A great counterpoint to busy Mandalay, Pyin Oo Lwin is just 2 hours away by car or a little longer by railway. Spend a couple of nights before heading to further north to further north to Hsipaw. Founded by the British in 1896, Pyin Oo Lwin grew because at an altitude of 3510 feet it offered relief from Mandalay’s summer heat. Its popularity was sealed with the construction of the railway and it became the summer capital for the British. Dotted with colonial architecture the real joy comes from the scenery and natural splendour that surrounds you. 

British Hill Station

As well as a military outpost, the town was also an important educational centre, hosting a number of schools and military academies serving mainly the colonial settlers. Today, the town is flourishing and still retains to a certain degree the feel of a hill station with pockets of 19th century Colonial architecture. You may be surprised to discover a large Ghurkha community remains, having been stationed here with the British. To this day, colourful wooden horse-drawn wagons are one of the primary forms of transport around town. Famous for the range of plants that thrive in this benign climate the town’s beautiful botanical gardens are unique in Myanmar and wrap round the Kandawgyi Lake.

Take to The Hills

The surrounding area is perfect for those looking to see a little more of the rural hill country that’s ideal for exploring on foot. Pass through small farming communities with fields producing a bewildering variety of crops, such as coffee, strawberries, pineapples and chrysanthemums, then on to open, wood studded landscapes. There are a series of magnificent waterfalls, including the impressive Pwe Kauk Waterfalls, and the intriguing Buddhist shrine-cave of Peik Chin Myaung that takes around 15 minutes to explore, following an underground stream past a series of colourful scenes from Buddhist scriptures interspersed with stupas and Buddha images.

Visitors today can travel from Mandalay and back again in the same day, although we recommend stopping longer and even considering travelling further north to Hsipaw.