Sagaing is south of Mandalay on the River Irrawaddy and was the first port of call on The Grey Traveller cruise from Mandalay to Bagan with  Sanctuary Retreats.

I couldn’t help but be impressed with the dazzling gold stupa even if the soles of my feet were burning! It’s customary to take off shoes and cover knees and shoulders out of respect when visiting Buddhist temples…..but this soft soled Englishwoman of a certain age found that temple tiles are hot in the mid afternoon!