Pyin Oo Lwin or Maymyo is a scenic mountain city in Mandalay Division, Myanmar, located in the Shan Highland, 67 kilometers east of Mandalay, and at an altitude of 1,070 meters. The town is situated on the Lashio-Mandalay Highway between Nawnghkio and Mandalay. In the 1960s and 1970s, it was a summer capital and a military centre of the Indian Army during British times. Therefore it has both a large population of Indian People and strong Anglo-Burmese and Anglo-Indian communities. It is a town near the border of China, so many Chinese people are also settling down in this pleasant mountain town. It is one of the important market centres for Shan State and Kachin Regions.

It has cooler climate ranging from 10˚ C to 34˚C and a nice place to go summer vacation while you are in Myanmar. Pyin Oo Lwin offers visitors cool days and nights, peaceful countryside roads and roadways for walkers and cyclists, trekking in the fruit and flower producing landscape, and interesting shopping. You can have old times memories to be re-lived with riding horse-drawn coach and many ancient and wonderful places are within easy reach. Such a beautiful town has many places to visit and I will point out some of the places for you. The following are the places you must visit while you are in Pyin Oo Lwin.

National Kandawgyi Garden

It was established in 1915 by a Forest officer and was modeled after the Kew Gardens of England. It is 435 Acre wide which features 480 Species of flower, shrub and tree. It also has three museums (the fossil museum, the petrified wood museum and the butterfly museum). The gardens are well laid out among lakes and pathways, and there are beautiful collection of pond fish and lovely black and white swans. There is a watch tower to climb up which offers a great views over Pyin Oo Lwin and the Shan Hills. It is a popular picnic spot for the locals and one of the main attractions for tourist.

Purcell Tower

The Purcell tower which is located on the main road is the heart of Pyin Oo Lwin. It was given by the Queen Victoria to Mr. Purcell, a resident of Mandalay in 1934. However the story of tower is, it still rings the melody of the Big Ben, chiming 16 notes before the hour and it is one of the things you should not miss while you visit to Pyin Oo Lwin.

Pyi Chit Pagoda

This pagoda has a history of its own and it was that three marble Buddha Images for China were sculpted in Mandalay and when at the time of transportation to their planned destination. At the time of journey when sending, one of the Buddha Statues fell down and could not be reloaded to the truck again due to its weight. After trying many times to reload, they gave up on reloading that image and left it behind. And the other two were taken on their way. One local Buddhist monk decided to try as he believes in Buddhism. Therefore he sat on that Buddha image for 7 days, then gave a Dhamma Talk to the local people and recited teachings of Buddha. After 7 days, that Buddha image was apparently easily lifted and placed it to its current location. That’s why, the local people established a pagoda as an offering to that Buddha and now it is called as Pyi Chit Pagoda (The Pagoda that loves the country). Thus, this pagoda is also a place you must visit while you take a tour to Pyin Oo Lwin.

Governor House

There are many British colonial houses and Churches in Pyin Oo Lwin. Most of the Governor houses are situated at the south end of the circular road. The Bombay Burma Trading Company built Candacraig Hotel in 1904. Initially, Nan Myaing Hotel was called Craddock Court and Gandamar Hotel was called as Croxton. It was one of the old British mansions and nowadays it is converted into hotel. The original Governor’s House was built in 1903 and completely destroyed in about 1943. The inspiring replica of the colonial Governor’s House can be seen as a high class hotel at there.

BE Waterfall (Pwe-Kauk Waterfalls)

The Pwe Kauk Falls also called Hampshire Falls in British times is one of the pleasant picnic spots in Pyin Oo Lwin where many Myanmar families come for a picnic. It is located on the way to Lashio from Mandalay. There are two waterfalls in Pwe Kauk where many people swim or play in the shallow waters. There is a market besides waterfalls where you can buy local products such as wines, strawberry jams, fruits and flowers etc. Pwe Kauk stunned by its natural beauty and breathtaking scenery. Also the forest glade setting is pretty. A one hour hike from the falls there is the natural caves of U Naung Gu where several Buddhas are enshrined. This Pwe Kauk Waterfall is near to the Pyi Chit Pagoda.

 Now I pointed out some of the nice places to visit in Pyin Oo Lwin and if you are will to visit there, we are ready to serve you and there are more places left to visit in Pyin Oo Lwin. Contact to sales@lmtravelmyanmar.com for the visit.