Myanmar's Cultural Attractions

Uphill from the Lemro River, there is a dramatic topographical shift and the jungle swallows the landscape. This is where you'll find the Chin villages and the land of the tattoo-faced women.

Andaw Thein Temple first became famous as a reliquary for one of the Buddha's teeth, which historians believe may have originally come from Sri Lanka. The name literally translates to “tooth shrine,” and tours of Mrauk U stop here to appreciate the distinctive pagodas, very much unlike what you’ll see in other parts of Myanmar.

Shwenandaw is an exquisite example of the wood-art craftsmanship of the original Burmese style. It’s made completely out of teak, a type of wood that’s native to Myanmar and is known for its durability. Travelers also find this temple easy to fit into a trip to Mandalay, since it’s just a short distance from here to Mandalay Hill.

In 1790, King Bodawpaya began to build the largest pagoda in Myanmar, just northwest of Mandalay.

The best part about this palace is the lookout tower. From the four-story high perch, you can see a clear view of the palace, as well as the neighboring Mandalay Hill.

Built in 1556 by King Dikkha, the large base of the partially ruined temple alludes to the grandiose size of the original that housed 90,000 Buddhas. The largest temple in Mrauk U, it was hit particularly hard over the centuries by earthquakes and what remains only represents about half the original structure.

When gazing down towards Htuk Kant Thein Temple from Shitthaung Temple, one can't help notice the fortress-like construction of this holy site. Built in 1571, a curved flat roof covers the top mounts large, bell-shaped pagodas. Small openings are scattered in a uniform pattern across the thick walls.

Shwedagon Pagoda is Myanmar's top sites for Buddhist pilgrims. It is also a striking work of art that welcomes visitors.