Another famous attraction is the Inle Lake, a large natural lake in mountainous Central Burma, known for its leg rowing fishermen and floating gardens. The nearby Pindaya cave in the hills of Pindaya village is filled from top to bottom with Buddha images from several eras, in various styles and sizes.
In spite of this, Burma is a country worth a visit with a great number of magnificent sites like the ancient city of Bagan, Buddhist temples like the immaculate Shwedagon Paya in Yangon and sites of scenic beauty like Inle Lake.
Recent history
The country was a British colony from 1824 until 1948. Many colonial era buildings can still be seen in cities like Yangon. During the second World War Japan occupied Burma. The infamous Death Railway was built between Thailand and Burma to supply the Japanese troops. In 1962 military rule was established, which officially ended in 2011. Since the 2010 elections a number of reforms have been implemented towards more democracy. Relations with other countries have improved, while some of the sanctions that were imposed have been lifted.
Sites to see in Myanmar
Burma is a country with a long and very rich history and an array of amazing sites. The country was the scene of several ancient civilizations and some of the most powerful empires of its days, like the Bagan Kingdom and the Taungoo dynasty which at the peak of its power around 1580 included not only present day Myanmar, but also Thailand and parts of China and Laos.
Historical sites
One of the most impressive and largest ancient sites in Asia is Bagan located in the dry zone of Central Burma. During the 11th and 13th century well over 10,000 Buddhist monuments were built in the plains of Bagan, of which some 2,200 remain today. It is a magnificent site dotted with pagodas and temples in various styles, some of which have well preserved frescoes and mural paintings.
Temples and Pagodas
During its long history with Buddhism a great number of temples and pagodas were built across the country. The most famous one is the Shwedagon Paya in Yangon, an important pilgrimage site for Burmese Buddhists.
Mandalay and the surrounding ancient cities of Mingun, Amarapura, Sagaing and Innwa are known as the Buddhist center of Burma. Hundreds of Buddhist monasteries and pagodas dot the hills of Sagaing. The Mingun Paya, that was meant to be the largest pagoda ever built is perhaps the most impressive on the banks of the Irrawaddy river.
