Best Time to Visit Bagan

Bagan is a historical city, Buddhist cultural site and a famous tourist attraction of Myanmar. Bagan is known as the capital of pagodas of Myanmar. Pagodas of Bagan is as famous as Angkor Wat in Siem Reap. The most famous pagoda of Bagan is Dhammayangyi Temple. Do you plan a trip to Bagan? When is the best time to visit Bagan? The most suitable time to visit Bagan is the cool season, which is from November to February.

Where is Bagan located?

Bagan is located in the middle of Myanmar and a distance about 145 kilometers from southwest of Mandalay. Bagan, located in the bank of the Irrawaddy River, is the central part of the Burmese. Bagan is the capital of the pagodas in Myanmar. It is said that there are more than 10,000 pagodas in the prosperous time.

Bagan preserves many Buddhist pagodas and Buddhist temples built during various historical periods of Myanmar. The architectural art of these Buddhist pagodas and Buddhist temples reflects the wisdom and creativity of the people of Myanmar. These pagodas and temples become a precious historical and cultural heritage of Myanmar. Pagodas of Bagan are as famous as Angkor Wat of Siem Reap. Angkor Wat is famous for its magnificent and exquisite carvings. However, Bagan is famous for its thousands of pagodas.

When is the best time to visit Bagan?

What’s the weather like in Bagan? It is divided into 3 seasons in Bagan: hot season, rainy season and cool season. Hot season is from March to May. The weather is hot and the average temperature is above 40 °C in this season. Rainy season is from June to October. In this season, the climate is hot and humid. There is basically continuous rain every day. Cool season is from November to February. In cool season, the climate is relatively good. But the ultraviolet radiation is very strong in this season. Do a good job of sun protection is necessary. It is best to wear long-sleeved trousers, otherwise it is easy to sunburn. It is cold in the morning and evening. The lowest temperature is less than 15 °C and the highest temperature during the day is less than 30 °C. The weather is fine, which is most suitable for tourism. Therefore, the best time to visit Bagan is from November to February.

3 Famous pagodas in Bagan:

• Shwezigon Pagoda

Shwezigon Pagoda, one of the four most famous Buddhist pagodas in Myanmar, is the representative of the modern Buddhist pagoda in Myanmar. It is not only the largest pagoda in Bagan, but also the only pagoda built in stone in the group of pagodas in Bagan. It is the first pagoda in Burmese style with a long history.

Shwezigon Pagoda is a square symmetrical structure. The structure of the pagoda is: the center is a bell-shaped golden pagoda with a three-story square platform as the base. Between pagoda and base, there is an octagonal platform. This form has become a model of many buildings of pagodas in the Bagan.

• Htilominlo Temple

Htilominlo Temple was built in 1218 by King Htilominlo(1211-1234). It is the last temple with a history of more than 700 years. It is said to be the youngest ancient temple in Bagan. The Htilominlo Temple is 46 meters high and 43 meters long. Its architectural form is similar to Sulamani Pahto. The temple consists of 2 large cubes stacked. A huge spire is on these 2 cubes. Four-faced Buddhas facing 4 corresponding entrances are on the main part of the temple. In addition, there are traces of murals in the temple.

• Dhammayangyi Temple

Dhammayangyi Temple is not only the largest pagoda in the group of pagodas of Bagan, but also an outstanding representative of pagoda in brick. It is built in a plan similar to that of Ananda Temple. The pagoda is made up of large red bricks. Bricks are tightly combined. The shape of arches of  pagoda are unique. There are no prominent Buddha statues in the pagoda. But the corridor inside the pagoda is spacious. The natural light illuminates the interior of the pagoda.

Dhammayangyi Temple is said to be the pagoda of cruelty. It is said that the builder King Narathu was very cruel. The requirements for the construction of the pagoda are extremely strict. If the bricks aren’t tightly combined, the craftsman's fingers will be cut off. It is equipped with the torture tools of the time on the pagoda now. As a result, in 1170, the king was assassinated. So the pagoda wasn’t completed. The pagoda has not been restored yet.

What should you bring to Bagan?

Bagan is located in the tropical climate all year round, you only need to bring some clothes of summer if you travel to Bagan. However, if you need to take the bus at night, train and other means of transportation, it is necessary to bring long sleeve shirt or long trousers and even a thick coat, because these night cars often open the air, which will make people feel very cold.