Rich concoction of the colonial and the modern
Burma’s biggest city and tourists’ main point of entry into the country, Yangon (or Rangoon) was the British colonial capital and to this day boasts of the largest number of colonial buildings in all of Southeast Asia, while housing several modern high-rise office towers and hotels too. The Singuttara Hill is Yangon’s greatest tourist attraction, crowned by the beautiful Shwedagon Pagoda, a 2,600-year old gilded Buddhist stupa. Nearby are the Kandawgyi Lake and Nature Park and the Yangon Zoological Gardens, ideal for lazing around and for recreation.
The Land of Temples and Pagodas
Mandalay, home to about half of the country’s monks, is its spiritual and cultural centre. Travellers can spend a leisurely couple of days of their Burma holidays visiting the many pagodas and hills that dot the cityscape. The Mandalay Palace with its ornate carvings and wooden structure is a magnificent sight. Mandalay Hill offers a great hilltop view of the city and the adjacent countryside.
Plan your Burma Holiday well
Burma holidays should be taken during the cool dry season between December and February, as the rest of the year sees either high temperatures or excessive rain. While there, make sure to try the food which is a unique blend of Indian, Thai, Chinese and local cuisines. Medical facilities up to western standards are unavailable, so it is advisable to carry along any necessary medicines and to get your vaccinations in order before embarking upon a Burma holidays.
Check out Shanti Travel’s Tailormade Burma holidays to unwind yourself in a country where the 21st Century world has barely intruded. Off the beaten trips are here: http://www.shantitravel.com/en/burma-travel/