- Thai tourists top the list of Myanmar’s tourist arrivals this year
- Myanmar to allow tourists through Kayin border
- Peninsula group to open hotel in Yangon
- French firm to invest in Myanmar’s tourism industry
- Japanese business travellers flock to Myanmar
- Tourists to Inle region surge 50 percent
- Inle floating market nearly disappearing
- Mandalay to build 20 hotels providing over 1400 rooms
- More passports issued in this summer
- Myanmar starts online tour guide services
Innwa’s bad roads prompt tourist complaints
Published on Tuesday, 19 February 2013 21:01
Tourists on the way to Bagaya Monastery seen on February 13 (Photo-Htay Hla Aung/EMG)
Bad roads are the major complaint of tourists visiting the ancient city of Innwa, located about 20 kilometres south of Mandalay, tour guides say.
A guide from Mandalay said most of the roads in Innwa are badly in need of repair and some of the roads are almost inaccessible during the rainy season, especially the road to Bagayar Monastery, a teak edifice famous for its intricate carvings.
“Most foreign tourists don’t complain much about other things, but express disappointment over the bad road [to Bagayar Monastery],” he said.
Tourists pay US$10 to enter many tourist sites in Mandalay Region, including Innwa. Innwa can be reached by ferry from Gaw Wein Jetty in Mandalay.
A horse-cart driver said tourists prefer this leisurely form of transport when they visit Innwa and as a result peak tourist season is the busiest time for the drivers.
There are about 150 horse carts in Innwa and drivers charge 6,000 kyats for a trip around the city, he said.
Popular tourist sites in Innwa include Bagayar Monastery, Maha Aungmye Bonzan Monastery, the Nan Myint Tower and the ruins of ancient stupas.