Visit Myanmar

Ancient Myanmar (Burma) has opened its doors to visitors after more than half a century of isolation from the outside world. And what’s behind those doors is nothing short of spectacular — a land of golden temples and lakeside palaces, bustling urban markets and secluded seashores, plus the legendary Irrawadday River that snakes its way from the Himalayan foothills to the Andaman Sea.

Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon (Rangoon) is the nation’s most cherished shrine and iconic landmark, a thousand-year-old Buddhist temple covered in more than $2 billion worth of gold and gemstones. Throughout the day, thousands of pilgrims and saffron-robed monks pace the temple grounds, a kaleidoscope of Burmese life and culture.

Among Myanmar’s other ancient treasures are the ruined city of Bagan (Pagan), where more than 2,200 pagodas, palaces and other historic buildings sprawl across a dusty plain beside the Irrawaddy River. And the fabled city of Mandalay  the last royal capital of Burma — set around a fabulous lakeside palace and a famous temple-covered mount.