Bagan’s Thadingyut Full Moon Day to attract throngs of tourists, pilgrims

The Department of Hotels and Tourism (Bagan Branch) has reported a significant influx of tourists visiting Bagan’s ancient cultural area on this year’s full moon day of Thadingyut. Almost all guesthouses and hotel rooms are already fully booked.

In the days leading up to the full moon day in the Bagan region, there is typically a steady flow of foreign tourists and pilgrims from both lower and upper parts of Myanmar. The full moon day of Thadingyut holds immense religious significance for Buddhists, as they engage in meritorious deeds. Both local and foreign tourists enjoy the enchanting night scenes of Bagan during the festival period.

Due to the high number of tourists during the peak season, guesthouses and hotels are fully booked, and monasteries, pagodas, and villages in the Bagan region become crowded.

On the full moon day of Thadingyut in 2022, approximately 150,000 tourists visited the famous pagodas in the Bagan cultural area. These pagodas included Shwezigon, Htilominlo, Alodawpyae, Ananda, Culamani, Dhammayangyi, Shwesandaw, Thatbyinnyu, Gadawpalin, Buu, Manuha, Mya Zedi, Lawkananda, Dhammayazika Pagodas, Ngatpyit, Tuyin and Tantkyi hills. From early morning until the evening oil-lamp offering, these sites were notably crowded with pilgrims. — Nyein Thu (MNA)/KZW