Visiting Myanmar? Love photography? We have put together a list of most photogenic places we visited in Myanmar to help you get those perfect shots. Keep on reading if you want to know the most instagrammable places in Myanmar.
📍Kuthodaw Pagoda
Located in Mandalay this Buddhist Stupa contains the world’s largest book. Each of the surrounding 729 stone-inscription caves contains a marble slab inscribed on both sides with a page of text from the Tripitaka, the entire Pali Canon of Theravada Buddhism. Visit the place early in the morning or at sunset to get some nice colours.
Address: 62nd street, Mandalay, Myanmar
Admission fee: Free
📍Soon U Ponya Shin Pagoda
This golden Pagoda offers spectacular views of the Irrawaddy river and the surrounding area. But what caught our attention were the many monks we saw there which became the main subjects of our pictures. You should however be respectful when photographing monks.
Address: Sagaing, Myanmar (Burma)
Admission fee: Free
📍Umin Thounzeh Paya
The cave of 45 Buddhas sits on the Sagaing Hill. This beautiful place was literally empty when we visited so taking pictures was very enjoyable! The two levels of the pagoda offer completely different settings: the lower level is a colourful crescent shaped building housing a long line of marble Buddhas. The upper level is decorated with numerous golden stupas and unveils a beautiful view over the surrounding hills. Both of the pictures below were taken at the Umin Thounzeh Paya.
Address: Sagaing, Myanmar (Burma)
Admission fee: Free
📍Inwa
Once the imperial capital of Burma, Inwa or Ava was abandoned after a big earthquake destroyed most of its sacred temples and buildings in 1839. However it remains a popular day trip from Mandalay. Inwa is a paradise for photographers with remains of ancient temples, pagodas and towers, banana plantations, dusty roads and horse carriages.
Address: Mandalay Region, Burma (Myanmar)
Admission fee: Free
📍U Bein Bridge
This 1.2km wooden bridge is believed to be the oldest teakwood bridge in the world and it’s a popular spot for watching the sunset. Take a walk over the bridge and between the many local merchants selling street food and souvenirs but make sure to find a nice spot with the bridge in the background to enjoy the beautiful reflections of the sunset rays. A perfect spot for that postcard picture from Myanmar!
Address: Mandalay, Myanmar (Burma)
Admission fee: Free
📍Old Bagan
List of instagrammable places in Myanmar can’t be complete without picture from Bagan. A place you will see on most of Myanmar’s postcards and definitely a must visit for every photography and sunset lover. With more than 3000 temples and pagodas this UNESCO World Heritage site offers countless photography spots. Don’t miss the sunrise and/or the sunset there, we assure you that the colours are some of the best you have ever seen!
Address: Old Bagan, Myanmar (Burma)
Admission fee: Tourist taxes apply
📍Shwedagon Pagoda
A 99 meter high structure made of solid gold plates tipped with 5,448 diamonds and 2,317 rubies and containing eight strands of Buddha’s hair somewhere in its foundations, believed to be put there more than 2,600 years ago. The oldest stupa in the world is definitely a must visit if you are in Yangon and a it is a highly instagrammable place!
Address: Ar Zar Ni, Road Pha Yar Gyi Ward, Yangon, Myanmar (Burma)
Admission fee: 10 000 Kyat
📍Thatbyinnyu temple
Located in Old Bagan and built in the mid-12th century this is the tallest temple in Bagan and also a very photogenic one!
Address: Old Bagan, Myanmar (Burma)
Admission fee: Tourist taxes apply
📍Ananda temple
Another beautiful temple which you can find in Old Bagan was built in 1105 AD. Dominating the Bagan skyline this temple surely catches the attention of photographers. Make sure to check it out!
Address: Nyaung-U, Myanmar (Burma)
Admission fee: Tourist taxes apply
📍Mahagandhayon Monastery, Amarapura
Close to Mandalay in the former capital of Myanmar, Amarapura, there is an interesting place called Mahagandhayon Monastery. It is the country’s most prominent monastic college with more than 1300 monks which attracts hundreds of tourists every day who come to see the monks gather for their second and last meal of the day at 10 AM. Using professional cameras is forbidden here but taking photos with a phone is perfectly fine.
Address: Maha Gandar Yone St, Mandalay, Myanmar (Burma)
Admission fee: Free
Planning a trip to Myanmar? Here is what you should know before you go to Myanmar.
We hope that our list of most instagrammable places in Myanmar will help you better plan your trip if photography is your passion and leave the country with a full card of beautiful shots! We are sure that Myanmar offers many other photogenic places which we haven’t explored yet, so feel free to share them with us!
With love,
Jelena and Luke
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