Yangon is the commercial city and the main gateway to Myanmar. The name Yangon means "End of Strife" which was anglicized to Rangoon after the British annexed Myanmar in 1885.
Yangon International Airport has direct air links with Bangkok, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Chiang Mai, Kolkata, Gaya, Hong Kkong, Kunming, Nanning, Taipei, Ho Chi Min, Ha Noi, Siem Reap, Phnom Penh, Guangzhou and Phuket, Doha, Seoul.
The main Tourist spots in Yangon are Shwedagon Pagoda, Kaba Aye Pagoda, Chauk Htat Gyi Buddha Image, National Museum, Myanmar Gems Museum, Kandawgyi Gardens, Sule Pagoda, downtown area and so on. The Environs of Yangon are Twante, Thanlyin and Bago
Mandalay, the last capital of the Myanmar Kingdom, is located in Central Myanmar, 688 km north of Yangon. It is famous for its cultural heritage, traditional arts and crafts. It is also the commerical centre with rail, road, river and air links to all part of the country.
The main tourist spots in Mandalay are Maha Myat Muni Buddha Image, Kuthodaw Pagoda, Mandalay Palace, Shwekyimyi Pagoda, Atumashi Monastery, Kyauktawgyi Pagoda, Sandamuni Pagoda, Shwe Nandaw Monastery, Mandalay Hill, Shweinbin Monastery and Yankin Hill. The environs of Mandalay are Sagaing, Inwa, Amarapura, Monywa, Shwebo, Mingyn and Pyin Oo Lwin.
Nay Pyi Taw is the administrative capital of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar. All the Ministries and magnificent building : Parliament Complex (Pyi-thu-Hlut-taw), composed of 131 buildings on 800 acres of land, the City Hall, Uppatasanti Pagoda and Water Fountain Garden are located in Nay Pyi Taw.
Bagan is one of the Asia's most amazing and richest archaeological sites. The ancient temples of Bagan stand today as they have been standing for a thousand years. Also being the capital of first Myanmar Empire, Bagan covers and area of 42 sq.km containing over 2000 well-preserved pagodas and temples of the 11th - 13th century.
Ananda Temple, Shwezigon Pagoda, Thatbyinnyu Temple, Gawdawpalin Temple, Gubyaukgyi Temple, Shwesandaw Pagoda, Sulamani Temple, Dhammayangyi Temple and Lawkananada Pagoda are famous tourist sites in Bagan. The environs of Bagan are Mount Popa and Pakokku. Base on Bagan, Sale, Kanpetlet, Mindat and Mount Victoria National Park (Nat ma Taung) are available for trekking.
Inle lake, the vast picturesque lake, 900 meters above sea level, is on of the main tourist attractions in Myanmar. The lake, 22km long and 10km wide, has a population of some over 160,000, many of whom live on floating islands of vegetation. Inle lake, natural and unpolluted, is famous for its scenic beauty and the unique leg-rowing of the Inthas, the native lake dwellers. Phaungdaw Oo Pagoda, Nga Phe Chaung Monastery, Alodaw Pauk Pagoda, Shwe Indein Pagoda, Ywama Village, Mine Thauk Market are places to visit. The environs of Inle Lake are Taunggyi, Kakku, Sakar, Kalaw and Pindaya.
Most famous beaches are Ngapali, ChaungTha and Ngwe Saung.
Ngapali Beach is located on the Rakhine Coast near Thandwe (Sandoway), one of the beautiful beaches in Myanmar. This unspoilt beach is about an hour flight from Yangon. By overland, it is 14 hour drive along the narrow winding road over the Rakhine Yoma (mountain range) after crossing the Ayeyarwaddy River at Pyay (Prome).
ChaungTha Beach is located 40 km to the west of Pathein in Ayeyarwaddy Division. It is about 5 hour drive from Yangon, It is attractive and wide with not only coconut plams but also casuarinas trees found at the bank of the beach. Two small island can be seen offshore.
Ngwe Saung Beach Resort, opened in the year 2000, is one of the loveliest and most pleasant beach resorts in Myanmar, Located in the Ayeyarwaddy Division, some 48 km from the town of Pathein. Ngwe Saung site on the Bay of Bengal beautifully with its clear blue water.
Kyaikhtiyo, the mystical pagoda stands on a gold gilded boulder, precariously perched on the edge of the hill over 1100 metres above sea level. Kyaikhto, the town at the foot of the hill, is about 160 km from Yangon.
It is an 11 km up-hill climb for the hikers from Kinpun base camp. There is also a steep winding road for 4 wheel drive cars from the base to the nearest point of the pagoda. There are many legends about the Pagoda and the 'nats' or 'spirits'. It is believed by the Buddhist devotees that this Golden Rock Pagoda enshrines a hair relic of Lord Buddha.
15th century ancient city of Rakhine Kingdom is known for its old temples with wall paintings of Indian cultural influence. A regular passenger boat takes five hours from Sittwe to Mrauk-U. Special speed boat with 20 seats takes only 2 hours 30 minutes. It is also accessible by road from Sittwe via Ponnakyun and Kyauktaw.
The Mahamuni Shrine, one of the famous Pagoda in Myanmar, is situated 30km from Mrauk-U. Regular flight from Yangon to Sittwe takes one hour 30 minutes. Shitthaung Pagoda, Dukkanthein Pagoda and Andawthein Shrine are some of the sites to see in Mrauk-U.
The Pyu ancient cities are the first site in Myanmar that is inscribed on the World Heritage List. It is comprised of three brick, wall, and moated cities of Halin, Beikthano and Sriksetra in vast irrigated landscape in the dry zone in Ayeyarwaddy river basn. They represent the Pyu Kingdoms that were prosperous for over a thousand years between 200 BC and 900 AD. These three sites have been partially excavated revaling place citadel, burial grounds, early industrial production sites, brick Buddha Stupa and water Management features.
Putao is the town in Kachin State surrounded by snow-peaked mountains. It is cold the whole year round and there are many varieties of citrus fruits grown in the orchards. It is the gateway town to the northern part of Myanmar for climbing Mount Khakhaborazi (5889 metres), which is the highest mountain in Myanmar and in Southeast Asia and Mount Hponkanrazi for recreation in the natural forest environment.
Myeik Archipelago is off the western shore of the Malay Peninsula in far southern Myanmar. It consists of more than 800 islands, varying in size from very small to hundreds of square kilometers. The local people are an ethnic minority called the Mo-ken, sometimes known as sea gypsies, although this term actually covers several groups in Southeast Asia, They are the sea-dwelling people and they follow a traditional way of life, doing things such as fishing and building boats very much the way they have been done for centuries.
Kawthaung, a Thai-Myanmar border town formerly called Victoria Point is located in the southern most part of Myanmar. Over 800 km from Yangon. On the Cape of Bayintnaung Point stands the statue of Bayintnaung, one of the best-known King of Myanmar. The live a board cruise, yachts based in Phuket, Thailand, taking licenses by our Directorate of Hotels and Tourism operate Kawthaung and around island with prior permission on 5days/4nights trip accompanied by Ministry's guides.
Tachileik is located on the Myanmar-Thai border in the eastern Shan State of Myanmar. It has been 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 has been developed for tourism and cross-border trade with Laos, Thailand and China. Techileik sits on the bank of the Mekong River across from Mae Sai in Thailand. Maha Myat Muni Monastery, Chinese Monastery, Shwe Dagon Pagda (Replica), Talot Market, Two Dragons Monastery, Morning Market and Padaung (Long Neck) Village are worth of visit.
Kyaing Tong is the capital city of the Golden Triangle Region. It is surrounded by beautiful forests and offers travelers a chance to visit the remote villages of this peaceful trading to villages of 13 nationalities including Ahku, Ahka, Palaung, Eng or Lahu races. They retain their traditional costumes and way of life. One Tree Hill, Naung Tong Lake, Maha Myat Muni Pagoda, Yat Taw Mu Buddha Image, Ka Ba Aye Pagoda, Kyaing Tong Central Market, Pot Business, Cultural Museum, Buffalo Market are famous tourists spots in Kyaing Tong.
Myanmar is union of over 100 national races with their own dialects and traditions. The major races are Kachin, Kayah, Kayin, Chin, Bamar, Mon, Rakhine and Shan. The name Myanmar embraces all the nationalities. The population of Myanmar is over 51 millions with the Bamar, the majority race, making up abut 70 percent.
The National Land Mark Garden is located near Yezin Dam in Zayathiri Township, Nay Pyi Taw. It has over 400 acres. The Land Mark structures of the national races and their customs. The booths at the Garden reflect the cultural heritage of the national people and foster the Union Spirit.
National Races Village is situated in Tharketa Township, on the left of Yangon-Thanlyin Bridge in Yangon.
