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ပခုက္ကူCentral Myanmar
A quiet trading town on the Ayeyarwady near Bagan, known for thanaka and tobacco. Here is what to see on a half-day visit.
Pakokku is a busy market town on the west bank of the Ayeyarwady, upriver from Bagan and linked to it by a long road bridge. It has little in the way of famous sights, and that is its appeal: an ordinary Myanmar town where people trade, study and go about their day without much tourism.
The town is known for trading thanaka, the fragrant bark ground into the yellow paste many people wear on their faces, and for tobacco and cheroots. A half-day visit from Bagan with a local guide, taking in the market, a cheroot workshop and an old teak monastery, makes a refreshing change from the temples.
Pakokku fits easily into a private, tailor-made stay in Bagan as a half-day trip with a local guide.
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The experiences our travellers enjoy most, in order of what we would not miss.
A big, busy local market selling everything from produce to longyi cloth, with stalls of thanaka logs and paste.
Watch cheroots rolled by hand, a local trade for generations, and learn how the leaves are prepared.
Nearby Pakhangyi has a large old teak monastery on tall wooden posts, quiet and atmospheric.
Walk by the Ayeyarwady to see boats loading and unloading goods, as they have for centuries.
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Customise My TripPakokku is easiest as a half-day trip from Bagan by private car over the river bridge. It is also on the road west towards Monywa.
Places that pair well with Pakokku, with approximate travel times.
November to February is the most comfortable time. March to May is very hot, so go early. Pakokku is in the dry zone, so the monsoon from June to October is lighter here than in the south.
A general guide. Weather varies from year to year, and we plan each route around the season.
Quick answers from our local team. Anything else, just ask your travel specialist.
Ask us on WhatsAppFor travellers who enjoy markets and everyday local life, yes, as a half-day trip from Bagan. If you only have a short time in Bagan, the temples come first.
A pale paste made by grinding the bark of the thanaka tree with water on a stone slab. Many people in Myanmar wear it on their faces as a cooling cosmetic and sun protection. Pakokku is an important trading centre for it.
By private car over the bridge across the Ayeyarwady, in about 45 minutes. A half-day trip with a guide is the easiest way to visit.
Travel advice for Myanmar changes often, and many governments advise against travel to some or all of the country. Check your government's latest advice and your travel insurance before planning. We only suggest routes our local team considers safe at the time, and we will tell you plainly if a place is not a good idea right now.
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