14 Stunning Buddhist Temples in Mandalay, Burma (PHOTOS)

As mentioned before, we have a penchant for temples. And some of the most beautiful Buddhist temples and pagodas in the world are located in Burma. The ancient city of Bagan in the region of Mandalay contains over 15 temples from the 11th - 13th centuries, and is one of the richest archaeological sites in Asia. The Mandalay region itself has been the royal and political seat of power for hundreds of years, and is home to a plethora of spectacular temples, from where we have made our selection for this slideshow.

We would not recommend traveling to Burma under the current military regime. However, the release of pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi has inspired hope within Burma and around the world, and once the political and social situation improves, we're sure to be on the next flight to Rangoon.

 

Have you visited a spectacular Buddhist temple in Mandalay that's not on the list? Send us pictures!

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Bagan Plain

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No Comment. Beautiful!

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Comments

[Captain Crunch]

11:15 AM on 01/04/2011

I wish to visit them some day.

[urbanfoodguy]

01:49 AM on 11/19/2010

um Guys these temples aren't in Mandalay, they are 190 miles or an 8 hour car ride away in the former Unesco Wold Heritage site of Pagan/Bagan.

urbanfoodguy.blogspot.com

[Manal Khan]

10:39 AM on 11/19/2010

The Bagan Plain is in the region of Mandalay. Mandalay is the name of a region as well as the city.

[grange]

05:35 AM on 11/18/2010

Looks beautiful

As regards the politics it is important to remember that they are funded by selling oil to China.Dont like the regime ? Boycott Chinese products.

[deweydecimal]

09:58 AM on 11/18/2010

China is also a country I will never visit.

[entreMundo]

05:39 PM on 11/18/2010

Why, I swear I just hear 1 billion tiny violins playing at once!

[David Cardinal]

08:01 PM on 11/17/2010

I'm totally with David R on visiting and lead a photo group trip to Myanmar each year. The people there are some of the firiendliest I've ever met and the sights some of the most beautiful. As he mentioned it is important to think about which businesses you patronize and where your money is going but tourism is frankly much more important to the middle class (where it is a big chunk of their cash income) than the government (where it is less than 1% of GDP).

You can see some of the photos I've taken throughout the country on a number of trips on my site: http://www.cardinalphoto.com. --David

[David Rozgonyi]

10:11 PM on 11/17/2010

From one David to another: Fanned! Maybe I'll see you over there! :)

[deweydecimal]

11:32 PM on 11/17/2010

Sorry I just don't agree, personally I don't feel safe and ethically I don't agree with supporting such governments. Tunisia is a good example of a country that is working to modernize itself and whose peoples would appreciate your patronage as well. Stay safe though, they look like beautiful places, one day once the junta's day has past I'd like to swing by myself.

[roshni]

12:10 AM on 11/18/2010

I would love to go and find out more about your trips. Do you have a tour web site?

[deweydecimal]

05:51 PM on 11/17/2010

It's too bad they are a despotic regime, I don't favor such countries with my patronage.

[entreMundo]

09:54 PM on 11/17/2010

So you're saying that you'd rather leave the people to their fate, instead of supporting them with your visit?

[deweydecimal]

11:30 PM on 11/17/2010

Yes because I have to physically visit them to support them. Don't be disingenuous. I also support the peoples of North Korea, Iran, Palestine, Afghanistan and Iraq. Will I ever visit them? Not until they have some semblance of good government, freedom & democracy. Why should I put myself in harms way when there are plenty of beautiful places with functioning government to visit? Indonesia, Turkey, Singapore, Tunisia, etc.

[David Rozgonyi]

09:19 AM on 11/17/2010

As someone who has been to all of these slides (except perhaps one), has been to a few that aren't pictured, and was married in this country, I am saddened to continually have to defend the proper use of the name Myanmar, as well as travel to this most wonderful place.

a) It was called Myanma in its earliest recorded history, and throughout many centuries. It was the OCCUPYING BRITISH who changed the name to Burma, okay? The junta, while awful, did exactly one good thing in their rule, and that is to change the name back to the original instead of leaving it as the colonizers did.

b) I've tickets to return next March, and I obviously STRONGLY disagree with those who say travel here is not recommended. What is bad is to give the government more money than you do locals. Some is inevitable, airport taxes and the like, but much of the economy is cash in hand right to the guy doing the driving or letting you sleep on his hut floor or hopping on the back of his pedicab. Go there and you bring not only a load of greenbacks to offer the actual people, but you also are a WITNESS, one of the most important things you can be as a traveler. GO to Myanmar. You will find it one of your all time favorite places in a no time flat. Super safe, super friendly, super inexpensive.

[David Rozgonyi]

09:21 AM on 11/17/2010

I have a ton of pics on my site, if you're interested. Go to the travel photography section on the bottom left. Actually, the title image of the monks was taken in an otherwise deserted jungle clearing many miles from any habitation in northern Myanmar.....

http://davidrozgonyi.blogspot.com/

[Ryhunt86]

09:33 AM on 11/17/2010

I love your blog! You had posted a link to it a several days ago and I had a chance to check it out (along with your wife's). I envy your travels, just wish I had the coin to go to a few of the places you've been.

[roshni]

12:12 AM on 11/18/2010

I enjoyed looking at your blog and will get there one day soon.

[Sarnath]

10:52 AM on 11/17/2010

There are a lot of amazing things to see in Burma/Myanmar, and I've been thinking about the ethical dilemma over traveling there or not. Thanks for your insights.