WHEN
24 November 2018WHERE
Bagan Temple MarathonHOW
From Mandalay Airport,
take a bus or fly to Nyaung
U AirportEXPERIENCE
MAR ATHONS
BaganThe famous Bagan Temple Marathon takes
place every November, and its route weaves
through dirt paths along the historic Bagan
plains, an archaeological zone containing over
2,000 sacred pagodas and temples built from
the 9th till the 13th century by fervent devotees
of Theravada Buddhism.
Runners dash along village roads across an
area once ruled by the Pagan Kingdom on the
banks of the Irrawaddy river. Starting off at
6am from the iconic Htilominlo Temple – a
majestic 46-metre structure famous for its
ornate stucco carvings – the hot and dusty
course is relatively flat, and its main draw is the
scenic landscape, which allows participants
to breeze past the temples in this stunning
pilgrimage destination, regardless of what
distance they cover: the full marathon, half
marathon, or 10-kilometre run.
MYANMAR
Run Amid the
Bagan Ruins
Fortify yourself after the run with mohinga,
a spicy, sour soup often eaten by Burmese
for breakfast and first popularised in the 19th
century as a cheap but nutritious meal. River
catfish and fermented vermicelli noodles are
cooked in a broth of garlic, onions, ginger,
lemongrass and peppers, and then topped
with sliced banana blossom, eggs and chickpea
fritters. The exact recipe varies from region
to region, but the tastiest versions are often
served up by street hawkers.above and left Bagan
is home to the largest
area of Buddhist
temples in the worldPHOTOS © SHUTTERSTOCK