Bagan

Known as the city of four million pagodas, Bagan (or Pagan as it used to be called) is the cradle of Myanmar civilisation, the first capital of the once mighty Bamar kingdom. Although Bagan's early history is shrouded in mystery, chronicles recount that the city grew out of 19 villages.

The city's "Golden Era" was between 1044 and 1287 during which time thirteen kings left their signature on the area in the form of temples, pagodas, palaces and the introduction of Theravada Buddhism to the region and ultimately the country. As with most ancient civilisations, when the end came it came abruptly with the brutal sacking of the city by Genghis Khan's grandson, the enigmatic Kublai Khan. Its history unsure, all that is certain is that Bagan is a sight to behold. Unlike its more illustrious cousin, Angkor Wat, Bagan receives very little in the way of visitors making a visit to this ancient wonder doubly special.