Tant Kyi Taung Myanmar
Myanmar
Frequently Asked Questions
On the west bank of the Irrawaddy, facing the plain of Bagan. Boats moor against the sandy shore at the foot of the village, among buffalo and carts coming down to drink at the river.
A shrine built in 1059 under King Anawrahta, founder of the first great Burmese kingdom. Tradition holds that it enshrines a tooth relic of the Buddha, and some thirty elephant statues ring its base.
Local vehicles climb the track winding to the summit, about twenty minutes of bumpy travel that is part of the fun. The last few metres are done barefoot.
Yes, for the fitter visitors, with good shoes and an early start.
The bend of the river and, in the distance, the plain of Bagan bristling with brick temples. The site is sensed rather than examined, and that is exactly what makes the view memorable.
Morning, when the light is softer and distant stupas catch the sun one by one through gaps in the cloud. The marble terraces are cooler then too.
No, and the contrast with the opposite bank is immediate: no queues and no souvenir shops, just the daily life of a farming hamlet.
Bamboo houses on stilts, rice granaries, weaving under the houses, peanuts drying and sweet tea offered in the shade. Boats often organise a guided walk.
Shoulders and knees covered and shoes that come off easily: the rules of sacred places apply at the summit.
A little, for offerings at the pagoda. There is no organised commerce for visitors.
