Southern Myanmar
Highlights of southern Myanmar include Golden Rock Pagoda, the World War II cemetery and “Death Railway”, Mt. Zwekabin and other caves are famous for their natural riches, and the world’s largest reclining Buddha. Other key destinations include the coastal colonial-influenced town of Mawlamyine and the stunning beautiful and pristine Myeik Archipelago.
Golden Rock Pagoda
Kyaikhtiyo Pagoda known as the “Golden Rock” is a popular pilgrimmage destination among Myanmar people. In more recent years, it has also become a popular tourist destination. The mystical pagoda stands on a gilded boulder that is perched on the edge of a hill 1100km above sea level. It is precariously balanced, and legend says that a man can cause it to rock by pushing on it, but it will not tumble down. It is one of the wonders of the world.
Thaton City
Ancient Mon capital called Thuwanabonmi at that time 6 hours drive from Yangon to the east. Shwesayan Pagoda is famous for Mon culture at Thaton. The stone script of Mon dynasty is still conservated at the Pagoda compound. The clients who want to study the Mon culture and Mon Literature are advised to visit to Thaton. The land Mon villages are attractive to visit.
Hpa-An
Located at the River bank of thanlwin (selwin) river. Which is the longest river in Myanmar. About 8 hrs drive from Yangon to the east. And also the capital of Kayin state. Its is at the foot of Mt. Zwekabin, which have unusual shape. The visitors can make cruise trip to Mawlamyaing of Mon state and shwegun of upper parts of Kayin state. Thamanya hill and Thamanya Sayadaw, (the most severable monk) are famous with the whole country visit and pay obeisance to Sayadaw. The other Kyaukkalat pagoda, Boditataung pagoda, Sadan Cave are famous for trip to Kayin state.
Mawlamyine
Place of interests are “Kyaikthanlan” pagoda, “Mon Cultural Museum”, “Kyaikkhame Yele pagoda” & “Set-se” beach. The town has a unique coastal feel and colonial influence. This was where George Orwell worked as a policeman and set his book Shooting an Elephant.
Kyaikkami (Yele) Pagoda
Located not far from Thanbyuzayat, Kyaikkami (or Yele) sits atop a flat offshore rock and is joined to the mainland by a covered causeway. Several Buddha relics are said to be enshrined at Yele. Legend says that 4 Buddhas were sailed on wooden rafts across the ocean by their creator, a gifted Sinhalese sculptor, one of which came to rest at Kyaikkami. Today, it is said, the 21 Mandalay style Buddhas now resting at Yele sit on the spot where the original image is buried. Kyaikkami is the site of an annual festival offering fish, attended by thousands of pilgrims.
Thanbyuzayat
Thanbyuzayat, 30km south of Mawlyamine, was the western terminus of the infamous Burma- Siam Railway, dubbed the `Death-Railway´ by the thousands of A1lied prisoners of war and Asian coolies who were forced by the Japanese military to build it. Construction on the rail way began on 16 September 1942 at existing terminals in Thanbuzayat and Nong Pladuk, Thailand. Htaukkyant War Cemetery, which contains 3771 graves of Allied who died building the rail way.
Mudon
Mudon is home to the world’s largest reclining Buddha.
Dawei
The area near the mouth of the Dawei River has been inhabited for five centuries or more, mostly by Mon and Thai mariners.
Dawei today is a sleepy, tropical seaside town only recently connected to the rest of Myanmar by road and rail. Area to the west and north of town are planted in rice, while to the east lie patches of jungle. Some of the architecture in town is quite impressive, with many old wooden houses in the two storey vernacular. It´s a very green town due to the abundant annual rain that falls on the southern half of Tanintharyi Division.
Myeik Archipelago
Myeik – known in the colonial era as Mergui and locally as Beik (Myeik is the written rather than the spoken from) – sits on a peninsula that juts out into the Andaman Sea. Myeik be came and important port over 500 years ago. Myeik was one of the most picturesque coastal cities in Myanmar, with a wide range of traditional colonial and vernacular architectural styleslining the streets. You can visit- Theindawgyi Paya, Pataw Padet Island, Atula Shwethalyaung. The harbour front is worth a stroll to watch stevedores loading and offloading cargo from ships big and small.
