South East Asian Trips

Shan state sharing border with China, Laos and Thailand is the largest province in Myanmar where many tribes' people dwelt. Taunggyi meaning Big Mountain is the capital of Shan state, and also a hill resort located 1300 meter's elevation. There is an Ethnological Museum to study the different hill peoples of Shan state. Inle Lake is about 25Km from Taunggyi, unique for its Leg-Rowers. These people are known as Intha meaning the sons of Lake live in and around the lake, and are living out by fishing and farming. What is interesting is the way of making floating garden on which fruits, flowers and vegetables are grown. And the every fifth day floating market is also the best place to Watch the colorful tribes.

Taunggyi (Shan State)

Taunggyi GardenTaunggyi, the capital city of Shan State in the eastern part of Myanmar, is know for its scenic beauty and pleasant climate. The weather is cool all the year round and the area is colorful with lovely flowers, pine trees and green orchard. Being situated over 1400 meters above sea-level, Taunggyi is ideal for holiday-makers during the summer time.

How to get there

Myanmar Airways and Air Mandalay, Yangon Airways operate scheduled flights for tourists to Bagan/Nyaung Oo, Mandalay and Heho (Taunggyi) during tourist season. Tickets are available at the respective Airways offices in Yangon and major tourist centers By overland, Express Trains to Mandalay or Yangon stop at Thazi junction, from where one can take a regular train or bus to Taunggyi. Visitors are advised to check with Tourist Information Services for flight/ train/ bus schedules.

What to See

Taungyi Market

It is the most fascinating place to watch the daily life of the minorities and their activities. One will be un-forgettable to see the flock of the tribals or ethnic people who come down the market to sell their luscious vegetables, fruits, and flowers at every five days market.

Taunggyi Museum

It is an ethnographic museum in which one can see the life-size statues of minorities with the respective colorful dressing, their traditional weapons and utilities in addition to the dress of the late Shan Sawbwars (Dukes or Lords). It opens from 09:30 to 15:30 to except Saturdays and Sundays.

Pindaya Cave

Pindaya, 45 kilometers from Kalaw, is the site of ancient caves and a boulevard of some of Myanmar's biggest banyan trees. The caves are about of 200 million years old and since ancient times they have been places of worship, There are 8,094 Buddha images made out of wood, marble, alabaster, brick, cement and lacquer, enshrined in the niches and corners of winding caves. The limestone cave is 490 feet in length. The numerous stalactites and stalagmites in the caves are given names such Fairy Princess Loom, and Posts for tying horses and elephants,

Wish-Fulfilling Bamboo Reed Phaya

This is located in Mong Nung Village over 50 miles north of Kyaington in eastern Shan State. Upalan (Ashin Maha guru Nanda) started the building in AD 1118 and completed it in 1120 in pursuance of a dream he had. The pagoda was built of bamboo strips and gilded, but it seemed as though it was built in gold. The posture of the Buddha image here is cross-legged, both hands upturned with eyes downcast. According to the study of the posture of Buddha, it is read as Jana Mudra or Yoga udra or Thamadi Mudra,

Mywe Daw Kakku Relic Pagoda

The location of the pagoda is at the Relic Village, Kakku Village-tract, in Taunggyi. Although it contained relics of Gautama Buddha, the name refers to Kakkusana Buddha, the first of the Buddha world,

Inle Phaungdaw Oo

Thirty 30 kilometers south of Taunggyi is Inle lake, famous for its unique leg-rowers, floating villages and colourful markets. The Phaung-Daw-Oo pagoda (pagoda on the big raft) is enshrined with five Buddha images which are celebrated in an annual festival in Thadingyut (October). It is also a famous tourist attraction.