In Mandalay, you come closest to the real Myanmar of old. The second largest city of Myanmar, with a population of 700,000, here lies the cultural heart of Myanmar where the most refined arts, traditions of dance, music and drama live on. Mandalay is also known for its fine gold and silver crafts, wood and marble carving, silk thread weaving and ancient tapestry. The last capital of the Myanmar kingdom, Mandalay not only offers wonderful sights to behold, but also has a number of nearby attractions, most historical and fascinating, all within a 3.2 kilometre radius - from cool hill resorts to nostalgic market places, from an ancient palace to a river ride up the famous "Road to Mandalay", the Ayeyarwady River, or a ride in unique trishaws or horse-drawn carts.

Founded in 849 AD it became the capital of the first unified Kingdom and the first multinational Union of Myanmar in 1044 AD. 42 square kilometres of open land, sited on the east bank of the famed Ayeyarwady River, covered by 5,000 mysterious and magnificent stupas and hollow pagodas of a bygone era, make Pagan one of the wonders of the world. Here lies a great monument to one of Myanmar’s brilliant eras. Today it is a rich and premier archaeological site that offers a rich heritage from a twelfth century empire. A panoramic view of this land at sunset will leave you with a lingering sense of awe and wonder.Buddhist monuments in Myanmar fall into 2 basic styles - solid pagodas and hollow pagodas. Solid pagodas are solid conical structures with a central treasure vault below. Hollow pagodas are build with a hollow chamber in the centre where pilgrims can enter to worship or meditate.

Located only 80 km from Yangon, Bago was an ancient capital of Mon Kingdom in 15th century. Shwe-tha-lyaung Reclining Buddha (55 metres long), Shwe-maw-daw Pagoda, Kalyani Sima (Ordination Hall, 28 metre high huge Buddha Image of Kyaikpun Pagoda and the Palace of King Bayinnaung are some of the places of interest.

Mesmerising visitors with its picture-perfect sights, the Inle Lake Region is a refreshing change to the historical attractions of Pagan and Mandalay. It boasts of the picturesque Inle lake, the fascinating Pindaya Caves and the cool and colourful hill towns of Taunggyi and Kalaw. Another unique and different facet of the Golden Land.

A 160-kilometre drive from Yangon, and an invigorating 12-kilometre trek uphill along a meandering trail from the base camp at Kin-pun ... an overwhelming sight will meet your eye - a golden boulder, shaped like a hermit’s head and capped with a 6-metre high gilded pagoda perched precariously on the edge of a precipice, 1121 metres above sea level - the holy rock of Kyaiktiyo, Myanmar’s most popular pilgrimage centre. Legend has it that the Buddha’s sacred hair is enshrined in this rock.