Plizio Visual Lab
Mount Popa
Plizio editorial teamData Sources
Mountain
Weather…
Water temperature…
Mount Popa is a prominent extinct volcano located in the Myingyan Plain of central Myanmar, about 50 kilometers southeast of Bagan. Rising to a height of 1,518 meters, it towers over the surrounding dry zone and forms a green oasis with lush vegetation supported by fertile volcanic soils. More famous than the main peak is Taung Kalat, a steep volcanic plug that rises 737 meters and is crowned by a magnificent monastery complex. For the Burmese people, Mount Popa is the most important pilgrimage site for the worship of Nats, local guardian spirits, 37 of whom are considered particularly powerful. Visitors must climb 777 steps to reach the pagodas and shrines at the summit of Taung Kalat, encountering numerous macaques along the way. The region was designated a national park in 1989 to protect its unique flora, including sandalwood trees, and the rich wildlife of the mountain forests. From the top, a spectacular panoramic view stretches across the plains of Bagan to the Ayeyarwady River.
- Location: Myanmar (Burma)
- Top sights: ပုပ္ပါးတောင်သဘာဝထိန်းသိမ်းရေးနယ်မြေ · ပုပ္ပါးတောင်သဘာဝထိန်းသိမ်းရေးနယ်မြေ · Myint Myat Htoo Ceti
- Nearby: Myingyan (14 km)
Best time to visit & climate
The most pleasant time to visit is Jan, Feb, Dec.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg °C | 22 | 25 | 28 | 32 | 32 | 30 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 26 | 23 |
| Rain mm | 8 | 1 | 9 | 14 | 41 | 46 | 48 | 48 | 44 | 60 | 11 | 7 |
📋 Practical info
Getting there
The site is most commonly accessed via a roughly one-hour drive from Bagan, with regular taxi and shared transport options readily available for visitors.
Best season
While accessible year-round, the cooler months from November to February provide the most comfortable climate for climbing the exposed stairways.
Terrain & paths
The ascent to the main shrine area involves climbing exactly 777 relatively steep, covered steps, which must be navigated completely barefoot.
What to bring
Slip-on shoes are well-suited since they must be removed before ascending; bring a hat for the sun at the base and wet wipes for cleaning feet afterwards.
Parking
There is a designated, often bustling parking area at the base of the mountain, shared by numerous vendors, pilgrims, and tourist vehicles.
Safety
The most notable hazard comes from the large population of aggressive macaque monkeys; keep all food and loose items securely hidden in your bag.
Time needed
The climb itself takes about 30 to 45 minutes, and visitors usually spend a total of two to three hours exploring the shrines and enjoying the views.
Geography
Facts
- The height of the main peak is 1,518 meters.
- Taung Kalat is a volcanic plug (neck) standing 737 meters high.
- Exactly 777 covered steps lead to the monastery atop Taung Kalat.
- Mount Popa is regarded as the spiritual home of Myanmar's 37 great Nats.
- The last major eruption is dated to approximately 442 BC.
- Popa Mountain National Park covers an area of about 128 square kilometers.
Explore nearby
Notable places around
Route planner — Car & Motorhome
Where do you start? We build the route here, with stops and country notes along the way.
Vehicle
Only stops with (optional):
© OpenStreetMap contributors · OpenRouteService
Sights in the town Mount Popa (5)
Sights nearby
Frequently asked questions
How long does the climb to Mount Popa take?
The climb via the stairs takes about 30 to 45 minutes.
Is there an entrance fee for Mount Popa?
A small fee is often charged for maintenance of the facility.
Are the monkeys at Mount Popa aggressive?
Yes, they are very cheeky and like to steal food; keep your distance.
What is the best time of day to visit?
Visit early in the morning to avoid the heat and crowds.
Is there a dress code?
Yes, shoulders and knees must be covered as it is a sacred place.
Mount Popa: where is it located?
Mount Popa is located in Myanmar (Burma).
Mount Popa: what is there to see?
Highlights include ပုပ္ပါးတောင်သဘာဝထိန်းသိမ်းရေးနယ်မြေ, ပုပ္ပါးတောင်သဘာဝထိန်းသိမ်းရေးနယ်မြေ, Myint Myat Htoo Ceti.
Mount Popa: when is the best time to visit?
The most pleasant time to visit is Jan, Feb, Dec.
Mount Popa: why is it worth visiting?
Mount Popa is a prominent extinct volcano located in the Myingyan Plain of central Myanmar, about 50 kilometers southeast of Bagan.
Explore with Plizio
Discover more places in Asia
More places in Myanmar (Burma) →
Nearby cities
Mandalay
The second-largest city in the country, known for its rich history and culture.
Meiktila
A strategically important city in central Myanmar, on the shores of Lake Meiktila.
Myingyan
An industrial city in the Irrawaddy River valley, known for its cotton cultivation.
Pyin Oo Lwin
A scenic hill station near Mandalay, known for its pleasant climate.
Kalaw
A former British hill station offering cool climate, pine forests, and the starting point for famous treks to Inle Lake.
Nyaung-U
A town on the Irrawaddy River, serving as the main access point to the ancient temples of Bagan.
Inle Lake
A freshwater lake in Shan State, world-renowned for its leg-rowing fishermen, floating gardens, and stilt villages.
Pakokku
A bustling city on the Irrawaddy River, known for its trade in tobacco and cotton.
Pyay
An important commercial city on the Irrawaddy River with ancient historical ruins nearby.
Hinthada
A bustling city in the Ayeyarwady Region, famous for its rice farming.
Magway
The capital of the Magway Region, known for the production of edible oil and sesame.
Pathein
A port city in the Irrawaddy Delta, famous for making traditional parasols.
History & landmarks
Nature
Irrawaddy River
Myanmar's most important and longest river, serving as a commercial waterway and lifeline of the country.
Irrawaddy Delta
A massive, low-lying river delta formed by the Irrawaddy River dividing into multiple branches before reaching the Andaman Sea.
Chindwin River
The largest tributary of the Irrawaddy, flowing through picturesque valleys and dense jungles in the west.
More places
Popa Mountain National Park
A protected area around Mount Popa, preserving rare plants and animals of the dry zone.
🗺️
Myingyan Steel Mill
A state-owned industrial hub for steel production in the Mandalay Region, built to meet domestic demand for construction materials.
Shwesettaw Wildlife Sanctuary
A nature reserve in central Myanmar established to provide a habitat for the critically endangered Burmese star tortoises.
🗺️
Tagaung Taung Nickel Mine
A major ferronickel mining and smelting project in the Mandalay Region, primarily destined for export.
Yeywa Hydropower Plant
One of Myanmar's main hydropower plants, located on the Myitnge River, feeding a large part of the national power grid.
Mogok Ruby Mines
A world-famous mining area in the Mandalay Region that has supplied the world's most sought-after pigeon's blood rubies for centuries.
Laykyun Sekkya Buddha
One of the tallest statues in the world, depicting a standing Buddha in bright yellow that dominates the landscape of Monywa.
Letpadaung Copper Mine
One of Southeast Asia's largest copper mines near Monywa, though highly controversial due to social and environmental issues.