YANGON
The last capital of Myanmar kings, 668 km north of Yangon. Built in 1857 by King Mindon; now the second largest city, rich in cultural heritage.
How to get there
Just over an hour’s daily flight from Yangon to Mandalay International Airport. About 14 hours by train, 12 hours by express or by car.
Where to stay and where to dine
Mandalay City Hotel, Mandalay Royal Hotel, Mann Myanmar Inn, Sein Sein Hotel, Silver Swan Hotel, Nadi Myanmar Hotel, Sedona Hotel, Mandalay Hill Resort. Meals: Chinese food, Thai food, Shan food and Myanmar food.
Why so special
Mandalay Hill, 230 metres in elevation, commands a panoramic view of the city: Mandalay Palace with its brick walls, gates and moat; Shwenandaw Monastery, a magnificent building dating back to 1879; Mahamuni Pagoda built by King Bodawpaya in 1784 which has the Great Buddha Image; Kuthodaw Pagoda (built in 1868) where there is the “World’s Biggest Book” in 729 marble slabs with the Buddha’s Teachings inscribed on them.
Mandalay Museum, Zegyo Market and Silk Weaving Cottage Industry are among other places worth visiting.
Bago
Capital of 15th century Mon kingdom of Hanthawaddy, Bago sprouts with a lot of memorable sites of its own. It is only 80 km by road from Yangon so it could well be made an extension of a Yangon visit.
Bago is a road and rail junction on Yangon- Mandalay and Yangon-Mawlamyaing routes. It is 1½hours by car or 2 hours by train from Yangon.
Bago has good guest houses but no accommodation should be needed for a foreign tourist as it is close to Yangon. Shwe Wah Tun and Bago Star Hotel charges US $ 50 per head only. For food there are several restaurants including Shwe Ohndaw just outside the town.
The leading pagoda of Bago is Shwe- maw- daw, more or less the size and shape of the Shwedagon. Places of interest also include: Shwe -tha-lyaung Reclining Buddha (55 m long), Kalyani Sima (Ordination Hall), 28 m high Buddha Image of Kyaikpun Pagoda, and the Palace of King Bayintnaung (being restored as Kambawzathadi Palace).
Pyay
258 km northwest of Yangon; On the eastern banks of the Ayeyarwady.
How to get there
8 hours by train; 4 hours by car.
Where to stay and where to dine
Pyay Strand Hotel, Mingalar Garden Hotel. Also Chinese restaurants.
Why so special
A few kilometers northeast of the town is Thaye Khittaya (Sri Khestra), an archaeological site of the ancient Pyu capital (5th to 9th century). Shwesandaw Pagoda, Hsehtatkyi Pagoda are among places of interest. 45 minutes by boat to Akauktaung, a hillock engraved with many Buddha’s images on its steep wall of rock.
NgweSaung
Ngwe-Saung, Myanmar's latest beach resort has the longest shore—nine miles. It is located just 29 miles from Pathein in the Ayeyawady Division. Popular with the travellers who prefer much less crowded beach, clean and white sand, and the crystal clear sea water free of seaweeds and the like, Ngwe-Saung is likely to surpass the other local counterparts very soon in many aspects. The recent completion of Nga-Wun Bridge also facilitates the road transport service for this seaside resort.
How to get there
It takes about 5 hours, motoring from Yangon to get there.
Where to stay and where to dine
Bay of Bengal Resort, The Emerald Sea Resort Sunny Paradise Hotel, Ambo Hotel, etc.
Why so special
The long Ngwe Saung Beach lies between the Bay of Bengal with its unforgettable views at sunset, and the Rakhine Mountain Range with the evergreen tropical rain forests on its slopes. While you stroll along the beach, waves lap on the shore on the seaside, and the row of screw-pines sway under the arched coconut trees on the shore side.
Mogoke
Widely known as Ruby Land or Gems City, about 1,353 km from Yangon or 7 hrs’ drive from Mandalay.
Where to stay and where to dine
Mogoke Hotel.
Why so special
The town is built round the bank of Myole-in, a large midtown lake in a magnificent valley formed by pagoda-studded mountains, about 2,640 feet above sea-level.Spectacular sights include Chanthagyi Pagoda and Kaunghmudaw Pagoda, which is the same in shape but much smaller than the pagoda of that name in Sagaing.
Another pagoda standing on the top of the hill is Kyaukpyathat.
Yet another important pagoda to pay homage to if you are a Buddhist, or just to see and study if you are not, is Than-ma-than-boddaw Pagoda where Buddha Images are kept under lock and key in its basement, richly studded with real rubies and emeralds.
Another sight worth visiting is Pingutaung or Spider Mountain with its legendary “giant spider keeping watch over the biggest ruby in the world”.
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