The Ruby Land – Mogok is one of the amazing destinations in Myanmar trips. Situated in the heart of Burmese jungle, shows up a small citadel of rubies which is famous for its tremendous resources considered as a hidden treasure of the world that would awaken your sense of exploration.
Mogok – A mysterious city of Myanmar
Located 200km north of Mandalay, Mogok – the “Valley of Rubies” in the north of Myanmar where is famous for supplying 90% of world’s high-grade rubies as well as affluence of other precious stones, is officially open to tourists again. However, a travel permit and a licensed guide are still acquired when visiting this place.
The narrow curling road leading to the city zigzags through the forested hills and up into the clouds, soon after, the tourists will catch the sight of Mogok’s picturesque valley surrounded by gold-colored pagoda spires. Once coming to this land, the visitors would be overwhelmed by the mystery created from the mist around the vale and lost in a fantastic fairyland. Jesuit missionary Giuseppe di Amato, the first European used to live in this area from 1784 until he died, wrote, “It is surrounded by nine mountains. The soil is uneven and full of marshes, which form seventeen small lakes…It is this soil which is so rich in mineral treasures.”
Mogok – The Ruby Land
Mogok is the home of some national races such as Shan, Palaung and Lisu who earn their living mainly by gems mining and selling. It is said that the land of Mogok has existed for about one thousand years where human beings began living and working since the pre-historic era. According to local and international geologists, the rock layer of Mogok is considered as one of the most natural rock layers in Myanmar.
The magnificent landscape surrounding Mogok is plentiful of gemstones including pigeon-blood rubies, blue sapphires and even extremely rare stones like painite, hibonite, and poudretteite that have been mentioned in time-honored Burmese literature, as well as the radiance array of semi-precious stones including lapis lazuli, garnet, moonstone, amethyst, peridot, and chrysoberyl. Throughout the hillside, a wide range of gemstone mines from small to huge are scattered surrounding the town.
The rubies are extraordinary in terms of both quantity and quality is the result of a phenomenal global geological process, in which the collision of tectonic plates liberated essential substances for the formation of rubies – notably chromium. Together with the clement weather pattern year-round and twelve villages that constitute the city including one-floor timber houses and stores surrounding a lake which used to be a ruby mine, this lovely place worth visiting once in a lifetime.
Traveling around the gem market in the middle of town to watch the busy dealers showing their colorful rubies is the outstanding feature in Mandalay tour. The tourists will easily run into the gemstones put on small bronze plates or sheets of paper sold by amiable women in traditional costumes. The highest-quality gemstones do not show up at the market, of course, but are sent directly to Bangkok or Hong Kong instead.
Myanmar’s developing ruby industry today supplies more than 80% of the world demand. Although there are nations which are also well-known for their quality of rubies such as India, Vietnam, Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Greenland, Tajikistan, Madagascar and Tanzania, the color of Mogok’s rubies is unparalleled which has a fluorescent red shade, often with veins of light pink. That is the reason why Myanmar in general and Mogok, in particular, known as the “Ruby Land” – is definitely the most dependable resource of peerless high-quality rubies in the world for coming decades.
Foreign tourists are officially allowed to visit Ruby Land – Mogok Township
On an announcement from No.2 Constituency of Mogok Township in Mandalay, an official allowance for foreign tourists to travel to Ruby Land since the beginning of August 2018 has been passed by the Government of Myanmar. This raises the opportunity for visitors from all around the world traveling to the city to explore the gemstone of Myanmar.
This is considered an important milestone for the economic development of Mogok Township because Myanmar in general and Magok in particular, take 90% of the world’s gemstone production.
Located 200 kilometers north of Mandalay, shrouded in the myths and magic that is said to be more harder to access than Lhasa in Tibet is Mogok – a tiny city lies in a magical valley possesses the natural treasure that will enchant the heart of anyone who has been on the trip to this gorgeous city. Since 1955, a French writer and traveler has praised in his adventure novel ‘Mogok, the Valley of Rubies’ that excited people’s imaginations about unrevealed secrets.
Previously, either Ruby Land or ruby-production website used to be restricted to foreign tourists from the time of ex-government to current incumber government. As a result, it remained an unpopular destination for visitors to travel. However, in order to boot the economic growth for the ‘gem’ valley, the Mandalay Region Government Committee has submitted a proposal to create more job opportunity for the local people and improve their income, said , Dr Zaw Myint Maung, Chief Minister of Mandalay in the occasion of 800 Anniversary of Founding on Ruby Land. The festival lasts from March 29th to 31st and foreign visitors are permitted to travel to Mogok under the limitation of the government.
To reach the city, visitors have to pass through a rugged route. After crossing the winding road is the Mogok city hidden behind the verdant greenery in a picturesque valley. It is almost unreal with the golden pagodas surrounding that you may feel a bit surprised to witness it the first time. The missionary Giuseppe D’amato who was initial permanent dweller here used to mention this valley: ‘it is surrounded by 9 mountains creating the sacred aura and the soil is full of mineral treasures’. It has been through a long geological process that the crushing of tectonic plates releases essential substance for the formation of rubies. Holding the exceptional in both quantity and quality, Mogok rubies including blue sapphires and pigeon-blood rubies are among the most valuable of today’s gemstones. Take a glance at the bustling Panchan and Augchanthar in the city center, you will be deeply captivated by the fascinating rubies which are widely sold by the friendly women.
Through the new policy to allow foreign tourists traveling to the country, Min Thu, who invests in gem and tourism industry, ‘this is a great opportunity for Myanmar and Mogok to display theirs produces to the worldwide. Furthermore, the Mogok dwellers are delighted to allow foreign tourists visiting the ruby land.
I would like to visit Mogok in February ( 24 – 27 Feb ) for the main purpose of gemstones research. Appreciate your advise as how do I apply for a visitor permit to visit Mogok. Thank you.
AP Baettig,
Switzerland
Hi Baettig,
Thank you for letting us know your travel plan. We would like to inform you that the Government of Myanmar eased the restriction on foreigners to visit Mogok, so visitors now are free to enter Mogok without allowance.
Regards,
I and my friend are planning to visit Mogok in this August.We appreciate your advise as how do we apply for a visitor permit to visit Mogok. Hope to get a quick response from you!
Dear Mikhail,
As you might know, the political situation in Mogok is unlike other regions in the country, so you should notice that it is necessary to travel with a guide if you want to visit Mogok in 2019 as they will show you where you should go and where you should not go. To apply for visitor permission, the fastest and most convenient way is to book a tour with a travel company so they will care for your safety.
Best regards,
Hello all,
Do we need a Govt. approved guide or Agent to go there, or can go by ourselves without a guide or Agent?
Hi Dave,
Thank you for reaching to Go Myanmar Tours! We would like to inform you that despite the Government has eased the restriction for tourists entering Mogok, to ensure your safety, it is necessary for you to contact a travel agency and they will tell you where you should go and where you should not go.
Best regards,
Hi Wendy
I interstate to visit mogok on 29 to 31 march 2020 fall on 800th anevisary with my burma friend do i need to apply permit,i thank you if you can give me friendly advice. Thank you.
Dear Ramlan,
Thank you for reaching to Go Myanmar Tours. Tourists are now allowed to travel to Mogok by land via Mandalay. It is famous for diverse ethnic groups and culture, ruby mines, and natural caves. Its mountains are also good for trekking as well. However, tourists must have the permission to visit Mogok and this is provided through travel agencies only. I highly recommend you to contact with a travel company and they will ensure your safety and help you to gain authentic experiences with locals. They will arrange your trip to stunning attractions that only native people know and delight you with a variety of meaningful activities.
Best regards,