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Bagan - The Soul of the Ancient Past
Located just 145km southwest of Mandalay, Bagan offers a stark contrast between the two regions. While Mandalay is bustling and noisy with traffic and machinery, Bagan remains tranquil and ancient. It seems that, despite the rapid development of the outside world over the centuries, Bagan has retained its serene and peaceful atmosphere.
Bagan, the former capital of Myanmar, boasts ruins of temples, pagodas, and stupas that have been preserved to this day.
It is said that Bagan is the "ancient soul" of Myanmar, and this is not wrong. Known as the capital of the Pagan kingdom, the first kingdom to unify Myanmar, from the 9th to the 13th centuries, this was also the period when Buddhism flourished in the country, with over 10,000 temples, pagodas, and monasteries built. Through many historical upheavals and the passage of time, today more than 2,000 remnants of this ancient kingdom and Buddhist temples remain.
Bagan - Misty early mornings
This is a land of ethereal sunrises, sunsets casting golden hues over the enchanting temple spires, and a promised land for those seeking to rediscover the past.
The city of hazy dawns...
Around 6 a.m., the eastern horizon gradually brightened, a brilliant light. For those fortunate enough to witness the sunrise in Bagan, missing even a single moment would be a great regret. Time seemed to stand still, only the sun moving. Sunlight began to spread across the temple roofs, piercing through the early morning mist, awakening the verdant green of the vast forests.
Bagan - The City of Peace
Horse-drawn carriages are also a popular mode of transportation in Bagan.
Transportation options here are quite diverse, including horse-drawn carriages, tuk-tuks, and motorbikes. If you see someone riding an electric motorbike, they're almost certainly a tourist. For safety reasons, tourists can only rent electric motorbikes or horse-drawn carriages for sightseeing. This partly explains why the air here is so clean.
Electric vehicles are one of the popular modes of transportation for tourists in Bagan.
One surprising thing for tourists exploring this city is that the restoration of ancient monuments damaged by the aftershocks of earthquakes that occurred in Myanmar years ago is all done by hand and manually. The workers rebuild the bamboo frames, shaping them to match the collapsed structures, and carefully remove each old brick. If a brick is still usable, it's kept; otherwise, it's replaced with new one. The patience of the people here is admirable. It feels like life here is unhurried; everything is slow and peaceful.
Bagan is peaceful and quiet.
Visiting Bagan and gazing at this peaceful city, one feels immersed in a tranquil and relaxing atmosphere, leaving the hustle and bustle of the outside world behind and enjoying the most peaceful moments of life.
