Visitors’ Guide to Myanmar (Major Tourist Destinations)

the Mon Kings of the 14th to 16th century and of second Myanmar Empire created by King

Bayinnaung, is located only 80 km from Yangon. The Shwemawdaw Pagoda, Kalyani Thein

(Ordination Hall),the 55-metre long Shwethalyaung Reclining Buddha, the four giant Buddha

images of Kyaikpun Pagoda and the reconstructed Kamboza-thadi Place of Bayinnaung are some

from Yangon across the Bago River, Thanlyin was a major port from the 14th to the century,

until it was displaced by Yangon in 1755, and was briefly controlled by the Portuguese

adventurer de Brito at the beginning of the 17th century. The ruins of a Catholic Church

built by an Italian Barnabite missionary in the 18th century can still be seen in

Thanlyin. Kyaikkhauk Pagoda in Thanlyin and Yele’ Pagoda at Kyauktan are some of the

Twan-te Canal is two hours away by boat from Yangon. The boat trip provides a view of life

along the canal while Twan-te itself provides interest as a centre of pottery and

at Htaukkyant, 32 km from Yangon on the road to Bago. Its beautifully kept grounds has

Tel-khok-kone is the nearest beach and a popular weekend picnic site. It is reached by a

south-west of Mandalay on the opposite bank of the Ayeyarwaddy River. The Sagaing Hills

are noted as a religious retreat and has over 400 monasteries and nunneries. About 10 km

from Sagaing is the Kaunghmudaw, an enormous dome-shaped pagoda built by King Thalun in

1636. At the near by village of Ywataung, one can see silversmiths making

south of Mandalay, Amarapura is one of the capitals of the third Myanmar Empire. A

1208-metre long wooden bridge built by Alderman U Pein spans Taungthaman lake and

another ancient capital, and for a time, Myanmar was known to early travellers as In-wa.

It is noted for the Maha Aung Mye Bonzan (Ok Kyaung),one of the few monasteries built in

upriver on the western bank of the Ayeyawaddy River; Mingun has a gigantic unfinished

pagoda, 50metres high, overlooking the river; and the 90-ton Mingun Bell, the largest

ringing bell in the world.

of Mandalay is Monywa, the commercial center of the northwest Bodhi-ta-taung (one thousand

Bo trees), Thanbokde Pagoda, Po-win taung Hills and Kyaukka village are some of the

station and summer retreat of the colonial period: Pyin-Oo-Lwin is 67 km away from

Mandalay. It is over 1000 metres above sea level and has a pleasantly cool weather all

year round. The 142-hectare Botanical Garden, Pwekauk Waterfalls, and Chinese Temple are

Bagan is Mount Popa, an extinct volcano over 1,500 metres high, rising out of the plains.

It is famed as the abode of the Mahagiri Nats or Spirit gods to whom the Kings of Bagan

in Central Myanmar is accessible by road, by train and by air. The distance between Yangon

and Bagan is 684 kilometres by road. The road passes through the plains, mostly

cultivated. The crop land on either side is part of the 8.8 million cultivated hectares of

Myanmar. Along the road, travellers can see emerald green paddy fields of varying sizes.

Occasionally, they will notice a white-washed pagoda or two on hill tops. They will also

pass some cities and towns.

        The first stretch of the road is from Yangon to

Bago, 80 kilometres long. The road passes through the Bago plain. Paddy fields are on

either side of the road. Bago Division is a major producer of paddy, the staple food of

the nation. Indagaw lies 58 km from Yangon. It is located at the southern edge of the Bago

Yoma mountain range and it is the base of the Rubber Plantations Development Project.

According to the slogan, “We shall cover the Yoma with white gold”, the

plantations stretch northward along the base of the Bago Yoma.

        Bago is an ancient capital of the Mon Kingdom

of Hanthawady. There are many places of interest such as Shwemawdaw Pagoda, Shwethalyaung

reclining Buddha image, Mahazedi Pagoda, Kyaikpun Image, Kalyani Sima and the

reconstructed Palace of King Bayintnaung.

        Next major town after Bago on the way is

Toungoo, 200 km away. It is also an ancient capital. Vestiges of the city wall, and the

moat stand witness to the town’s past. From Toungoo, a road extends to Shan Yoma in the

east reaching the northern part of Kayin State and Kayah State. Thandaung, a hill resort

in Kayah State, is also accessible by this road.

        Toungoo is famous for its products bananas,

tea, coffee, betel nuts and cardamom.  Then, comes Pyinmana, 110 km from Toungoo.

Just beyond the town, there lies the Yezin Dam. The Yezin Agricultural Institute and the

Institute of Animal Husbandry are also located in Pyinmana Township.

        After Pyinmana, the road enters the Meiktila

plain. The rain is scarce in the area. The rainfall in the area is recorded less than 125

cm a year. So, vegetation and crops in the area are different. Travellers will not see

paddy fields; they will see the fields of groundnut and sesamum, traditional oil crops.

There also are fields of beans and pulses, export items.

        The next major town in Central Myanmar is

Meikila, 150 km  drive From Pyinmana. Meiktila Lake, which is situated in the centre

of the town, is Famous. It provides peaceful atmosphere and fresh air. The town serves as

the point of access to Shan State in the east, the capital of which is Taunggyi. The

highway from Yangon goes on to Mandalay in the north. Bagan-bound travellers will have to

follow the road extending to the west. The next town is Kyaukpadaung, 96 km away from

Meiktila. They will see a lot of toddy palms on either side of the road. Then,

Kyetmauktaung Hill will come into view. There is Kyetmauktaung Dam which irrigates the

crop-land in the surrounding areas.

        The last stretch of the road from Kyaukpadaung

to Bagan is 48 km. Travellers will see Mount Popa in the distance. As it is over 1,500

metres high the area gets rain when the rain clouds pass over it. Mt. Popa is important

for the area.

        In addition to the scenic view along the road

Shan State is Inlay Lake; located about 30 km south of Taunggyi. This vast, picturesque

lake, surrounded by hazy blue mountains, is 900 metres above sea-level. It is 22 km long

and 10 km wide with hoating islands. Inlay Lake is famous for its Inthas (native

lake-dwellers) with a unique way of rowing with their legs and a colourful hoating

market.At the northern end of the lake is Nyaungshwe, a small town 27 km from Taunggyi;

Taunggyi is Kalaw; a peaceful summer resort nestled in pine-clad mountains. Nearby are

villages of Palaung and other hill tribes who come to Kalaw market in their colourful

Kalaw, is a small picturesque town at the foot of Mene mountain range. It is famous for

its Caves in which thousands of Buddha images have been placed or carved for many

the southern Shan State and is the capital of Shan State. It is 1,400 metres above

sea-level and has a moderate climate.

        Taunggyi and its neighbouring areas such as

Kalaw, Pindaya, Nyaungshwe and Inlay Lake can be reached by road. The distance between

Yangon and Taunggyi is 731 km. From Yangon, one has to branch off at Thazi, a few miles

away from Meiktila.

        On the way to Taunggyi, travellers will arrive

at a village called Yinmabin before reaching Kalaw, a wellknown hill station. From

Yinmabin, it takes about two hours to reach Kalaw. It is a scenic route which is

reminiscent of the Swiss ALps. Travellers will have to pass the plantations as well while

climbing the Shan Hills.

        Kalaw is situated on the western edge of the

Shan Plateau and the area is pleasantly cool. It is a good place for hiking amid pines,

bamboo groves and undulating mountain range scenery. The plateau near Kalaw is inhabited

by people of the Palaung and Pa-O nationalities.

        About 45 km drive from Kalaw, there lies

Pindaya, which is noted for its extensive limestone caves and picturesque lake. The scenic

road between Pindaya and Aungban passes through Pa-O and Danu villages. Along the way,

travellers will see fields of dry cultivated mountain rice. The road from Kalaw to Pindaya

is a breath-taking beauty of the region. Enormous wide spreading banyan trees which are

said to be more than a thousand years old line the way to the Pindaya caves. The caves at

Pindaya are set deep in the hillsides and there stands at the entrance the 15 metre-high

Shwe-U-Min Pagoda.

        The 93 km drive from Pindaya to Nyaungshwe

takes about two and a half hours. Travellers will get to Shwenyaung after passing Aungban,

Heho and Shwenyaung. It is a small town which lies at the northern end of Inlay Lake. The

route from Pindaya to Nyaungshwe is also very picturesque with panoramic mountain views.

        Along the scenic mountain route, travellers

will see water buffaloes, some working, some grazing and some being ridden by kids, pony

carts, ducks, lotus howers in water pools and farmers at work in the paddy fields.

        The famous Phaung-Daw-U Pagoda in the Inlay

Lake can be reached by boat from Nyaungshwe Jetty. The Lake itself is 900 metres above sea

level, 22 km in length and 10 km in breadth. It is sheltered amongst hazy blue mountains .

        The distance between Nyaungshwe and Taunggyi,

the capital of Shan State, is about 30 km. It is about an hour’s drive from Nyaungshwe.

The road to Taunggyi is full of bends and zigzags. Seen from above, it resembles a snake.

The surrounding areas are covered with pine, cherry and eucalyptus trees making the whole

area green and pleasant.

        It is truly a delightful journey by car to

Taunggyi in Shan State which is decked with misty blue mountain ranges, thick forests,