Myanmar Attractions

Mandalay

Mandalay is a city steeped in spirituality, prophecy and conflict. Whilst only 150 years old, the city derived from the Pali word Mandare, meaning 'an auspicious land', has a rich history shrouded in its flat, dusty plains.

This sprawling cultural centre is the most Burman of Myanmar's cities. It was the last capital of the Burmese Kingdom before the British took over and is the country's second-largest city, complete with bustling markets of produce and handicrafts from all over northern Myanmar.

Yangon (Rangoon)

Yangon lies in the fertile delta country of southern Myanmar on the Yangon River. Although the population hovers around 4 million, the city seems so full of trees and shade that some neighbourhoods are practically jungle, giving it a totally different feel from other Asian cities of comparable size.

At night, Yangon's wide boulevards come alive with hordes of stalls selling delicious food and piles of huge cigars. If you can close your eyes to the decay of the old colonial architecture downtown, you'll probably agree that this is one of the most charming cities in Asia.