The veto would have seen visitors barred from ascending the steps on the sides of temples and pagodas up to 1,000-years old in the Bagan Archaeological Zone. The amendment now allows tourists to climb Shwesandaw, Thitsar Wadi, Pyathatgyi temples plus North and South Guni.
Tourism related agencies and private operators had originally slammed a total ban as ludicrous and an over-the-top reaction to conserving the temples for posterity. One guide told reporters that one of the key activities for visitors was to go up to the upper terraces of Shwesandaw to catch views of the sun setting over the remains of the other 2,000-plus temples in the locality.
The Japanese International Cooperation Agency has put forward a proposal to build a viewing platform around one of the other Bagan temples. Despite the proposal being made almost six months ago, there has been no progress in the intervening period.
Myanmar exempts five sites from Bagan temple climb ban
News in Asia
Myanmar’s culture ministry has amended a ban on climbing temples at Bagan so that it excludes five of the more popular ones. A blanket ban on the activity was due to come into effect at the beginning of the month, but was changed at the last moment due to vociferous opposition.