Nyaung Shwe

Nyaung Shwe is located in the southern Shan State near the marvelous Inle Lake. There are many interesting places to visit in a short time. One of these is the prominent Yadanar Man Aung Su Taung Pyay Pagoda. Another destination is Shwe Yaung Gwe Monastery with its wide windows. At the Nyaung Shwe Cultural Museum you can learn about the cultural heritage of the Shan people.

Kalaw

Kalaw was a popular hill station in the British days and is still a peaceful and quiet place. At an altitude of 1320 m (4330 feet) it is also pleasantly cool and a good place for hiking amid gnarled pines, bamboo groves and rugged mountain scenery. The population is a mix of Shan, Indian Muslims, Bamars and Nepalis, many of whom are missionary educated.

Pindaya

Pindaya is a small quiet town perched on the bank of the placid Botoloke Lake. Pindaya cave is a huge cavern where thousands of Buddha images in various sizes and shapes have been installed since the 11th century. The winding galleries and nooks and corners are ideal places of insight meditation since the olden days. Huge monastery compounds with numerous pagodas and temples in different stages of dilapidation are much respected by such ethnic groups as the Shans, Danus and Paos living in the environs of Pindaya.

Loikaw

Loikaw is the capital of Kayah state, just a one hour flight from Yangon, but it may take much longer by road. The famous religious landmark of the city is the Thiri-Mingalar Taung-kwe Pagoda Hill, scenically built on a hillock overlooking the vast expanse of the environs. You can watch desolately at the pilgrims and enjoy the marvelous landscape form the top. The next interesting place is called the Umbrella Pond. It is situated in Demosoe Township in the heart of the paddy fields.

Tachileik

Tachileik is located on the Myanmar-Thai border in the eastern Shan State. It is being upgraded as a gateway to the heart of the Golden Triangle. The Friendship Bridge across the small Mae Sai stream links Tachileik with the northern Thai border town of Mae Sai. The area is currently being developed for tourism and cross-border trade with Laos, Thailand and China. One can fly direct from Yangon to Tachileik in an hour. There is a ferry-landing site at Wanpon Port on the Mekong River at the Myanmar-Laos border, 29 km (18 miles) from Tachileik. The port also handles shipments to and from Thailand and China. Work is under way to develop the town as a exchange center for trading goods. A short flight to Tachileik will be the beginning of a tour of the infamous Golden Triangle.