An inside tour of Myanmar

CNN Staff
1 minute read
Updated 6:16 PM EDT, Wed March 25, 2015
The diverse culture of Myanmar has increasingly drawn tourists to its historic landmarks and warm beaches. Here, tourists sun themselves along Ngapali Beach in the Southeast Asian country. Click through to see more of what to expect when visiting Myanmar, also known as Burma.
Touring Myanmar —
The diverse culture of Myanmar has increasingly drawn tourists to its historic landmarks and warm beaches. Here, tourists sun themselves along Ngapali Beach in the Southeast Asian country. Click through to see more of what to expect when visiting Myanmar, also known as Burma.
Paula Bronstein/Getty Images
The Sule Pagoda lights up the night sky as people wait for the bus in Yangon. Pagodas serve as shrines for Theravada Buddhists, the majority religion in the country.
Touring Myanmar —
The Sule Pagoda lights up the night sky as people wait for the bus in Yangon. Pagodas serve as shrines for Theravada Buddhists, the majority religion in the country.
Kuni Takahashi/Getty Images
Scooters zip down the road in Pyinmana, a logging town and sugar refinery center near the new capital, Naypyidaw. The capital moved from Yangon to Naypyidaw in 2005.
Touring Myanmar —
Scooters zip down the road in Pyinmana, a logging town and sugar refinery center near the new capital, Naypyidaw. The capital moved from Yangon to Naypyidaw in 2005.
Roland Neveu/LightRocket via Getty Images
Young Buddhist monks walk on their daily alms collection at the sacred golden Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon.
Touring Myanmar —
Young Buddhist monks walk on their daily alms collection at the sacred golden Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon.
EPA/BARBARA WALTON /LANDOV
Old Burmese money shows the picture of Aung San, a leader in Burma's struggle for independence and father of Nobel Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi. This money was abolished by Gen. Ne Win, who ruled over Burma for 26 years.
Touring Myanmar —
Old Burmese money shows the picture of Aung San, a leader in Burma's struggle for independence and father of Nobel Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi. This money was abolished by Gen. Ne Win, who ruled over Burma for 26 years.
Roland Neveu/LightRocket via Getty Images
People ride in a rickshaw on a road north of the town of Sittwe.
Touring Myanmar —
People ride in a rickshaw on a road north of the town of Sittwe.
REUTERS /DAMIR SAGOLJ /LANDOV
Bagan, the historic former capital of Burma, has thousands of Buddhist temples, pagodas and monasteries from when the Kingdom of Pagan was at its height, from the 11th to the 13th century.
Touring Myanmar —
Bagan, the historic former capital of Burma, has thousands of Buddhist temples, pagodas and monasteries from when the Kingdom of Pagan was at its height, from the 11th to the 13th century.
Roland Neveu/LightRocket via Getty Images
A woman sits in her shop lined with mannequins in a shopping center in Mawlamyine.
Touring Myanmar —
A woman sits in her shop lined with mannequins in a shopping center in Mawlamyine.
Roland Neveu/LightRocket via Getty Images
A line of umbrellas sits in front of an old building in Bagan.
Touring Myanmar —
A line of umbrellas sits in front of an old building in Bagan.
Roland Neveu/LightRocket via Getty Images
Women from the Akha ethnic group wear traditional clothes. There are 135 official ethnic groups and seven ethnic minority states in Myanmar, according to the United Nations.
Touring Myanmar —
Women from the Akha ethnic group wear traditional clothes. There are 135 official ethnic groups and seven ethnic minority states in Myanmar, according to the United Nations.
REUTERS /DAMIR SAGOLJ /LANDOV
People transport flowers across Inle Lake, a large freshwater lake.
Touring Myanmar —
People transport flowers across Inle Lake, a large freshwater lake.
Roland Neveu/LightRocket via Getty Images
Light traffic moves through the capital, Naypyidaw.
Touring Myanmar —
Light traffic moves through the capital, Naypyidaw.
Roland Neveu/LightRocket via Getty Images
Women wear traditional longyi around their waists in front of a modern movie billboard in Yangon.
Touring Myanmar —
Women wear traditional longyi around their waists in front of a modern movie billboard in Yangon.
Kuni Takahashi/Getty Images
The Uppatasanti Pagoda at the center of Naypyidaw is a replica of the Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon, the former capital. It's 30 centimeters, or about 1 foot, shorter than the original and was completed in 2009.
Touring Myanmar —
The Uppatasanti Pagoda at the center of Naypyidaw is a replica of the Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon, the former capital. It's 30 centimeters, or about 1 foot, shorter than the original and was completed in 2009.
Roland Neveu/LightRocket via Getty Images
Volunteers sweep the floors at the golden Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon.
Touring Myanmar —
Volunteers sweep the floors at the golden Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon.
EPA/BARBARA WALTON /LANDOV
Wooden figures sit for sale as incense burns behind them at a stall in Indein, a village by Inle Lake.
Touring Myanmar —
Wooden figures sit for sale as incense burns behind them at a stall in Indein, a village by Inle Lake.
Roland Neveu/LightRocket via Getty Images
The temple of Phaung Daw U, the largest on Inle Lake, is lit as dusk falls in the village of Ywama.
Touring Myanmar —
The temple of Phaung Daw U, the largest on Inle Lake, is lit as dusk falls in the village of Ywama.
Roland Neveu/LightRocket via Getty Images
A Buddhist monk checks out a stand in Pyinmana.
Touring Myanmar —
A Buddhist monk checks out a stand in Pyinmana.
Roland Neveu/LightRocket via Getty Images
A motorbike passes the Assembly of the Union, where the country's upper and lower houses of representatives meet, in Naypyidaw. It is locally called Pyidaungsu Hluttaw.
Touring Myanmar —
A motorbike passes the Assembly of the Union, where the country's upper and lower houses of representatives meet, in Naypyidaw. It is locally called Pyidaungsu Hluttaw.
Roland Neveu/LightRocket via Getty Images
A Burmese boy climbs on a gargoyle statue at the sacred Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon.
Touring Myanmar —
A Burmese boy climbs on a gargoyle statue at the sacred Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon.
EPA/BARBARA WALTON /LANDOV
A novice monk rings the Mingun Bell, the world's third-largest bell, in Mingun village, about 21 kilometers (13 miles) southwest of Mandalay.
Touring Myanmar —
A novice monk rings the Mingun Bell, the world's third-largest bell, in Mingun village, about 21 kilometers (13 miles) southwest of Mandalay.
REUTERS /Soe Zeya Tun /LANDOV
People pass through a shopping area near the central market in Mawlamyine.
Touring Myanmar —
People pass through a shopping area near the central market in Mawlamyine.
Roland Neveu/LightRocket via Getty Images
A young Burmese man dressed as a woman entertains residents of a neighborhood in Mawlamyine.
Touring Myanmar —
A young Burmese man dressed as a woman entertains residents of a neighborhood in Mawlamyine.
Roland Neveu/LightRocket via Getty Images
A Burmese man of Indian descent makes tea in a stall in Mawlamyine.
Touring Myanmar —
A Burmese man of Indian descent makes tea in a stall in Mawlamyine.
Roland Neveu/LightRocket via Getty Images
Women carry fruit baskets on their heads on Ngapali Beach.
Touring Myanmar —
Women carry fruit baskets on their heads on Ngapali Beach.
Paula Bronstein/Getty Images
Photos: An inside tour of Myanmar

World-renowned chef, best-selling author and Emmy winning television personality Anthony Bourdain is the host of CNN’s new showcase for coverage of food and travel. “Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown” is shot entirely on location and premieres Sunday, April 14, at 9 p.m. ET. Follow the show on Twitter and Facebook. Bourdain’s first stop: Myanmar.

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Related photos: Behind the scenes with Anthony Bourdain in Myanmar