
Teatime at a Monastery in Bagan
Teatime at a Monastery
in Bagan
An insight into the solitary lifestyle of Buddhist monks in Bagan. This exclusive view into their
routines, hardly shown to the outside world has now become accessible for outsiders.
Our afternoon encounter with the secretive lives of Burmese faithful.
WHY THIS TOUR?
Burmese boys are from a young age introduced to Buddhism; protecting the family honour and duty as faithful Buddhists sees young lads from the age of seven and up entering a monastery under the protection of a senior monk. Ordained and shaven bold from head to toe and dressed in their ubiquitous, saffron-red robes, their bonds turn into tightly-knitted brotherhoods with a guaranteed education.
Going backstage in a monastery and see a ‘Kappiya’ a work from up close and gaining an insight into the daily lives of Burmese monks is no longer a dream. We can turn such dreams now into reality for the selected few, drawn towards the solitary side of being a monk. Guided by the philosophy of reaching nirvana when the time is right, guests will respectfully watch, join and get an explanation once one of the few monasteries open their doors for outsiders.



TRAIL ITINERARY
13:00 - 16:00
At around 1 pm, your guide for this extraordinary afternoon waits for you at your resort in either Old or New Bagan. For this tour, we drive to one of the main monasteries around Bagan, exclusively picked for this close encounter of the Buddhist kind and reserved just for experiencing the work done by a Kappiya.
You are welcomed by the monks who are eager to answer your questions or have a chat with – your guide will be standing by for essential translations and explain how to approach the monks respectfully. Bound by over 200 rules and regulations according to the scriptures of the Lord Buddha, the practices forbids monks and novices to i.e. touching money for which Kappiyas are used to acknowledge and handle these basic needs.
It is the silence, the solitude and the seclusion of their daily practices that will remain forever with each visitor. At the end of casting a glimpse in the lives of Burmese monkhood, you are brought to a shaded spot nearby the monastery for coffee, tea and a selection of dry snacks. It makes the end of an afternoon that has moved and touched those guests witnessing a backstage entrance to a monastery. Return to your accommodation, where you will return at around 4 pm.