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MOUNT POPA
Nearly 67 km. southeast of Bagan lies Mount Popa, an extinct volcano over 1,500 meters high, while nearby Taungkalat (pedestal hill) rises 737 meters above the sea level. Volcanic ash makes the surrounding plains fertile while the heights capture the moisture of passing clouds, causing rain to drop on the plateau and making this place an oasis in the middle of Bagan plain.
Mount Popa is considered the adobe of the Mahagiri Nats (Spirits-gods) to whom the Kings of Bagan paid homage every year. For this reason, most of the Nats are worshiped here. There is also an annual festival to adore the Nats on Mount Popa, which usually takes place in May/June.
Worth mentioning are the hundreds of monkeys living this region.
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ITA
BAGAN
 One of the richest archaeological sites in
Southeast Asia. It was the capital of the first Burmese empire, unified in 1044
by King Anawratha, the one who introduced Theravada Buddhism. In
1287 Bagan was invaded by the Mongols. Over the course of 250 years of Bagan
Dynasty, the kings who succeeded built countless pagodas and temples in a land
of 42 square km. According to the 1905 census of the Archaeological Department,
there were 2,217 pagodas. The earthquake of 1975 damaged seriously some of the
most important buildings. Today, Bagan is not only a pilgrimage destination,
but also one of the main tourist towns of Myanmar.
Among
the most famous temples there are Shwezigon Pagoda, Ananda, Htinlominlo,
Wetkyi-In-Gubyiaukkyi, Thatbyinnyiu, Mingalazedi. Do not miss to go up one of
the highest temples to admire the enchanting sunset.
MONYWA
Monywa is located 136 km. northwest of Mandalay, on the Eastern bank of Chindwin River. It is a major center for commerce of agricultural products coming from the surrounding Chindwin Valley, especially beans, oranges and legumes. The local industry is also made up of mills for cotton production, flour, pasta and edible oils. Other regional crafts include bamboo and cane products, bullock carts and agricultural implements. The village of Kyaukka is well known for its lacquer ware utensils for everyday use. Many goods from India’s black market, especially saris and bicycle parts, pass through Monywa on their way to other parts of Myanmar.
The major tourist attraction in Monywa (although few tourists come up to here and facilities are still very limited) is Mohnyin Thambuddhei Paya, a Buddhist temple with a huge stupa reminding that of Borobudur in Indonesia. It dates from 1303, although it was rebuild in 1939. It is said to contain over 500,000 images of Buddha.
POWIN TAUNG
 Located north-west of central Burma. It is a huge
multi-level Buddhist complex,
with around
800 rock-carved caves, ranging from simple meditation cells
up to a massive temple. The facades are
decorated with high and bas-reliefs, with some entries flanked by human or animal sculptures in the round. The caves’ interiors contain numerous Buddha statues
carved into the rock, and over 100 of them are decorated with mural paintings
of Jataka tales (stories from the previous lives of the Buddha) as well as daily life scenes. Most of the designs date back to the second Ava period
(16th-18th century) and, to a lesser degree, to the colonial era (last quarter of the 19th
century until the mid-20th century).
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