OTHER PLACES TO VISIT

Kyaikhtiyo
Kyaikhtiyo Pagoda perches on the edge of Paunglaung Mountain Range, part of the Eastern Yoma, in Kyaikhtiyo Township, Mon state. It is one of the famous Pagodas in Myanmar and is about 3,600 feet above sea level. The hill on which Kyaikhtiyo Pagoda was built is also called the Kyaikhtiyo Hill. On the Kyaikhtiyo Hill, there is a huge and steep rock. A big boulder of the circumference is about 50 feet; rest on top - to be exact- on the edge of the other rock. At a glance it seems that the boulder will fall at a slight push. The boulder is in the shape of a human head. A small Pagoda (15 feet high) was built on that boulder. By using a piece of bamboo strip as a lever, with a piece of thread tied to one end placed under the rock you can pass the thread from one side of the boulder which shows that the boulder supporting the does not touch the rock below it. Gilded by pilgrims the boulder itself is bright in the sun- light. Kyaiktiyo is 160 kilometres from Yangon. From the pagoda platform one can have a panoramic view of the valley of the Sittaung River in the west, and in the south, the north and the east one can see green forest as well as mountain ranges and pagodas. The pagoda platform is always thronged with pilgrims from different parts of the country and foreign tourists. Hotels, guesthouses, restaurants and souvenir shops are all there on the hilltop for the convenience of visitors.

Pyay (Prome)
Pyay is located about 285 km north of Yangon, on the eastern banks of the Ayeyarwaddy. It is easily accessible by road or by rail, which takes about 5 hours. A few kilometres northeast of the town is Thaye Khittaya (Sri Ksetra), an archaeological site of the ancient Pyu capital (5th to 9th century). Shwesandaw Pagoda, Hsehtakyi Pagoda, Shwe Phone Pwint Museum, Bawlawgyi Pagoda, Bebegyi Pagoda, Payagyi and Payma Stupas are other places of interest in and around Pyay. There are many hotels
with modern facilities for foreign visitors.

Mawlamyine (Moulmein)
Mawlamyine, a charming town, is the capital of Mon State and a major trading city of the south, 300 km southeast of Yangon, Mawlamyine was made famous and immortalized by the great poet and writer Rudyard Kipling, Mawlamyine is an attractive port with a ridge of hills on one side and the sea on the other. About 300 km away from Yangon, it can be reached by road and rail or by a 40-minute's flight from Yangon.

Thanbyuzayat
About 34 km from Mawlamyine, Thanbyuzayat was the starting point of the "Death Railway" connecting Myanmar and Thailand with the Bridge on the River Kwai, constructed by the Japanese during World War II. There is a well-kept Allied War Memorial Cemetery for prisoners-of-war who died while building the "Death Railway" during World War II; the Railway Museum and a Japanese-built pagoda in memory of the perished Japanese engineers and prisoners-of-war.

Kawthaung
Formerly called Victoria Point, Kawthaung is the southern most town of Myanmar. Ranong is the border town in Thailand. Visitors can take 20-minute boat trips to Kawthaung for sightseeing and shopping. Andaman Club on the Thahtaykyun Island is located west of Kawthaung. There are regular flights from Yangon to Kawthaung.

Myitkyina
Myitkyina is the capital of Kachin State. The highest peaks in Myanmar, Hkakaborazi with 19215 ft and Galanrazi with 19142 ft, also the highest peaks in Southeast Asia are the landmarks of the state. It is also the place where the world famous Myanmar's principle river, the Ayeyarwaddy, originates. Moreover, the state is also known for its precious natural resources of jade. Visitors can tour the confluence (Myitsone) of Maikha and Malikha, the source of the Ayeyarwaddy River. Indawgyi Lake, the biggest lake in Myanmar, stretching 24 km between its farthest points and 12 km across, across, is located 178 km southwest of Myitkyina. In the middle of the lake dwells the Shwe Myint Zu pagoda,
believed to have enshrined the holy relics of the Buddha.
The lake is dotted with some 20 villages comprising clusters of houses standing on stilts along the shores. There is also an elephant logging camp nearby where you can witness elephants at work. There are regular flights from Yangon and Mandalay to Myitkyina.

Puta-O
Puta-o is another town in Kachin State surrounded by snow peaked mountains. It is cool the whole year round and there are many varieties of citrus fruits grown in the orchards. It is the nearest town to the base camp for climbing Mt. Hkakaborazi (5889 metres), which is the highest mountain in Myanmar and in Southeast Asia.

Natmataung ( Mt.Victoria )

Rising to a height of 10,018 feet above sea level in Kanpetlet township, in the Southern part of the Chin State – the Natmataung National Park is believed to be one of the largest and best preserved areas of this forest type remaining.
Myanmar has the distinction of being the only home of four bird species, of which three endemics are found in the Central Dry Zone, the fourth, which is the white-browned Nuthatch is found only in the montane forests of Natmataung.

The Gok Hteik Viadnct

It is situated in Hsipaw Township of Northern Shan State. In constructing the railway between Mandalay & Lashio, the Gok Hteik viadnct was built in 1903. The bridge crosses two great ravines over 300 feet in depth.
The great bridge was drafted by Sir A.M.Rendel & Co.,of London, England and constructed by the Pennsylvania and Maryland Bridge and Construction Co., of USA. It provided an important link in transport and communication between Myanmar Proper & the Northern Shan State. Also a major transport line for the Namtu Silver Mines.

Hsipaw

It is located on the road & rail routes between Mandalay & Lashio, the main China & Myanmar trade route.
The interesting sites – Bawgyo Paya, Sao Pha ( Sawbwa ) Haw (built in 1924), Mahamyatmuni Paya, the large market (Shan & other tribal people from nearby villages come to trade ), Hni Paya and Kan Tha Monastry. Along Dokhtawaddy River you can see Sunlone tribe village ( tattoo man can be seen ), Chaung Sone & trekking to Kone Tha Monastry built over 100 years ago.
South of Hsipaw the small town named Nam Sam ( hillstation like Kalaw ) look like Switzerland. You will have to stay overnight. From Hsipaw you can go to Lashio for a day trip.