We have a selection of guidebooks to some of our most popular countries in Asia. Written by our specialists, they detail destination information, a wildlife guide, some suggested itineraries and plenty more to inspire your holiday. Fill in the form below and if you live in UK, your guidebook will arrive by post within the next couple of days. For those who live abroad, we will send this via a PDF to your email.
Magnificent temples abound in Burma, dotting the horizons of its verdant landscapes up and down the country. From the temple studded lands of Bagan to the glittering pagodas of Yangon, the holy sites of Burma are simply mind boggling both in size and beauty. Whilst stupas are solid temples, said to house remains of Buddhas or monks, Pagodas are open to enter for worship. Having evolved from the shape of a stupa, the two often look similar yet their significance is marked by their history.
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The Golden Rock consists of an almost 20 foot high gilded pagoda on top of a large granite boulder, completely covered in gold leaf from years of visiting male devotees, all precariously perched at the edge of a 1,100 metre high mountain. According to legend, it has maintained its fragile position over the years (including several earthquakes) due to a single strand of Buddha’s hair housed within, passed from a hermit to King Tissa in the 11th Century.
After a thrilling journey on the back of an open-truck and an hour long walk past tea houses and souvenir stalls, visitors are rewarded with striking views of the rock and surrounding countryside from a number of viewing platforms. Male visitors are able to cross a bridge into the rock’s inner sanctuary, perhaps even adding to its gold-leaf layers.
Although busier, visiting the Golden Rock during pilgrimage season from November to March offers a particularly special experience, where large numbers of pilgrims come together to chant, light candles and meditate from the day into the night.