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Date of the journey:- February 2020
Distance travelled:- 113 miles
We opted to travel from Mandalay to Bagan by boat as we wanted a change from bumpy and dusty buses, trains, and minivans. Not the cheapest option but a relaxing change. Taking the boat down the Irrawaddy River is probably the most comfortable way to get there.
There are a few companies running boats from Mandalay to Bagan. Prices and the length of the journey vary based on which company is used. No matter which boat you take it will be an early morning start, allowing you to see the sunrise as you’re cruising down the river.
Booking online with Golden Express Travel and Tours, we paid $42 per person. This is the same as the hotel’s charge. The boat departs at 0700 hrs from Gaw Wein jetty, between 34th & 35th streets.
With the arrival and check-in at 0630 hrs, we took a taxi, booked through our accommodation, the Hotel Yadanarbon, for the short 15-minute journey to the pier.
The trip down the river was, in our opinion, really quite pleasant and relaxing. A welcome break from the dusty battering we have become accustomed to in buses, minivans, and on trains. Breakfast, lunch, and an afternoon snack were all provided within the fare. There are also additional drinks available to purchase, should you so require.
Luggage is stored in the inside seating area, which is accessible to everyone. Seats in this area are reclining and the compartment has air conditioning. We cannot vouch for the comfort level of the seats or whether the air conditioning functions. Having spent the entire journey up on the top sun deck area, watching the world gently drift by. Together with the occasional drama of a barge or two run aground on the sand banks with the river water level being so low.
A short stop en-route is made at Yandabo pottery village.
This is where we saw traditional pottery being made from the riverbank clay. Locals from the village make the clay pots. One potting while another operates the wheel using a treadle.
Once made the pots are fired by covering them with a large pile of ash, straw, and wood which is then set on fire. The firing process takes three or four days, including cooling.
When cool, the pots are decorated with various designs.
The final product is then carried down to the riverbank in preparation for shipping all over Myanmar.
Initially, it appeared that the women do all the work while the men sat around all day. The men actually do the really dirty work. Digging the clay from the riverbank for the pots. During the dry season, the clay bed is easily accessible as the river waters are low.
However, during the wet season, the water level covers the clay pits. This means the men must collect sufficient clay during the dry season to allow production to continue through the wet season. The result is huge piles of clay all around the village.
The village is also where, in 1826, The Treaty of Yandabo was signed, ending the First Anglo-Burmese War.
Arrival at Nyaung Po jetty in Bagan was at 1800 hrs, an hour later than the scheduled time.
There was a plethora of taxis waiting on the riverside to transport the arriving passengers into town. The only public form of transport was in the back of a small truck. By the time we had got off the boat and up the bank to the car park, this truck was already full. Luckily we were able to share a taxi with one of our fellow passengers.
On entering the town there is a charge. This is an official fee to enter the Bagan archeological area. It is a one time payable fee of 25,000 Kyat per person. It can also be paid in USD or Euros.
You are advised to take a photo of your ticket on your phone, just in case you lose the ticket. Your photograph is also taken and linked to your ticket.
The transfer to our accommodation at the Bagan Beauty Land Hotel, booked through Booking.com, took approximately 10 minutes.