Joanna James
The largest city in Myanmar, Yangon, formerly known as Rangoon, has so much more to offer than its juxtaposition of British colonial architecture and modern high rises, and the host of fascinating cultural sites. Come, treat yourself to some delightful time away in the charming Burmese metropolis.
If Myanmar's former capital city, Yangon, is renowned for one thing, that would be its collection of fascinating pagodas. While the city is home to a whole host of ancient pagodas, the world-renowned Shwedagon Pagoda and Sule Pagoda are undeniably the biggest draws of the bunch. Keep aside at least one whole day to tour these two bewitching pagodas as well as other pagodas that add to Yangon's rich cultural heritage as it is an undoubtedly unmissable experience on any trip to Yangon.
Yangon, or for that matter Myanmar as a whole, is still under the radar for most holiday-seekers around the world. Compared to its neighbouring tourist hotspot, which is widely popular in Thailand, tourism in this part of Southeast Asia is minuscule. Local men still wear the traditional longyi, girls embellish their faces with thanakha, horse carriages are not at all rare and the Burmese authenticity and traditional allure are still intact. All good things don't last forever and with tourism in Myanmar on the rise, it too won't be off the beaten track forever.
Almost all tourists to Yangon, especially those visiting neighbouring Thailand or Cambodia, find the weather here remarkably pleasant and refreshing. Not too hot, not too cool and a fair bit of rain throughout the year — if anyone were to rank the countries with the best weather, Myanmar would definitely be high on the list. It is believed that the best time to travel to Yangon and all other parts of the Southeast Asian nation is from October to March, but you should have no doubt that Myanmar would be nothing but charming.
Travelling shouldn't always be expensive, and Yangon is one incredible place on planet earth that affords you a fantastic getaway without breaking the bank. While Myanmar offers a vacation on a shoestring budget, one can't bet this will always be the case. As tourism is already on the rise and the industry continues to flourish, it is only natural that the country might move away from its budget-friendly allure.
Among all things fascinating that Yangon has to offer to its tourists, the mouth-watering authentic local cuisine is definitely one of the most remarkable. Treat yourself to an assortment of tantalising local dishes and let your taste buds savour the exotic Burmese flavours. Your exploration of local cuisine could be done from the comfort of almost any hotel in Yangon, including the likes of Chatrium Hotel Royal Lake Yangon.
A true believer that the pen is a mighty weapon, ventures into reaching the minds of every reader with the earnest hope of leaving an indelible stream of thought.
A travel writer who has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world.
