Can I do it? – that was the first question that popped up in my mind when I thought of making a road trip from India to Myanmar and Thailand. But not only did I do it; I experienced one of the most eclectic mix of nature and city life in this 12-day trip stretching 2200 km – and that is what I will share with you today.
My journey started from Bengaluru with a domestic flight to Imphal, the capital of Manipur. Although Imphal has its own share of tourist attractions, I decided to hit the road to the border town of Moreh, about 100 km southeast of Imphal.
It took me about 1 hr to get through immigration. Once done, it was just a stroll across the Indo-Myanmar Friendship Bridge to Tamu in Myanmar.
Tamu is a typical border town with just a few hotels and a huge local market. Although some items were cheaper than in India, I decided to skip the shopping as I didn’t want to increase the weight of my backpack so early on in my trip. From Tamu, there are only two buses to Mandalay in the whole day – 11am and 12:30 pm. As it was already late afternoon, I had to spend the night in Tamu.
In Tamu, I stayed at the Shwe Okkar Motel on the main road near the Tamu Fire Station, about 2.5 km south of the Friendship Bridge. The room rent was Myanmar Kyat 35000 which roughly comes to INR 1500, but since I did not have any local currency with me, I ended up paying around INR 1800 for the night. It’s a very basic motel, so do not expect anything fancy here.
A 10-hr bus ride from Tamu took me to Mandalay – the second largest city in Myanmar. As it was getting quite late, I headed straight to my hotel. The Royal Yadanarbon is a 3-star hotel located just off the busy Pinya Street. Prices start from less than INR700 per night but could go up sharply during the peak tourist season.
Mandalay – the former royal capital – is a haven for history and nature lovers. From stunning monasteries and pagodas to beautiful sunsets and waterfalls, Mandalay is a city to fall in love with. Although mine was a short stop, you can easily spend 2 to 3 days in Mandalay to explore its beauty.
Next stop – Old Bagan, about 200 km, or 4-hr bus ride from Mandalay town centre. This UNESCO Heritage Site was on my bucket list for quite some time. It is famous for the largest concentration of Buddhist temples and pagodas in the world. Although only a sixth of its 13000 stupas stand today, the stunning views of these centuries-old spires piercing through the forest greenery is a sight that will be etched in my memory forever. While you can enjoy a bird’s eye view of Old Bagan with a hot air balloon ride, do not miss the lacquer ware crafts and night carnival in the old town.
At Old Bagan, I stayed at the New Park Hotel , opposite the Bagan Nyaung Golf Club, and hardly a 15-minute walk from the Shwezigon Pagoda, one of the most popular tourist attractions of that region. As I was visiting during the off-peak season, I paid Myanmar Kyat 80000 (INR 3400) per night, almost half the peak season rate.
An overnight bus ride from Old Bagan through the country roads takes you to Inle Lake – a paradise for nature lovers. I spent the day taking a boat ride and enjoying the sights of the bamboo-stilt houses and charismatic fishing techniques of the locals. The evening was well spent visiting some of their famed textile and tobacco handicraft centers.
Maine Li, the 3-star hotel where I stayed for the night is located a few km north of Inle Lake. At Myanmar Kyat 80000 per night, it cost me the same as in Old Bagan.
From Old Inle Lake, I took the 9-hr long bus trip to the largest city of Myanmar – Yangon. These are busy roads with plenty of rides to choose from including luxury buses – locally known as the VIP bus. You can even book online in advance for some of these services.
Formerly Rangoon, Yangon was the capital of Myanmar until 2006. The city claims to have the ‘largest number of colonial era buildings in Southeast Asia’. Add with it the stunning pagodas and colorful local markets sprinkled all over the city, and it was reason enough for me to go shutter-happy the whole day!
Hotel Zara Yangon, where I stayed, is located next to the Yangon Central Railway Station, one of the busiest and most vibrant districts in the city. Pocket pinch for a night’s stay was around Myanmar Kyat 70000 (INR 3000). The neighbourhood roads are filled with local eateries and markets- the perfect place for me to soak in the local life.
After my rain-soaked stay in Yangon it was time to head to Myawaddy near the north west border of Thailand. A 90-minute immigration process and I was in Mae Sot, the border town in Thailand. The next 5 hrs was a bus journey through the rural beauty of Thailand taking me to the last leg of my road trip – Bangkok.
Krung Thep, or Bangkok, is a beacon of diversity. From walking streets to wats (Buddhist temples) and from museums to massage parlors, the Thai capital has it all.
I chose to stay at Tales Khaosan (Cafe & Hostel) on the popular Khao San Road, a backpackers’ neighborhood. You can get a bed here for around INR 800.
There are plenty of travel agencies here to book tours within and around Bangkok. I picked a half-day tour to the famed Damnoen Saduak Floating Market and the Maeklong Railway Market. Although quite touristy, the energy and colors of these local markets are a sight to behold. Thailand is also famous for its wide variety of street foods, ranging from colorful fruits to a wide range of non vegetarian preparations. The local market was a good place to try a few of these, and true to its reputation, I was not disappointed at all.
What is Bangkok without a taste of its nightlife? So I decided to spend the evening at the Walking Street near Nana Metro Station. The street – dotted with bars, discos, restaurants, and massage parlors – is a place to party until the wee hours of morning. However, I had to retire early as I had a flight to catch – back home to Bengaluru!
