Mogok is located 200 km north
east from Mandalay and it takes six and half
hours to get there. It is situated 1170 m above
sea-level. So the climate is cool in all
weather. The population of the town is 200,000
and they are Shan, Palaung, Kachin, Nepali, Lisu,
Danu and Myanmar. 90% of the people who live in
Mogok are working for gem business such as
mining, gem, cutting, polishing and trading. The
gems market (Htar-Pwe) is the main interest
place where local people trade the gems
everyday. For the time being, this area is
prohibited for all tourists.
There are three different
types of mining in Mogok. (1) Four feet square mining (Lay-bin-kyin)
(2) Open cut mining
(3) Tunnel type mining
There are two different types of accommodation
in Mogok.
(1) Mogok Motel
A mid size, 36 standard rooms and 6 junior
suite, altogether 42 rooms with bathroom
attached, hot and cold shower, satellite TV and
mini bar. There are also a big lobby, dining
hall and separate coffee bar which impressive
with teakwood. It is situated in the heart of
the town and just beside of the lake.
(2) Golden Butterfly Resort
Superior class hotel, 9 superior rooms and 16
standard rooms, altogether 25 rooms with
bathroom attached, hot and cold shower,
satellite TV and mini bar. Situated on a hill
station between eastern and western parts of
Mogok, cover more than a hundred acres and
surrounded by beautiful planted green trees.
Hpakant (The Land of Jade)
Hpakant, the famous jade
producing zone is situated 159 km (7 hours
drive) north west of Myitkyina. The surrounding
areas are totally covered by mountains and
population is about 100,000. Summer is only 3
months from the mid of February to the end of
April. Rainy season is from May to September and
winter is from October to February. There is
only one hotel in Hpakant, Jade City Hotel.
Two-storey building, rooms are bathroom
attached, air conditioned, twin bed, satellite
TV and mini bar. Hotel is located on the hill of
town and can get the over looking view of
Hpakant.
There are two routes to
Hpakant from Myitkyina, Karmine route and Hway
Khar route. Hway Khar routes is only for the
summer time. Landscape attraction is very nice
but the road is (May to September) as heavy
floods are usual. By using the Hway Khar during
the monsoon across the huge Indaw Gyi Lake where
the rare birds dwelling. The Lake is bigger than
the In Le Lake and the scenery is enchanting. In
Hpakant, there are several types of jade mines
such as the mountain cut type, river closed type
and man made type. Gold processing works can be
found along the Uru river. All the business
depends on the jade market. Majorities are jade
mine workers. All the foodstuff and goods are
carried from Mandalay. Various kinds of tribe
come and work in Hpakant as jade miners or
dealers. Kachin, Mine Tar and Shan tribes can be
found there.
Putao (The Snow Capped
Mountain)
Putao is the northern extreme
part of Myanmar, 1169 m from Yangon. It is
situated 457 m above sea-level. The area of the
whole district is about 3369 square kilometer.
The population of the town is over 90,000. They
are Lisu, Rawang, Khanti-shan, and Jingphaw.
There are three winter is from October to mid
March. The town itself is covered by the snow
capped mountain, the weather is cold in every
season. The people stand for their lives by
farming and cultivated paddy in the lower plains
of the valley by irrigation. Producing orchids,
grape fruits, honey and wax are famous in Putao.
The surrounding areas are evergreen forest up to
2000 meters. The grandeur of the snow capped
mountains spanning across the whole town was so
amazing. Ancient Maha Muni Pagoda built by
Sawbaws is located only 3.6 km away from Putao.
Ma Chan Baw, 19 km away from Putao, connected by
Malikha suspension bridge which is 211 m long.
We can observe the small vegetable market in
there. Mulashidee, 10 km away has another
suspension bridge and it has a fascinating view.
Mu-Se (Border Tour)
The Ru Li river forms the
border between Myanmar’s Shan state and China’s
Yunan province at Mu-se. It is situated at the
eastern part of Myanmar and it is the one border
gate between China and Myanmar. Other gates are
Nam Khan, Loi Je and Pan Saing (Kyu Kok). Mu-se
is an important town for border trade between
Myanmar and China. It can reach in 13 hours
drive from Mandalay and it is 451 km away from
Mandalay, 312 km from Lashio which is the city
of the northern Shan state. Mu-se is situated in
mountains area and it’s rising to a height of
818 m above sea level. Majority of the people
are Shan and other are Myanmar, Kachin and
Palaung. Most of the people are earning their
lives by exchange the goods between two
countries. There are three seasons. They are
rainy season, cold season and hot season. In
rainy season, it got heavily rain fall and
annual rain fall is round about 350 cm. In cold
season, the lowest point is 8 C. Shwe Tha Min
(golden deer) pagoda which is situated in the
southern part of the town. There is a fresh
vegetable market near Shwe Yar Su hotel. Bo-te,
where we can see the panoramic view of Ru-li,
the town itself and the river, it’s situated in
the western part of the town.
There are three types of accommodation in Mu-se.
(1) Mu-se Motel
Economy class motel -32 rooms with bathroom
attached, hot and cold shower. Each room has
satellite TV. Complimentary breakfast. Chinese,
Myanmar and Shan cuisine are available.
(2) Shwe Yar Su Hotel
Standard class hotel-25 rooms with bathroom
attached, hot and cold shower. 24 hours
electricity supply and valet service. I.D.D
phone, satellite TV, mine bar.
(3) Yun Yan Hotel
Standard class hotel-27 rooms with bathroom
attached, hot and cold shower. 24 hours
electricity supply and valet service. I.D.D
phone, satellite TV, mine bar.
Badarlin Cave (Adventure
tour of Myanmar)
It is the most important
prehistoric site in Myanmar, between 10,000 and
20,000 years dating back. It lies 16 km west of
Ywar Ngan village, the southern part of Shan
state in Taung Gyi. The cave is also situated 75
km south east of Mandalay, It lies in tropical
zone. The weather is hot enough in there. There
is no hotels and need to take the sleeping bags
for night stop. Just only 3 hours from Mandalay,
arrive King Tar Dam and across the lake by boat
for 15 minutes. Trek to the hill top about 50
minutes. Syudy the prehistoric paintings of
animal and human subjects and weapons of the
stone age peoples. You would better go to
national museum in Yangon to study the detail
facts and the stone age weapons from Badalin
cave before you start the trip.
Kalay-Tiddim (Memorial Tour)
Chin State is situated in the
western part of Myanmar. The population is
458,000. It connects Bangladesh and India in the
west. Summer is from March to May. Rainy season
is from the end of May to October and winter is
November to February and extremely cold. In
Kalay, Aung Zay Ya guest house is the best for
accommodation and only 10 minutes drive from air
port. In Tiddim (81.6 km from Kalay), Pangabar
guest house. From Kalay up to Sin-gel is
northernmost part of Chin State, is covered with
the mountains. All the villages along the
Sin-gel route are the fallen place of Japanese
soldiers in world war II. The regional earns
their living by outlive the millet, paddy, corn
and coffee. Chin hill apple and orange are
famous in Myanmar. The Chin people are also
skilled hunters.
