Discover the Biggest Cultural Site in Naypyidaw

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Myanmar, formerly known as Burma, boasts a rich cultural heritage and is home to numerous significant cultural sites. Here are the 5 largest cultural sites in Myanmar:

  • Bagan

Bagan, located in the Mandalay Region, is an ancient city that was once the capital of the Kingdom of Pagan. It is renowned for its thousands of Buddhist temples, pagodas, and stupas, many of which date back to the 11th and 13th centuries. Visitors can explore the ruins of this once-thriving city and admire the intricate architecture and artwork that adorns these religious monuments. Notable temples include the Ananda Temple, the Dhammayangyi Temple, and the Shwezigon Pagoda.

  • Shwedagon Pagoda

The Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon is one of the most iconic landmarks in Myanmar. This gilded stupa is believed to enshrine relics of four previous Buddhas and is a major pilgrimage site for Buddhists. The pagoda is surrounded by numerous smaller stupas, shrines, and temples, forming a vast religious complex. Visitors can climb to the top of the pagoda for panoramic views of Yangon city.

  • Inle Lake

Inle Lake, situated in the Shan State, is a natural freshwater lake surrounded by picturesque mountains. It is home to the Intha people, an ethnic group known for their unique way of life. Visitors can take boat tours to explore the lake, visit floating gardens, and observe the traditional fishing methods of the Intha people. The lake is also dotted with numerous Buddhist monasteries and stupas, making it a significant cultural and religious site.

  • Mrauk U

Mrauk U, located in the Rakhine State, was once the capital of the Arakan Kingdom. This ancient city is home to numerous Buddhist temples, pagodas, and palaces, many of which are in ruins. Visitors can explore the remnants of this former kingdom and admire the architectural styles that blend elements of Burmese, Indian, and Bengali traditions. The city is surrounded by beautiful natural scenery, including rivers, mountains, and forests.

  • Pyu Ancient Cities

The Pyu Ancient Cities, located in the Mandalay and Magway Regions, are the remains of several ancient cities that date back to the 1st century BC. These cities were once the centers of the Pyu Kingdom, one of the earliest kingdoms in Myanmar. Visitors can explore the ruins of these cities, including the ancient city of Halin, and learn about the Pyu culture and its contributions to Myanmar’s history.

Uppatasanti Pagoda in Naypyidaw
Uppatasanti Pagoda in Naypyidaw

The 7 Biggest Cultural Site near Naypyidaw

Myanmar Gems Museum

  • Address: P4V8+H93, Naypyidaw, Myanmar (Burma)
  • Map: Click here
  • Rating: 4.1 (266)
  • Phone: +95 67 414 859
  • Opening hours:
    Monday: Closed
    Tuesday: 9:30 AM – 4:00 PM
    Wednesday: 9:30 AM – 4:00 PM
    Thursday: 9:30 AM – 4:00 PM
    Friday: 9:30 AM – 4:00 PM
    Saturday: 9:30 AM – 4:00 PM
    Sunday: 9:30 AM – 4:00 PM
  • Reviews:
    Aleena Saleem✭✭✭✭
    a year ago
    My husband bought me gems from here. Although his Myanmar friends were accompanying him but I would suggest you to have enough knowledge before buying previous gems. Overall It was a good experience visiting a gem museum in real with a variety of precious stones ❤️
    Josephine Ong✭✭✭✭
    4 years ago
    Myanmar is famous for its precious stones such as ruby, diamond, jade etc. Every stone has a story to tell and it begins here. . .

    It’s a good place to start to understand the origin of these gem stones, the amount of efforts put into it to make it to the final stage where they find their ultimate destiny with some adorning the necks of royalty.

    Below the museum is the emporium where visitors can buy what’s within their budget. You can rest assured that they are of quality made and genuine unlike those sold outside.

    Sandeep Saini✭✭✭✭✭
    3 years ago
    The museum has good history and relevant knowledge about gems in the country. If you are looking for shopping take cheap stones from ground floor. Avoid the costlier ones if you don’t have good knowledge of the quality.
    Richard Tan
    5 years ago
    Not really a proper museum but simply a collection of different types of stones. Cost USD7.00 entry fee. Not really worth it.

    But the market place with stalls selling gem stones are worth buying from. Friends say they bought genuine stones at very good prices. I didn’t buy any.

    Aaron Lecciones✭✭✭✭✭
    4 years ago
    A really interesting museum to visit, it will occupy probably half a day, with half of that spent on looking at all those jade, gems, and other stone – and the other on shopping for them. The cost of the ticket which I forget is well worth it. You will need to place your belongings in a locker, understandably, before entering the museum. The jade and precious stones are a wonder to behold. There are English speaker assistants around to explain to you the display but if you are in a hurry it can become a hindrance but if you have time it’s really best to learn from them. You can’t take pictures in the museum! Equally awesome is the shopping part. You can spend anywhere from 1USD to 100USD to 1000USD depending on what you buy. I usually buy the USD1 jade bracelets or the tigers eye for I think 3 for USD5. You can buy elephant figurines too in jade! Pay in USD because you get a better price. Best to buy whatever you want and to as much your budget will allow – squeeze every dollar, you will regret it if you don’t! Enjoy!

National Museum of Myanmar (Naypyidaw)

  • Address: Q4GR+M6Q, Yaza Thingaha Road, Naypyidaw, Myanmar (Burma)
  • Map: Click here
  • Rating: 4.3 (82)
  • Phone: +95 9 250 701 353
  • Opening hours:
    Monday: Closed
    Tuesday: 9:30 AM – 4:30 PM
    Wednesday: 9:30 AM – 4:30 PM
    Thursday: 9:30 AM – 4:30 PM
    Friday: 9:30 AM – 4:30 PM
    Saturday: 9:30 AM – 4:30 PM
    Sunday: 9:30 AM – 4:30 PM
  • Reviews:
    Wai Phyo✭✭✭✭✭
    a month ago
    It is a place that every Myanmar citizen should visit. I especially want the children to follow. It is a place where you can find a lot of knowledge in one place. Here, the history of the Burmese dynasties and the Buddhist cultural heritage and scientific knowledge for children are presented. Another gallery is a very interesting car showroom used by successive Myanmar presidents. Another satisfying thing is the museum staff. No matter which gallery you visit, the staff will make sure to show you what you want to remember.
    Yuu T.✭✭✭✭✭
    2 years ago
    I had visited the museum in the year 2016, it was very impressive museum in Myanmar. The exhibition galleries were great design and the collections display were magnificent. I was really enjoy my museum day that I had been a lot of learning about Myanmar history and culture.
    Aaron Lecciones✭✭✭✭✭
    4 years ago
    Again, with everything being so relatively cheap, the money you will pay to get into the museum is so worth it. A large complex of interconnected buildings, airconditioned, comprise the museum. They are categorised chronologically, charting the history of Myanmar. The exhibits are very, very well made and a surprise for me based on my expectations. The have large scale models of temples, full sized models of their warriors clad in their traditional attire, they have a room where all the gold attire and vestments and ancillary items of their past Kings are displayed majestically. They have halls for their musical and even geographic history – it can take a full half day to explore it with any meaning. The exhibits are annotated in English. The building itself is has beautiful craftsmanship, especially the ornate huge doors. You can learn so much about the greatness of Myanmar here. Overall, a very impressive and convenient way to learn about the history and culture of Myanmar.
    Viet Anh Hoang✭✭✭✭✭
    6 years ago
    Love the stone age and bronze collection. Modern art collection feature a very unique painting style. Worth a visit.
    Akbar Khan✭✭✭✭✭
    4 years ago
    World class museum, very very large with numerous sections covering arts, history from prehistoric man to all the tribes and languages and cultures of the people. The fossils section is a paleo treat with the oldest primates in the World. There are some interactive exhibits and a ASEAN section recently opened. The museum is continually expanding and I will definitely visit again, for tourists it is not only an attraction but helps visitors understand the country with maps revealing many of the hidden treasures and secrets of this magical country. The building itself is also very grand with impressive decor and design.

Royal hantha

  • Address: P4R8+7QC, Naypyidaw, Myanmar (Burma)
  • Map: Click here
  • Rating:

National Herbal Park

  • Address: National Herbal Garden, Taungnyo Road, Naypyidaw, Myanmar (Burma)
  • Map: Click here
  • Rating: 3.9 (243)

Naypyitaw Water Fountain Park

  • Address: P4XF+JM7, Naypyidaw, Myanmar (Burma)
  • Map: Click here
  • Rating: 3.9 (1098)

ဗိုလ်ချုပ်ကြေးရုပ်

  • Address: P4X8+27R, Naypyidaw, Myanmar (Burma)
  • Map: Click here
  • Rating: 5 (1)

Nay Pyi Taw

  • Address: Nyi Pyi Taw, Naypyidaw, Myanmar (Burma)
  • Map: Click here
  • Rating:
Uppatasanti Pagoda in Naypyidaw
Uppatasanti Pagoda in Naypyidaw

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Top Cultural Site Alternatives in Naypyidaw

Myanmar (Burmese: မြန်မာ; MLCTS: Mranma, pronounced [mjəmà]), officially the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, also known as Burma (the official name until 1989), is a country in Southeast Asia. It is the largest country by area in Mainland Southeast Asia and has a population of about 55 million. It is bordered by Bangladesh and India to its northwest, China to its northeast, Laos and Thailand to its east and southeast, and the Andaman Sea and the Bay of Bengal to its south and southwest. The country's capital city is Naypyidaw, and its largest city is Yangon (formerly Rangoon).Early civilisations in the area included the Tibeto-Burman-speaking Pyu city-states in Upper Myanmar and the Mon kingdoms in Lower Myanmar. In the 9th century, the Bamar people entered the upper Irrawaddy valley, and following the establishment of the Pagan Kingdom in the 1050s, the Burmese language, culture, and Theravada Buddhism slowly became dominant in the country. The Pagan Kingdom fell to Mongol invasions, and several warring states emerged. In the 16th century, reunified by the Taungoo dynasty, the country became the largest empire in the history of Southeast Asia for a short period. The early 19th-century Konbaung dynasty ruled over an area that included modern Myanmar and briefly controlled Manipur and Assam as well. The British East India Company seized control of the administration of Myanmar after three Anglo-Burmese Wars in the 19th century, and the country became a British colony. After a brief Japanese occupation, Myanmar was reconquered by the Allies. On 4 January 1948, Myanmar declared independence under the terms of the Burma Independence Act 1947.
Myanmar's post-independence history has continued to be checkered by unrest and conflict. The coup d'état in 1962 resulted in a military dictatorship under the Burma Socialist Programme Party. On 8 August 1988, the 8888 Uprising then resulted in a nominal transition to a multi-party system two years later, but the country's post-uprising military council refused to cede power, and has continued to rule the country through to the present. The country remains riven by ethnic strife among its myriad ethnic groups and has one of the world's longest-running ongoing civil wars. The United Nations and several other organisations have reported consistent and systemic human rights violations in the country. In 2011, the military junta was officially dissolved following a 2010 general election, and a nominally civilian government was installed. Aung San Suu Kyi and political prisoners were released and the 2015 Myanmar general election was held, leading to improved foreign relations and eased economic sanctions, although the country's treatment of its ethnic minorities, particularly in connection with the Rohingya conflict, continued to be a source of international tension and consternation. Following the 2020 Myanmar general election, in which Aung San Suu Kyi's party won a clear majority in both houses, the Burmese military (Tatmadaw) again seized power in a coup d'état. The coup, which was widely condemned by the international community, led to continuous ongoing widespread protests in Myanmar and has been marked by violent political repression by the military, as well as a larger outbreak of the civil war. The military also arrested Aung San Suu Kyi in order to remove her from public life, and charged her with crimes ranging from corruption to the violation of COVID-19 protocols; all of the charges against her are "politically motivated" according to independent observers.Myanmar is a member of the East Asia Summit, Non-Aligned Movement, ASEAN, and BIMSTEC, but it is not a member of the Commonwealth of Nations despite once being part of the British Empire. Myanmar is a Dialogue Partner of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. The country is very rich in natural resources, such as jade, gems, oil, natural gas, teak and other minerals, as well as also endowed with renewable energy, having the highest solar power potential compared to other countries of the Great Mekong Subregion. However, Myanmar has long suffered from instability, factional violence, corruption, poor infrastructure, as well as a long history of colonial exploitation with little regard to human development. In 2013, its GDP (nominal) stood at US$56.7 billion and its GDP (PPP) at US$221.5 billion. The income gap in Myanmar is among the widest in the world, as a large proportion of the economy is controlled by cronies of the military junta. Myanmar is one of the least developed countries; as of 2020, according to the Human Development Index, it ranks 147 out of 189 countries in terms of human development, the lowest in Southeast Asia. Since 2021, more than 600,000 people were displaced across Myanmar due to the surge in violence post-coup, with more than 3 million people in dire need of humanitarian assistance.

The Biggest Cultural Site in Myanmar (Burma)

When it comes to cultural sites in Naypyidaw, there are three alternatives that are very popular among visitors. These sites offer a glimpse into the rich heritage and history of Myanmar, and are definitely worth a visit.

1. Uppatasanti Pagoda

The Uppatasanti Pagoda, also known as the “Peace Pagoda,” is one of the most iconic religious sites in Naypyidaw. Standing at a height of 325 feet, it is the third largest pagoda in Myanmar. The pagoda is a replica of the famous Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon and serves as a symbol of peace and prosperity. Visitors can explore the pagoda’s beautiful architecture and enjoy panoramic views of the city from its top level.

  • Height: 325 feet
  • Replica of the Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon
  • Symbol of peace and prosperity

2. National Museum

The National Museum in Naypyidaw is a treasure trove of Myanmar’s cultural heritage. The museum houses a vast collection of artifacts, artworks, and historical objects from different periods of Myanmar’s history. Visitors can explore the exhibits that showcase the country’s rich Buddhist heritage, traditional arts and crafts, royal regalia, and ancient artifacts. The National Museum offers a fascinating insight into Myanmar’s past and provides an opportunity to learn about the country’s diverse cultural traditions.

  • Houses a vast collection of artifacts and historical objects
  • Exhibits showcase Myanmar’s Buddhist heritage and traditional arts
  • Opportunity to learn about Myanmar’s diverse cultural traditions

3. Myoma Market

For a more immersive cultural experience, a visit to Myoma Market is a must. This bustling market is the heart of Naypyidaw’s local life and offers a glimpse into the daily lives of its residents. Visitors can wander through the vibrant stalls selling fresh produce, spices, handicrafts, and local delicacies. Myoma Market is a great place to interact with locals, learn about their way of life, and sample authentic Myanmar cuisine. It’s an experience that truly immerses you in the cultural fabric of Naypyidaw.

  • Bustling market offering a glimpse into local life
  • Vibrant stalls selling fresh produce, spices, handicrafts, and local delicacies
  • Opportunity to interact with locals and sample authentic Myanmar cuisine

Thank you for taking the time to read our article. For more in-depth reviews and comprehensive ratings on the Cultural Site spots, please explore the recommended articles listed below.

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