YANGON
Yangon is the cosmopolitan and the main business city of
Myanmar. Also known as “The green city of the East”. Yangon has been in
existence for a long time, founded by King “Alaungpaya” in 1755. Yangon means
“End of strife”. Population is over five millions and the city is beautiful
with colonial buildings, wide tree-lined streets and tranquil lanes. The
Shwedagon is the most conspicuous landmark visible from miles around and it is
the most sacred of all Buddhist sites in the country for Buddhist people. Other
places of interest are Sule pagoda “The heart of city”, Bogyoke Aung San Market
also called Scott Market and China Town.
KYAIK-HTI-YO
Kyaik-hti-yo “ Golden Rock” is a sacred, massive gold
–leafed boulder delicately balanced on the edge of a cliff at the top of Mount
Kyaik-hti-yo. It was built in the year 574 BC more than 2500 years ago and now well
know as Miracle Golden Rock and
which starting at pilgrim-village and
first we take the truck and then walk for one hour up the hill are unforgettable
experience in your trip to Myanmar.
Bago
Bago,
formerly call Pegu is a city and the capital of Bago Division in Myanmar It is
located 50 miles (80 km) from Yangon. It is just about an hour drive from
Yangon. Bago is accessible easily from Yangon, Mandalay, Pyay and other cities.
According to legend, two Mon princess from Thaton founded Bago in 573 AD. Most
interested places are Shwethalyaung Reclining
Buddha (55 metres long), Shwemawdaw Pagoda, and 28 meter high huge Buddha Image
of Kyaikpun Pagoda with its four huge Buddha Images facing the cardinal points
and the one interest place is Kanbawzathardi Palace.
Thanlyin / Kyauktan
Thanlyin (Syriam) is located
across the Bago River from the city of Yangon. It’s across the Yangon River via
Thanlyn Bridge built by Chinese engineers. Thanlyin Township comprises 17
quarters and 28 village tracts. It is home to the largest port (Thilawa) in the
country. In the 15th century as the main port city of the Hanthawaddy Kingdom.
In 1599, the city fell to the Rakhine forces led by the Portuguese mercenary
Felipe, who was made governor of the city. Thanlyin became part of the British
Empire in 1852 after the Second Anglo-Burmese War. The city's population has
increased from 43,000 in 1983 to 123,000 in 1996.Interested places are Ancient
Portuguese Church (AD 1749 – 1750).Kyauk Tan (Yele Pagoda-A floating Pagoda
which is Pagoda on a small island in the middle of the river).
Htaukkyant Cemetery
The Htaukkyant World War II Cemetery, also
called the British War Cemetery, is one of the biggest cemeteries in Myanmar.
In the cemetery are the graves of some 27,000 Allied troops killed
in the World War II campaign in Burma.
Htaukkyant Cemetery is located slightly outside the town of Htaukkyant (also
written Taukkyan) about 15km north of Yangon, on the way to Bago. In the
Htaukkyant World War II Cemetery is Today the Imperial War Graves Commission
maintains the grounds. The neatness of the manicured grass and well-planted
flowering shrubs seems to set the cemetery apart from the rest of Myanmar. It
is a place for contemplation, to discover silence and solitude.
Twante
Twante canal is connects
the Irrawaddy River and the Yangon river in Myanmar. The 35-km (22-mile) canal
is a heavily used short cut between the city of Yangon and the Irrawaddy
Division. The canal is named after the town of Twante, located near the canal's
mid-way point. The town of Twante is located on the banks of the Twante Canal.
It is mainly known for the pottery that it produces. The quaint and decidedly
rustic city has a very 'frontier town' feel to it, particularly given the
two-wheel horse carts that can be seen ferrying passengers along its dusty
streets, and the numerous stilted wood and thatched bamboo huts that surround
(and are sometimes interspersed in between) the older stucco building of the
city. It is possible to reach the city from Rangoon by boat, taking the Twante
Canal from the Rangoon River downstream from the main jetty.
MAWLAMYINE
The capital of Mon State is the third largest city in
Myanmar. Mawlamyine is situated 165 kilometers east of the nation's capital
across the Gulf of Mottama at the mouth of the Thanlwin River with a population
of almost 300,000 people. Kyaik-Than-lan Pagoda, Kyaikkami Yele Pagoda. Setse
Beach, Thanbyuzayat "death railway", making it a fascinating place to
visit!
HPA-AN
Hpa-an is the capital of Kayin State. Recently removed from
the restricted list of travel destinations. Possible to reach it by road from
Yangon across a new Bridge (Thanlwin) over the Thanlwin River. Hpa-an is small
town but busy commerce center you can see farmer coming to town in horse carts
or trishaws stacked with baskets to sell in the market. The population is about
50,000 people are most of are Kayin.
BAGAN
Bagan is the richest archaeological sites in Asia. The ruins
of Bagan city cover an area of 42 sq. km embracing over 2000 ancient pagodas
and temples. The enchanting city is located in the tropical zone of the
country, on the eastern bank of the Irrawaddy River about 193 kilometers south
east of Mandalay. Bagan shows Myanmar architectural heritages from the 11th
to mid 14th centuries.
Mt. POPA
Mt. Popa is an extinct volcano which 1518 meters
(4981 feet) above sea level, and a day trip from Bagan, set amid lovely
hill and forest scenery. The Popa Taungkalat Shrine is home to 37 Mahagiri Nats,
or spirits. Statues depicting the Nats are at the base of the Shrine. From the
top of Taung Kalat, one can enjoy a panoramic view of the ancient city of Bagan.
PYIN OO LWIN ( MAY
MYO )
Pyin
Oo Lwin offers visitors cool days and nights, peaceful rural roads and tracks
for walkers and cyclists, trekking in the fruit and flower producing
countryside, and interesting shopping. Old times can be re-lived with
coach rides, and many historical and beautiful places are within easy reach.
Just over an hour's drive from Mandalay, Pyin Oo Lwin is an ideal and
refreshing destination for visitors to Upper Myanmar. Lashio which
is trading town in Northern Shan State , accessible by road from Mandalay-Pyin
Oo Lwin. From Lashio, the famous Burma Road, built by the British before the
War, intersects with Ledo Road leading into the Yunnan Province. Crossing over
historic Gokehtaik Bridge, it’s a fascinating journey to Lashio and its famous
for Natural Hot- Spring.
MONYWA
Monywa, about 136
km to the west of Mandalay, a major center for trade and commerce for
agricultural product from surrounding Chindwin Velly. Mohnyin Thambuddhei Paya, it dates from 1303, although it was
reconstructed in 1939. It is said to contain over 500,000 images of Buddha.
Giant reclining Buddha at Bodhi Tahtaung
(one thousand Bo Tree) Shwezigon-Paya,
Aung Setkya Paya, and Phowintaung are major places for the visitors.
MANDALAY
The second largest city and the capital of the last Myanmar Kingdom
is in central of Myanmar, 688 km north of Yangon on the bank of the Irrawaddy
River. The city remains many monasteries and pagoda with conservative tradition
and the lifestyle of own culture. Also well know for its traditional arts and
crafts, ivory, wood, marble, and stone carvings, gold and silver ware, hand
woven silk and tapestry called ( shwe chi htoe ).
AMARAPURA
The name means City of
Deathlessness, but its period as capital was brief. It was founded by Bodawpaya
as his new capital in 1783. Being 7 miles (11km )sough of Mandalay, Maha
Gadayon Monastery, Bagaya Kyaung Monastery and U Bein’s wooden bridge are the
famous destination for traveler .
Ava:
Innwa (Ava) located on an island between the Irrawaddy and Myitnge Rivers. We
visited Ava by horse cart (bullock cart).The ruins of a brick and stucco
monastery called Maha Aungmye Bonzan (Okkyaung) is the main site.
SAGAING
The hilltops, each crested with a pagoda, the banners
proclaiming the Buddha's teaching, the refuge from all ills and tribulations
where over 600 monasteries for monks and nuns are located for Buddhist studies
and meditation. Its side by Irrawaddy River and across the Inn-wa Bridge which
is British-engendered 16 span bridges that dates to 1934, as was the only
structure crossing the Irrawaddy River until 1998.
MINGUN
Mingun is located on the western bank of the river Irrawaddy
River about 7 miles north of Mandalay. The main attraction is the Mya Theindan
Pagoda and ruined Pathodawgyi, a Buddhist temple with the remains of a massive
stupa begun by King Bodawpaya in 1790. The temple was not completed, because an
astronomer claimed that the King would die when the temple was finished. Mingun
Bell, A gigantic bell weighs 90 tons, and is today the third largest bell in the
world. Mingun is famous for many Buddhist shrines, monasteries, meditation
centers and monuments of historical and cultural importance.
INLE LAKE
Inle Lake is one of the most beautiful lakes of Southeast
Asia. Lush, green and fertile, remote Inle Lake is a picture of rural
tranquility. As it lying 875 km above sea level at Shan State. The lake is
nearly 100 km north to South but only 5 km wide and there are more than200
village on or around it, surrounding a population of about 150,000 most is Intha
People. Sagar ( Sankar ) the second lake
: you can observe of local rice mill factory, making bullock cart wheels.
Pristine culture and traditional life-style of the ethnic groups of Pa-O and
Intha inhabited around Sankar.
KALAW
Kalaw is a former colonial British hill station on the
western edge of the Shan Plateau in Myanmar. Kalaw is
located 70 km west of Taungyi, about halfway along the Thazi-Taungyi road and
sits at 1,300 meters elevation. Kalaw is cool
during the day and cold at night. There are many hiking trails amid gnarled
pines and bamboo groves. Palaung Tribe Village is famous for trekking. At first
a steep track leads down into a narrow valley where the Palaung cultivate
cheroot, tea, damsons and mangoes on the hill.
PINDAYA
Pindaya is situated at 1164-m
above sea level and is 40-km from Kalaw. Its famous for its extensive limestone
caves which overlooking the Pindaya Lake and
Shwe U Min Paya which is full of Buddha images of about 8000 and picturesque
Boutaloke Lake. Pindaya. There are many big banyan trees lined up at the base
of the Pindaya hill, Hgnatpyawtaw, a Danu village, is at the end of these trees
and it is most attraction of visitors.
KYAING TONG
Kyaing Tong
lies in the valley between the high misty mountains of the Shan Plateau and the
Mekong and the Thanlwin Rivers. It is the home of the Gon, Lwe, Li, Wa, Lah Hu,
Thai Nay, Shan, Li Shaw, Li Su, Palaung, Akha, and we can only differentiate
the tribes by colorful dresses which is different to one another. As
Thai-Myanmar border, visitors are allowed to cross into this border town with
Border Passes. Kyaing Tong is fomous for eco-tourism activities like trekking,
mountain-biking and adventure tours.
NORTHERN MYANMAR
PUTAO: Northern part of Myanmar and famous for
snow-capped mountain. Around year are cold and pleasant weather. Flora and
Fauna can be seen in the forest around Putao. Mt. Khakhaborazi (5889 metres),
which is the highest mountain in Myanmar and in Southeast Asia. It’s attractive
for adventure trekking, mountain-climbing and hiking around PutaO and some
tribe’s village.
MYITKYINA
As
the capital of Northern Part of Myanmar and border trade canter with China. It
is the extreme northern terminus of a railroad line from Yangon, and formerly an
important town on the Ledo Road. In Myitkyina Myanmar’s great Irrawaddy River
is combining of Maikha and Malikha Streams at Myitsone. The water over there is
crystal clear. Myitkyina is famous for Jade mine which is about 148 km west of
Myitkyina, there is a place called “Hpa Kant”, which is home to the best jade
mine in the world.
BHAMO
Bhamo
is a city in Kachin State in Myanmar, located 186 km south from the capital
city of Myitkyina. It lies on the Irrawady River, and is the nearest river port
to the Chinese border. The district covers an area of 4146 sq. m., and the
population in 1901 was 79,515. It is mainly composed of Shan-Burmese and
Kachins. It is an offshoot from the latter of these ridges that forms the third
defile of the Irrawaddy between Bhamo and Sinbo. The serenity of it self is
pleasant to cruise along Irrawaddy River.
Nat Ma Taung (Mt. Victoria)
Nat Ma Taung, also known as
Mount Victoria. It’s located in Kanpalet Township, Mindat District, is part of
the Chin Hills range, and rises to 3,053 metres (10,016 ft) above sea
level. Which can observe the traditional and cultural heritage of Chin people
and their living systems, the natural forest flora, bird watching and wildlife
tours, hiking, mountain-climbing, observe of 159 bird species including 5
indigenous species, a very rare species of rare birds which can be found only
in Myanmar Forest. Also observe of Mammals such as tiger, bear, wild boar,
leopard, guar, gibbon, etc. and 159 bird species, reptiles and butterfly are
present. It covers an area of 279 square miles and forests include hill
evergreen, moist upper mixed deciduous , pine forests (above 9000 feet), and
hill savannah.
SITTWE
Sittwe is the capital of Rakhine State and the port
city of
Sittwe sit at the month of
the
Kaladan river emptying into the
Bay of Bengal. The 2006 population 181,000 and it is the provincial capital. Viewpoint
is perhaps the most well known attraction in Sittwe. It is at the end of the
Strand Road and looks out into the Bay of Bengal and the mouth of the Kaladan
River. Shwe Zaydi Kyaung, Pyay-lone-chan-thar Payagyi (Atulamarazein), is one
of the most sacred Buddhist pagodas, believed to have built in the days of
Emperor Asoka (r. 269-232 BCE). Rakhine Cultural Museum, which contains
exhibits on Rakhine culture and history.
MRAUK U
Mrauk U is an
archaeologically important town in northern Rakhine, Myanmar. It lies east of
the Kaladan River, and is surrounded by hills in the north and south. In 1431,
King Min Saw Mon established Mrauk U as the capital of the last unified Arakanese
Kingdom. An important trading port with links to Portugal, the Netherlands,
Arabia, Persia and India. The city eventually reached a size of 120,000 in the
mid sixteenth century. There are five temple and five pagoda are worthy
religious buildings in and around the town. Mrauk U can rightfully be claimed
as the "Open-air Museum" of the arts and culture of the people of
Rakhine.
BEACHES
Ngapali Beach: Lies on the Bay of Bangle and south west of Myanmar
on the Rakhine coast. It’s only seven kilometers stretch of coconut palm lined,
soft sandy meeting of the land and sea. It is half and hour flight from
Yangon.For those who love the 5 star sea, sand, sun, swim and snorkeling, visit
to Ngapali is must.
Ngwe Saung Beach: Ngwe Saung Beach, the newest beach destination in Myanmar is
situated 48 km from Pathein in the Ayeyarwaddy Division, about 190 km from
Yangon on the western seaboard of the country, facing the Bay of Bengal. The
beach stretches 15 km of white sand, blue sea, untouched surrounding and you
can enjoy the pristine sea.
MERGUI
Mergui Archipelago, is far southern Myanmar (Burma), comprises over 800
beautiful islands. It consists of more than 800 islands, varying in size from
very small to hundreds of square kilometers, all lying in the Andaman Sea with an
amazing diversity of flora & fauna and very beautiful underwater scenes and
marine life. This makes Mergui Archipelago very famous for the best Diving in
Myanmar. The only human inhabitants in the area are sea gypsies, namely Salone
in Myanmar. They are main attraction for international tourists as well as to
operate marine eco-tourism around the islands in Myeik(Burma) Archipelago.