Your base for exploring this tourist attraction is the heritage city of Bagan (formerly called Pagan). For travel information about Bagan, go to Bagan Travel Guide. To prepare for a trip to Myanmar, read also the Myanmar Travel Guide. Looking for budget accommodation? Use AsiaExplorers Budget Accommodation Guide, the no-frills website to cover your budget accommodation needs.
Popa Taungkalat, or simply Taung Kalat, is a volcanic peak that is often confused with nearby Mount Popa. Popa Taungkalat is regarded as the abode of Myanmar's powerful nat, or local spirits. There are 37 Burmese nats all together, and their statues can be found in a shrine at the base of Popa Taungkalat.
Popa Taungkalat.
For centuries, newly-crowned kings of central Burma would make pilgrimages to Popa Taungkalat to seek the nats' blessings for their reigns. The most powerful nat is Pabe Maung Tint Dai, also called "Mr Handsome, the Blacksmith". Refer to the AsiaExplorers page about the Tharabar Gateway in Bagan (refer to the Bagan page in AsiaExplorers) to know more about him.
During the nat-pwe, festivals honouring the nats, you will find Nat Gadaws, spirit mediums gathering at Popa Taungkalat. The Nat Gadaws will then become possessed by the spirits. The worship of local spirits pre-dates Buddhism, and Mount Popa continues to be one of Asia's spiritual "power spots".
Visitors may climb to the top of Popa Taungkalat. Upon arriving at the foot, you are to remove your shoes and socks. There are places for you to store your shoes, and attendants are around to look after them. The climb up Popa Taungkalat takes about half an hour. The cement steps are sheltered by a walkway that winds around the outcrop. Stalls are set up all along the way selling souvenirs.
The steps are cool on your bare feet, but you need to be careful where you step because Popa Taungkalat is infested with monkeys, and they often leave their droppings on the steps. Nonetheless, the steps are swept clean regularly. As you climb higher, the surrounding landscape spread before you. The view is quite spectacular. The final portion is quite steep and exhausting, and many visitors do not complete the whole climb.
The climb up Popa Taungkalat was tedious, to say the least. More so when you have to do the climb barefooted (even though some people claim that climbing without footwear is better for our fitness.) My sole consolation (unintended pun) was that the steps were cool, and it feels good to step on the cool cement. I need to be watchful lest I step onto the monkey droppings that are littering the way.
Souvenir stalls are all along the walkway, reminding me of the steps up Kek Lok Si Temple in Penang, Malaysia. I had a good rest when I reached the top, and then went to explore the shrines and monasteries for the nats of Myanmar.
Popa Taungkalat Photo Gallery
Please click the thumbnail on the left to view more photos of Popa Taungkalat.
Exploring the Sights in Bagan
Bagan was one of the first capitals of an ancient Burmese empire. Today it is one of the world's major heritage sites. Click enter to view the sights in Bagan.
About the Author: AsiaExplorers is researched and written by Timothy Tye. We take reasonable care to check and verify the accuracy of the content. However, we disclaim any responsibility for any inconvenience, mishap, injury or death resulting from following the advice provided directly or indirectly by AsiaExplorers and the comments on its pages. All the photographs in AsiaExplorers are available for publication. Please contact AsiaExplorers at the following email address for your enquiries:
