Choose your destination
A variety of choices is given here in Myanmar, ranging from sandy beaches and mountain resorts to culture tours around Myanmar’s green fields and untouched beauty. Would you like to take a glance at colorful ethnicity among over one hundred residing races? Or are you eager to learn more about historical legends and the religious spirit of its people. The choice is yours.
If you’re looking forward to go on a short trip with your colleagues, classmates or a group of friends, following are a handful of suggestions. For duration of two to three days, Bagan, Ngwe Saung and Chaung Thar beaches and the Golden Rock in Mon State are popular des- tinations among both local and foreign visitors due to easy transportation and affordable expense. Last but not least, more people tend to take a getaway to this ideal picturesque highland floral city known as Pyin Oo Lwin to keep them away from heated and polluted atmosphere.
Why choose Pyin Oo Lwin
Pyin Oo Lwin, formerly known as May Myo situated in the highland of Shan State, is only 67 km from the second largest city in the country, Mandalay which is linked by the 586 km long highway to Yangon. Not the nearest destination from Yangon but its easy access to transpor- tation may probably be a fair point to consider.
Aside from its convenient transportation, visitors are given a number of options first-class resorts to cozy bed-and-breakfast. Eating out at a different and numerous diners and enjoy- ing the nightlife or wandering around the town by a traditional local cart, Pyin-Oo-Lwin is the dream of every traveler.
Locating on eastern highland mountains of Myanmar, Pyin Oo Lwin is well known for its cool weather and an abundance of seasonal flowers and people started calling it the floral city. It was once the summer capital of British Burma, Colonial influenced red- brick build- ings on the streets and corners of Pyin Oo Lwin would remind you its history and how far it has come all the way. In this fascinating town, you will encounter with various and colorful ethnic faces while exploring all over the town feeling its richness in culture and traditions.
There are more reasons to take a visit to this beautiful town. Apart its famous flower Dom, Pyin Oo Lwin is well known for strawberry fields and a number of gardening.
If you want to make your trip a little more enlightening, you can drop by some local wineries to discover and taste one of the top local products, “Maymyo Wine.” Here is one of the most interesting facts about Pyin-Oo-Lwin which is its ever growing local market. Specialties and the best offers of this town concentrate on Food & Beverage products and sweater business.
How to get to Pyin Oo Lwin
If you want to save up your travel time coming from Yangon, you can purchase a flight ticket to Mandalay International Airport via one of the local airlines and then continue about an hour and a half journey by car to Pyin Oo Lwin. Or you can get there by train from Yangon if you have time and a taste for travel by train. Since two of the largest cities in the country are now linked by the highway with the administrative capital on half-way, getting there by car has become the most popular choice. For a group of a dozen people or so, now you have choices to rent a vehicle from mini-buses to coaches. Some express coaches have extended their service to first class express so that people can travel in a great deal of comfort and privacy.
Where to go and what to do
National Kandawgyi Botanical Gardens
Founded in 1915 as the “Maymyo Botanical Gardens” by a Forest Officer, Alex Roger, it is now extended as the “National Kandawgyi Botanical Gardens” and attracts thou- sands of visitors every year and has become one of the top destinations in town.
Religious Monuments
People residing there have different belief in religion and visitors are impressed to see a number of different religious monuments within a close-knit community. These all include Buddhist golden pagodas, centuries-old Christian churches as well as Muslim mosques, Hindu temples and Chinese joss-house.
Waterfalls
B.E falls and Paik Chin Myaung caves of Buddha images are the most visited desti- nations among local travelers and both are located on Pyin Oo Lwin–Lashio Road. Located about 6 miles from the town on Mandalay–Pyin Oo Lwin Road is Dat Taw Chaing waterfalls, one not to be missed.
Gokteik Viaduct
This famous viaduct, built in 1900, was once the second highest in the world and great engineering achievement in its time. Still Yangon – Mandalay- Lashio railway services run over the Gokteik Viaduct overviewing the Pyin Oo Lwin – Lashio highway, trav- elers can get on the train at one end of the viaduct and get off at the other after the magnificent experience.
Exploring local shops
A chain of local shops mainly stand next to each other on the main road which con- nects Mandalay, Pyin Oo Lwin and Lashio which goes through the town centers. Local products like wine, fresh fruits and vegetables and quality dairy products catch the visitors’ eyes.
How to schedule the trip
After you have finished booking at a local inn and renting a coach for you and your team, you can start off your little journey from Yangon at nighttime spending the night on the way and you will be at your destination when you open your eyes the next morning. Spend the day wandering at above mentioned places and experience the nightlife at Pyin Oo Lwin. After visiting the rest destinations in the town the second morning, you can stop by one or two tourist attraction at Mandalay in the evening on the way before you head back to Yangon. The schedule might be tight yet the trip will be worth-going and it will bring you the best moments and unforgettable memory to your group of colleagues or friends during your stay in Pyin Oo Lwin.
