An e-bike tour in Bagan

Heavenly Yu Bagan Bagan is one of the must-see destinations in Myanmar and has been recently listed as UNESCO World Heritage Site on 6th July 2019 from 36 nominations. Bagan hosts more than 3,500 red bricks Buddhist temples, stupas, monasteries and other monuments which are dotted around the massive greenery plain. In Bagan, you can see temples everywhere. There are many ways to explore this archaeological zone via car, coach, bicycle and e-bike. If you love to travel freely and independently, the most interesting and best way to discover this archaeological zone is via an e-bike and it won’t cost you much. If you are thinking of renting an e-bike and hopping around Bagan, the below information is all you need to know and can lead you tour an amazing one. Best Time to Visit Bagan The best time to vist Bagan is from October to Frbruary. June to September is the rainy season. Although it doesn’t rain daily as Bagan is the dry zone, it will be too hot in the daytime. If you are planning to ride Hot Air Balloon, definitely have to skip the rainy season and make sure to check Balloon over Bagan operates before you visit. What is an e-bike? An e-bike is an electronic scoter with a motor running by the battery. It has every feature of a scooter like horn, brakes, starter point, light and the storage under the seat and the front basket. Operating an e-bike is super easy and iss not much different from starting a scooter. If you know how to ride a scooter or bicycle, you will surely know how to handle an e-bike in a short time when you hop in. If planning to learn to drive an e-bike, make sure to practice on an empty street, without many cars. Please note that Myanmar drives on the Right. Riding an e-bike? Is it Legal for tourists? Unfortunately, foreigners are not allowed to drive motorbiked or scooters in Myanmar. But the good news is that you can still drive an e-bike and no international driving license is needed. Riding an e-bike is preferable than riding a bicycle in Bagan because riding a bicycle is more tiring and Bagan is too hot except October to February. An e-bike can go up to 40km/h and make your way to the destination quicker so you can have more time for other activities. Hiring an e-bike can lead you to lesser-known spots and pull over whenever you want, take a picture and admire the landscapes. Where to hire an e-bike? If you are wondering where to rent e-bikes in Bagan, the answer is simple: anywhere! It is super easy to hire an e-bike in Bagan and almost every shop and hotel has an e-bike rental service. Before renting an e-bike, give a ride to check and make sure the battery is full. Don’t forget to ask for the phone number of the shop for a rescue in case your vehicle has a problem during the trip. You can also buy a map of Bagan at your hotel or anywhere you hire your e-bike. Renting Price Renting an e-bike for one day would cost around 8000-10000 mmk ( $6-$8). It can be cheaper in the rainy season and also cheaper if you have good bargaining skills. During the touristy season, the prices might be a bit higher. You can keep the bike overnight for an early departure to catch the sunrise or rent for multiple days, the price can be negotiated as well. If you hire overnight, note to ask the shop to provide the charger cord for you. Must- Visit Temples #01 Ananda Temple An incredible white temple with beautiful details and golden towers make this temple one of the must-see temples in Myanmar. Don’t forget to explore its interior where you will find four amazing Buddha statues, each facing one cardinal direction. With its architecture and white exterior, Ananda Temple is an amazing place for photographers. #02 Shwesandaw Pagoda Shwesandaw Pagoda is a five-stories high pagoda and its jaw-dropping structure never fails to impress anyone. Even though climbing on Shwesandaw Pagoda is not allowed anyone, it’s definitely worth visiting. #03 Dhammayangyi Temple Dhammayangyi Temple is the largest of all the temples in Bagan, approximately 77.7 m on each of its four sides. Oriented towards the east, the temple has four entrances at the cardinal directions, each containing a seated Buddha image on a pedestal, resembling the Ananda Temple. #04 Sulamani Temple The Sulamani Temple is a beautiful temple where the sun’s rays shine through the outer aches onto the central core, creating a beautiful and warming glow. #05 Shwezigon Pagoda Shwezigon Pagoda is an 11th-century pagoda and one of Bagan’s top destinations. Sitting on the top of three terraces, there is a beautiful bell shape structure (stupa) which became a model to be followed in the later religious structure in Myanmar. #06 Htilominlo Temple Htilominlo Temple is known as the last Myanmar style temple built. It was built during the reign of King Htilominlo in 1218. It is also a red-brick temple which has a similar design to the earlier Sulamani Temple. #07 Pyathatgyi Temple Pyathatgyi Temple is a very large and impressive brick temple located near Sulamani Temple. It is a double-cave type monument and was perhaps the last great construction of the dynasty of Bagan. Recommended Places for Sunset and Sunrise The most spectacular time to see Bagan’s temple is during dawn and dusk when the sunlight creates a mystical atmosphere. Sunrise/Sunset View Point is a place where many of the hot air balloons fly right over and it means you could get some great photos of the balloons. Nan Myint Viewing Tower allows you to get great photos and is a place where you can see how magical the Bagan area is. Another spectacular way to see the temples is heading to the sky for a Hot Air Balloon Trip. Please note that

• Prepare water bottles and suncream before departure
• Take a break and rehydrates more often due to hot weather during the Summer
• Be careful when driving around temples because the roads are deep in the sand

Do not leave your trashes and take it back