Is it Myanmar or Burma yet? The stories of the country are unknown to many, but the beauty of this scenic place has been able to attract many intriguing travelers. The secrets of the cultures and traditions excite the traveler more than anything in the world.
The country received its name Burma from the British reign that lasted from 1824-1948. During that period, the barmar ethnic group was dominant in the country. After that, a savage military junta ruled the country, which changed the old name “Burma” to the new name, “Myanmar.” However, the democrats of the nation did not recognize the ruling of the junta, and hence, the confusion between Burma and Myanmar prevailed.
The military junta ruled the country and underwent a drastic transformation in terms of tourism development & other industry after independence. A Myanmar tour of 7-10 days is sufficient to explore the country and not to be rushed. It is the most culturally preserved country in Asia, and many backpacking travelers have visited the place recently. Are you also planning your perfect Myanmar trip? Here is the guide and list of destinations & the places that will be your travel escort into the land of mesmerizing beauty.
A brief about Myanmar:
Myanmar covers more than 135 ethnic groups residing in the country itself. It is the second-largest country in Southeast Asia and shares the border with China, Bangladesh, and Thailand. Landlocked Myanmar has the largest coastline of 2000 km, which also includes hundreds of islands. The captivating country is famous for Bagan temples, which is a must-see location in Myanmar. Since it is recently opened for tourism, traveling in the country might get challenging.
Visa Information:
Myanmar might look lacking on the travel front, but, you need a visa to get into the place. You can visit the online visa website and apply for a eVisa. You will be charged a fee of $50, and you will receive the visa approval within 3 working days. You can print the eVisa and show the officials at the airport when you arrive. It will be valid for 90 days from the date of issue. However, on arrival, you can only stay for 28 days in the country.
Airports:
Myanmar has 3 international airports, namely, Yangon International Airport, Mandalay International Airport, and Nay Pyi Taw International Airport.
Popular Myanmar travel destinations:
The temple at Bagan is definitely a must watchable place to visit in Myanmar. Some other destinations are Inle Lake, Yangon, Mandalay, Ngapali beach, and the Mergui Archipelago.
Inle Lake:
A treasure trove of adventure and scenic beauty attracts thousands of visitors. The sprawling beauty of the lake even offers a hiking trek, interesting boat rides, and bike tours. There are plenty of festivals all year-round, and you can enjoy the beauty in your own way. It is a perfect escape from the hustle and bustle of the city’s life.
Yangon:
This is the capital city, where you will probably arrive first. It has the highest population and was more popular as Rangoon. An interesting thing about Yangon is, there is no constant honking and no motorbikes even. Harmony and tranquility are what you will experience visiting this place. On the first look, the city might seem similar to overwhelming places like Bangkok or Jakarta. Photographers will have their hands full when it comes to availing endless opportunities in Yangon.
Mandalay:
Mandalay is the second-largest city in the country. If you are a night-life spree, Mandalay offers a decent night-life with a bucketful of delicacies from around the country. The city on the visit gives a rural feeling and comprises of some authentic and beautiful pagodas. You can roam around the streets and explore some of the swanky bars in the city.
Ngapali beach:
With the largest coastline, comes this beautiful beach named Ngapali. This beach location is quite different from the other beach locations because it is yet to be developed and gives you a perfect break from the humdrum of the city’s life. The pristine beaches with white sand, look quite refreshing to the tourists. It is a picture-perfect location for unwinding, sitting back, and relaxing. There are a few local restaurants where you will get an opportunity to try the local cuisine.
You will not find Myanmar being influenced by western countries. The cities may look modern but are underdeveloped. The buildings are comparatively smaller and give a rural feeling.
People & Culture of Myanmar:
Burmese are really friendly by nature, and you would largely feel comfortable while communicating with them. If you can grab a chance, learn a few of the common Burmese words, which would be helpful throughout the places travelled in Myanmar tour packages.
Myanmar is hugely diverse, with varied traditions, costumes, and food. The culture follows religious strictness, and hence, visitors need to follow hundreds of little rules that are observed within the country. It is a religious country where Buddhism prevails.
People over here are conservative, honest, and shy. You need to dress modestly, covering your shoulders and knees during your visits to the Buddhist temples. You should avoid public displays of affection (PDA) while walking down the streets in Myanmar.
Food in Myanmar:
To be honest, Myanmar doesn’t serve authentic tasteful food. Only a few of the dishes reach the level of expectations, rest all may look colorful but are bland in taste. The food is influenced mainly by neighboring countries. On your tour, you will mostly find Indian and Chinese restaurants all around. However, here is our list of some highlights when it comes to Myanmar food.
1. Tea Leaf Salad:
This dish excites everyone because it has an interesting combination of pickled tea leaves, roasted peanuts, sesame, and fried garlic. Chopped tomatoes and dried shrimp often add on to the taste of the salad.
2. Mohinga Soup:
This is another fascinating delicacy on the list. It consists of first broth, noodles, several herbs, spices like lemongrass, cilantro, ginger, garlic, and onions.
3. Myanmar’s love for tea:
Myanmarese, or rather Burmese, love tea, but they drink it in a strong form. Usually, black tea is mixed with condensed or sweetened milk served in both hot and cold forms. The cold one keeps you away from the heat, and the hot one rejuvenates you completely.
While traveling to the places included in Laos tour package, you need to ensure that you don’t consume uncooked fruit or vegetables. It is advisable to eat and drink everything that is boiled, or you may get infected with some flu or stomach bugs.
Transport in Myanmar:
There are a number of bus routes available for traveling from one place to another. You will find a number of large and modern air-conditioned caches quite comfortable for long journeys.
Best time to visit:
Weather is largely different throughout the country. However, one should think of visiting the country roughly between November and February. During this period, the temperature is quite tolerable and doesn’t rain too often.
Myanmar’s local currency is Kyat (MMK), and maximum accommodation options and hotels accept cash in Kyat. No doubt, there are ATMs, but they are less operative for withdraws, and you might get stuck even to pay a small fee.
Did you enjoy the virtual tour to Myanmar? Imagine the beauty in person by visiting this wonderful country of happy people.
