda
Location: Mandalay, Mandalay Region, Myanmar
Built: 1785
Best Time to Visit: The weather in Mandalay is at its coolest and driest between November and February.
The Mahamuni Pagoda is located at the heart of Mandalay city, and the Mahamuni, a brass Buddha statue, is enshrined within it. The statue is said to be one of only five images of the Buddha made during his lifetime, and the temple is a major pilgrimage site. It features the Buddha in the cross-legged Bhumisparsa Mudra pose and is housed in a private room.
The surrounding temple complex houses many monasteries, and the main pagoda is also encircled by vast lawns. The southeastern corner of the temple courtyard features inscription stones from all over Burma, and the Mahamuni Museum next to the temple tells the story of Buddhism throughout Asia.
Visiting Tip:
The temple grounds are open daily between 6 a.m. and 8 p.m., and sunset is the best time for photography.
Read more: Myanmar Landmarks: Incredible Sights You Don’t Want to Miss
7. Bagaya Monastery
Location: Inwa, Mandalay Region, Myanmar
Built: 1593
Best Time to Visit: Head to Inwa between November and February for cool and dry weather.
Inwa is located a short drive southwest from Mandalay City and also sits along the banks of the Irrawaddy River. The Bagaya Monastery was built from teak in the late 17th century and features a seven-tiered spire. The original building suffered fire damage in 1821, but it has since been reconstructed. In 1992, the government renovated it further, and the time-worn building is still a magnificent sight.
The building is beautifully decorated with traditional Burmese carvings, floral arabesques, and ornamental carved figurines. Inside, you can see a small golden Buddha statue, and the temple is surrounded by verdant paddy fields with palm trees and banana plants.
Visiting Tip:
The beginning of the dry season is a great time to visit, as the surrounding gardens are still lush from the rains.
8. Kyaiktiyo Pagoda
Location: Kyaikto, Mon State, Myanmar
Built: 2,500 years ago
Best Time to Visit: November through April is considered the best time to visit Mon State.
Kyaiktiyo Pagoda, also known as the Golden Rock Pagoda, is located in Myanmar’s Mon State. It is famous for being the country’s third-most important Buddhist pilgrimage site, behind Shwedagon Pagoda and Mahamuni Pagoda. The site features a small pagoda atop a gravity-defying, balancing rock that is said to be perched on a strand of the Buddha’s hair.
The pagoda sits at the top of Mt. Kyaiktiyo, and the site affords stunning views. The Burmese travel from all over the country to visit the holy site, and arriving with them and seeing how they revere the rock is a highlight.
Visiting Tip:
The Full Moon day of Tabaung in March sees the pagoda’s platform lit up with ninety thousand candles as an offering to Buddha.
9. Kakku Pagodas
Location: Taunggyi, Shan State, Myanmar
Built: 12th–18th centuries
Best Time to Visit: The best time to head to Shan State is during the cool and dry season between November and February.
The Kakku Pagodas make up a unique temple complex that, as it takes time to get to, remains off the typical tourist trail. The site features 2,478 needle-like stupas and is an hour or so’s drive from Taunggyi, the capital and largest city of Myanmar’s eastern Shan State. The main and largest of the myriad pagodas is believed to have been built in the 12th century, while the rest were built a few hundred years later.
The air surrounding the main pagoda is fragrant with incense, and from here, you can meander through the small channels between the smaller pagodas in relative peace and tranquility.
Visiting Tip:
There is a reflecting pool that is perfect for photographers looking for a special shot of the pagodas.
10. Kyauk Ka Lat Pagoda
Location: Hpa-An, Kayin State, Myanmar
Built: Believed to be over 600 years old
Best Time to Visit: November through February is also when Kayin State enjoys cool and dry weather.
Kyauk Ka Lat Pagoda features a golden stupa on top of a needle-like limestone rock that sits on a small island in the middle of an artificial lake. The site is a short drive south of the city of Hpa-An and home to a functioning monastery.
After exploring the pagoda, you can also enjoy a peaceful walk among the area’s natural beauty around the lake. A few other Buddhist sites are nearby, including Lumbini Buddha Garden and Dohn Yahn Water Park.
Visiting Tip:
Sunset offers the chance to snap superb shots of the stupa against the backdrop of an ever-changing sky.
11. Taung Kalat Monastery
Location: Mount Popa, Mandalay Region, Myanmar
Built: It is believed to have been founded more than a thousand years ago.
Best Time to Visit: The festival seasons on the full moon of Nayon (May/June) and the full moon of Nadaw (November/December) are the best time to visit.
The temple complex is located on top of a distinctive 225-meter-tall (737-foot) rock formation that was formed by geologic activity around Mount Popa. It is one of the most visually striking of all Burma temples, thanks to its unique location, and you will need to conquer the 777 steps leading up to it to take a close look.
Mount Popa, also known as Taung Ma-gyi, is believed to be inhabited by four of the Great Nats, and is the country’s center of nat worship. This Myanmar Buddhist temple looks stunning around sunset, but it is best seen in the golden hour light from nearby vantage points. To explore the monastery at the top of the steps, it’s best to make an early start to avoid the afternoon heat.
Visiting Tip:
Look out for the cute monkeys, but be aware of their expert pick-pocketing skills!
Practical Travel Tips
Myanmar is littered with stunning sights to see and it offers diverse transportation options, including domestic flights, trains, and buses. For the quickest travel between cities, domestic flights are the most convenient, while trains and buses provide more scenic routes. Contact us for more details on our unique tour options.
When visiting temples and pagodas, dress modestly with shoulders and knees covered, and always remove shoes and socks before entering temples. Speak quietly, avoid pointing feet at Buddha statues, and do not touch religious artifacts.
Always ask for permission before photographing monks or locals, and avoid using flash inside temples. Try to avoid turning your back towards Buddha statues and maintain a respectful distance.
