Mount Popa & Taung Kalat
ပုပ္ပားတောင်
An extinct volcanic area about 50 kilometres southeast of Bagan; the rock pillar of Taung Kalat, topped with golden temples, is a sacred site for the worship of the Nat spirits.
Mount Popa is an extinct volcano about 1,518 metres high. Beside its base rises Taung Kalat, a volcanic rock plug about 737 metres tall, crowned with a group of golden monasteries that look like 'temples in the sky' from afar. This is the centre of worship for the 37 Nat spirits of Myanmar. Shrines at the foot of the mountain house colourful statues of the spirits, and pilgrims offer alcohol, flowers and banknotes. To reach the top you must climb 777 steps barefoot, which takes about 30–45 minutes. Macaques are numerous along the way and will grab food and belongings, so keep your glasses, phone and plastic bags secure and do not feed them. From the summit you can look out over the surrounding plain and the main peak of Mount Popa. From Bagan, a private car takes about 1–1.5 hours one way, and the trip is often arranged as a half-day tour with a stop at a palm sugar workshop along the way. The steps are often soiled by monkeys, and people at the entrance collect a cleaning tip.
Opening hours
About 06:00–18:00
Nearby sights
- Payathonzu Temple
- Lemyethna Temple
- Dhammayazika Pagoda
- Pyathada Temple
- Sulamani Temple
- Nyaung-U Market
- Dhammayangyi Temple
- Lawkananda Pagoda