El Southeast Asia It is a magnet for backpackers, lovers of Asian luxury and incredible landscapes. But why always stop in Thailand, Cambodia or Vietnam? Did you try with Myanmar, for example? It has its charms and one of them is Hpa-an.
Myanmar or Burma is a small state in Southeast Asia, with a turbulent history, but as beautiful as its more well-known neighbors. Today we invite you to reach this incredible corner between mountains, caves and Buddhist temples: Hpa-an.
Myanmar
As I told you above it is a Southeast Asian state, a neighbor of China, Laos, Thailand, India and Bangladesh. It is inhabited by 54 million people and for a long time it suffered from British colonialism, civil wars and military dictatorships.
Here it's always hot, the climate is tropical and is usually ravaged by monsoons. Its people have the lowest average life expectancy in the region, due to the turbulence of its history, and its culture is a mixture of neighboring influences.
Is Myanmar Burma? Yes, in the west it is known as Burma so both names are accepted.
Hpa-an, destination in Myanmar
It is a small, peaceful and beautiful destination that involves a whole trip from Myanmar's capital city, Yangon. They are some seven hours south-west so this is not a day trip but rather an entire trip.
Hpa-an is a rural destination simple, charming, friendly and not much else. It does not shine as much as other possible destinations, but if you are looking for tranquility, friendly people and an afternoon stroll between rice fields and decorated caves, it is a very good destination. The people are open, friendly, approachable and at some point the quiet cadence of rural life rubs off on you.
How to get to Hpa-an? You can arrive in bus, ferry or car / motorcycleIt depends from where you start the trip. If you choose the bus you can make the reservation directly from the hotel. A passage costs around 6000 Kyat and you have to remember that it is very hot so they turn on the air conditioning and it can be very cool inside. Calculate some six hours of travel so if you are not going to stay to sleep and yes or yes you want to do a day trip you have to leave early.
If you are going to stay the night there are not many places, Hpa-an is not like Yangon or Mandalay but there are a couple of hostels: Hpa-an Lodge and Little Hpa-An Boutique, the latter cheaper than the former. Once there you can move on a rental motorcycle or bike between rice fields, markets and little streets.
Hpa-an is the capital of the Karen state and is on the banks of the Thanlwin River, about 270 kilometers from Yangon. The landscape is of karst mountains and it is precisely in these undulations that the treasures of Hpa-an are hidden, its decorated caves. There is also the sacred Mount Zwegabin, just 16 kilometers east of the city and Lake Kan Thar Yar.
El Mount zwegabin It is 772 meters high it can be climbed but when it is very hot it is quite a feat that can take a couple of hours to go up and down. There are people who sell water and it costs a lot to do it on sunny days but you will be rewarded with beautiful views. At the top, moreover, there is a monastery and a pagoda and a canteen that serves food and drink to refresh you. The climb is priced at K3.000.
On the other hand there are the caves, located 22 kilometers southeast of Hpa-an. The Sadan Cave It is huge and it is full of pagodas and Buddhas and you can enter from one side and exit from the other, all inside the mountain in a really beautiful walk of about 20 minutes. You can also take a small wooden ferry down the mountain to return and close the loop, for only K3000 per person, back to the entrance.
Nearby are the Kaw Ka Taung Caves with its pool with swimming area. Yes, you read that right. After walking and walking and sweating you can take a dip here with beautiful views of the mountains and rice fields. That beauty! There are small restaurants and kayak rental stands to continue enjoying ...
They are also the Kawgun and Yathaypan caves, west of the Thanlwin River, all, these and those, of religious importance. The first is the favorite cave of many visitors as it is full of Buddha statues dating from the 3000th century, very well painted and preserved. Then you go up a ladder, for ten minutes, you reach the top of the mountain and you have great views. Admission is Kyat XNUMX.
And of course, don't forget the pagodas, directly south of Hpa-an on the way to Zwegabin. The first is the Kyauk Kalap pagoda, built on a rocky hill in the middle of a lake. Beautiful, as it offers a nice view of Mount Zwegabin and is free to enter.
Going down a 13-kilometer road, paved in parts, is the Taung Pagoda, also on the top of a mountain although not the size of Mount Zwegabin. This is a less touristy destination and the climb up Mount Taung Wine involves getting into the jungle and getting a little dirty. It is worth it, believe me, at the top of everything there is an iron staircase with 360º views that lead you to a stupa. Another beautiful pagoda is that of Shwe Yin Hyaw, perhaps the best place to watch the sunset. It is on the bank of the Thanlyin River.
The rice fields They are another of the local beauties. What a scene! You rent a bike and ride hours through rice fields with few tourists and beautiful postcards. So you can also run into local fishermen throwing their nets into the river. If you go in the rainy season there are many men taking advantage of the flooded fields.
Lastly, in Hpa-an there are 1000 images of Buddha, all at the base of Zwebakin Mountain, all with their own golden roof and red columns. You can walk between them, take photos and see Hpa-an in the distance. Here you pay entrance, Kyat 4000 per person.
As you see, Hpa-an is a simple destination but with many attractions. There are at least twelve places that you can visit since the bus drops you at the clock tower and the adventure begins.