The Bagan Ancient Cultural Heritage Zone is expected to be particularly crowded with travellers during the Thadingyut Festival on 25 to 27 October, according to the Directorate of Hotels and Tourism (Bagan Branch).
Of the 93 hotels and guesthouses currently operating in NyaungU and Bagan, more than 70 hotels and around 20 guesthouses have already been fully booked by visitors planning to enjoy the festival. A total of 93 of more than 150 hotels and guesthouses are open in the area.
During the Thadingyut full moon day, the eve of the full moon and the first waning day, 3,000 small hot-air balloons will be released over three days, with 1,000 balloons launched daily from the Alodawpyae Pagoda grounds, the hill near Phothudaw Lake close to Sulamuni Pagoda, and the hilltop viewpoint at Nyaung Let Phet Lake. A night market will also open in New Bagan, similar to the night market in NyaungU, featuring traditional foods, clothing, handicrafts, food products and agricultural supplies. Candlelight offerings will also be held at pagodas and stupas and along the Ayeyawady River.
“ The Bagan cultural heritage area covers 45 square kilometres and contains 3,837 pagodas, stupas and temples recognized by UNESCO, including those in Bagan, Tantkyi Taung and Myinkaba areas. As it is a vast cultural heritage site, every Myanmar citizen should visit Bagan at least once. Now, the hotels and guesthouses are fully booked for the three-day Thadingyut festival. I really appreciate that they value Myanmar culture. I want to invite the students and youths to visit Bagan during holidays as they come to know that Myanmar stands on its own with grand palaces and culture. They can see a very special Thadingyut festival,” said Daw San San Myint from the department.
Travellers visiting the Bagan cultural heritage zone commonly explore 28 prominent pagodas and temples. Among the most frequently visited are Shwezigon Pagoda, Alodawpyae Pagoda, Ananda Temple, Shwesandaw Pagoda, Thatbyinnyu Temple, Dhammayangyi Temple, Sulamuni Temple, Dhammarazaka Pagoda, Kyaukgu Umin Temple, Bupaya, Kantawpalin, Manuha Temple, Htilominlo Temple, Pyathetgyi Temple, Myazedi, Hngetpyit Taung, Tuyin Taung Sacred Tooth Relic Pagoda and Lawkananda Sacred Tooth Relic Pagoda. — Nyein Thu (MNA)/KTZH
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