With a population of approximately 1.2 million people, Mandalay – located 700 kilometers north of Yangon – is Myanmar’s second largest city, and as a result of its proximity to China and a trade route with India, is the country’s main commercial hub. The Hill, its slopes studded with pagodas, still looms large over the city. Throughout history, Mandalay was bombed flat in WWII and the palace disappeared, along with so much more irreplaceable history. The palace was rebuilt in the 1990s, and since then, Mandalay has undergone a massive construction boom that places less emphasis on aesthetics and more on growth. An increasing number of motorbikes and cars clog the roads, too, making for a sometimes smoggy city.

Bagan is, in many ways, one of the most remarkable religious cities in the world. Although historically, Bagan’s glory days may be over, what remains are incredible temple ruins, making it one of the most amazing sites in Myanmar, and a genuine wonder of the world. There is much to be enjoyed in Bagan, whether you choose the comfort of a drive around the thousands of ruins by car or prefer to explore in a more leisurely fashion using either a horse drawn cart or bicycle.

Monywa is a city in Sagaing Division, Northern Myanmar. Although by no means one of the most-visited towns, Monywa still has much to offer. The area is a thriving place, with an agricultural and industrialized foodstuff-based economy. It has a significant, commercially strategic location, serving as the gateway to the entire western Chindwin and Irrawaddy Rivers, and even provides access to India across the Chin Hills.

Mount Victoria National Park or Nat Ma Taung is a national park of Burma. It is located close to the border with India and features Mt. Victoria, which at 3,035 meters above sea level is the highest mountain in Chin Hill, Chin State, in the western part of Central Myanmar. It occupies an area of 279 square miles (720 km²) and was established in 1994. It surrounds Nat Ma Taung, formerly Mount Victoria. It is one of ASEAN Heritage Parks.

An almost imperceptible rise means that the attractive village of Hanlin (Halingyi, Halin, Halim) sits very slightly above the pan-flat surrounding plains. For centuries this geographical advantage was deeply significant and the site was home to a large city over 1600 years ago. Moreover, Hanlin village is a magical place in its own right. Unpaved ox-cart tracks link an incredible plethora of decaying old stupas that create the feeling of an untouched mini-Bagan. It’s best appreciated when the area is viewed from behind Maung San Monastery with its obvious golden zedi.

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Pyin Oo Lwin was a former British hill station and it is situated 1078 m above sea-level, ~70 km east of Mandalay. This city of flowers is an ideal place to enjoy cool and clean weather and to avoid humid summer heat. Well known waters falls, natural caves and springs and Botanical Garden are significant highlights of Pyin Oo Lwin.

Keng Tung (Kyaing Tong) is the most scenic town in the Shan State. It is well-known for colorful hill tribes and also a historic center for the state’s Khun culture.Keng Tung lies between the Thanlwin River and Mekong River Valleys.

Mrauk-U is the ancient capital of the Rakhine Kingdom which flourished from 15th t 18th century. Mrauk-U is noted for its fort-like temples and pagodas of stone and brick. Chin villages and unique tattoo face ladies are also highlight visit of this area.

Magway is the capital city of Magway Region of Myanmar, and situated on the banks of the Irrawaddy River. The Myathalun Pagoda, the beauty of Magway, located at the north of the city, is the landmark of Magway. Magway Region is famous for the cultivation of sesame and many kinds of nuts

“Mystical,” “magical,” and “outrageously beautiful” are but some of the words used to describe the azure Inle Lake, nestled amidst the mist-shrouded Southern Shan plateau. The Inthar tribe, who populate this dramatic area, have built their houses over the water on stilts, and have a most diverse, aquatic economy. The area around Inle Lake is dotted with fabulous architectural and archaeological delights, as well. Ancient Buddhist monasteries abound, and the remarkable ruins of the villages of Sagar and Indian are not to be missed. However, the real jewel in the crown is the holiest of shrines in the Southern Shan State: the Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda. And with the vibrant, colorful, and truly exciting market, selling anything from fresh produce to souvenirs, you will never be bored here!

Traveling to Loikaw is as much about the journey as it is about the destination, itself – the locale is best reached by a combination of boat and car. The boat trip goes to the remote, southern ends of Inle Lake, stopping in the town of Sagar, far away from tourists. On the return journey, the overland trip passes through scenic Shan Hills, with no signs of tourism development and several hill tribe villages, making it a fantastically authentic experience.

Ngapali Beach is probably the best-known resort in Myanmar. It is located in Rakhine State, in western Myanmar, close to the ancient city of Thandwe on the Bay of Bengal. The white sandy beach stretches for around 11 kilometers ,fringed by swaying coconut palms, and boasts cobalt-blue waters. On the other hand, Ngapali maintains a laid-back, fishing village vibe, as evidenced by the small boats that head out nightly to catch the bounty that is served up to visitors just hours later.

Mount Kyaiktiyo (Kyite Htee Yoe), famous for the huge golden rock perched at its summit, is one of the three most sacred religious sites in Myanmar, along with the Shwedagon Pagoda and the Mahamuni Temple. Pilgrims come here from far and wide to worship and add gold leaf to the rock, which seems to defy gravity by delicately balancing on the edge of the 1100-metre high mountain.

For many visitors, the rock (standing 7.6 metres tall) and the gilded pagoda which sits on top of it (itself 7.3 metres tall), which are said to cover a hair of the Buddha, are the main draw, but another reason to make the journey are the panoramic 360 degree views of the surrounding Mon State mountains from the summit.

In 2000, Ngwe Saung became Myanmar’s newest beach holiday destination. Literally, the name means “Silver Beach,” and the 14.5 kilometer-long beach, facing the Bay of Bengal, has an unspoiled natural beauty with a very attractive white sandy beach, gently sloping down to the clear blue waters. Dividing the northern and southern parts of the 13 miles of beach here is Ngwe Saung Village, where there’s a constantly-growing selection of decent restaurants. Given Ngwe Saung’s relative proximity to Yangon – a six-hour bus ride away – this is perhaps the best place in Myanmar for a beach getaway that won’t break the bank.

Hpa-An is a small town, but a busy center of commerce, with its bustling “farmers markets.” The population is largely made up of the Kayin and Burmese people, and the town’s most distinguishing feature is the limestone pinnacle forming the Zwegabin Mountain, which provides a dramatic backdrop for the entire town. Beyond this, endeavor to experience the local life; hike, visit world’s biggest lying Buddha, or simply wander the beautiful, lush rice fields.

Myawaddy is a town in southeastern Myanmar, in Kayin State, close to the border with Thailand. Separated from the Thai border town of Mae Sot by the Moei River (Thaung Yinn River), the town is the most important trading point between Myanmar and Thailand. It is the second biggest among Myanmar’s 15 border trading posts. It is 170km east of Mawlamyine, the fourth largest city of Myanmar and 426km northwest of Bangkok, the capital of Thailand.

Located 165 kilometers from Yangon, at the mouth of the Thanlwin River and across the Gulf of Mottama, Mawlamyaing is the third largest city in Myanmar after Yangon and Mandalay. It is a town full of charm, with many buildings of colonial style architecture. The main attraction to see is the Thanlwin Bridge, which stretches a distance of 11,000 feet over the Thanlwin River (and is the longest road and rail bridge in Myanmar), connecting the country’s southeastern region with its capital, Yangon.

Dawei (Tavoy) is the capital of Tanintharyi Division, in Southeastern Myanmar. As this area has been closed for tourism until early 2013, it is largely undeveloped and unexplored and makes for a very authentic and rewarding experience. With a magnificent, largely untouched coastline, jungle interior and a sprinkling of islands, Burma’s Dawei region more than anywhere else along this coastline has enormous potential for explore.

Myeik (formerly Mergui) is a fascinating town located along Tanintharyi region’s Andaman coastline. The least visited of Burma’s southern destinations, it’s a town of interesting contrasts and one that is likely to change enormously in the coming years. The town boasts a sprinkling of isles on its horizon while the town itself is geographically up and down and round and round. It’s home to fantastic old colonial period architecture, yet displays a building boom the likes of which we haven’t seen elsewhere south of Yangon.

The islands offer an extraordinary array of blue and turquoise coral gardens, rare and endangered bird species, silver-white beaches, glass-clear waters, and rich marine wildlife. This magnificent and largely unspoiled area is ideal for anybody wanting to escape the ‘real world’ as – despite its astonishing natural beauty – tourist options are currently remarkably limited. The only two ways to visit the area are either a stay at the Myanmar Andaman Resort or (for the more adventurous) to explore the islands by boat.

Burma’s long, thin Tanintharyi Region stretches south down the Andaman coast and eventually narrows to a sharp point. At the very tip of this point, just shy of 1,200 kilometres south of Yangon, you’ll find the small port, border crossing, administrative centre and market town of Kawthaung which is also the most southerly limit of Burma. Moreover, Despite its waterside setting, Kawthaung itself is not a particularly beautiful town – but it is an interesting and culturally varied place to wander around, with strong Indian and Muslim influences. As is customary for Myanmar towns of this size, Kawthaung is home to hilltop pagodas offering good views of the sea and surrounding area; the Pyi Daw Aye Pagoda is close to the centre of town and has market stalls at it entrances.

Tachileik, is a border town in the Shan State of eastern Myanmar. It is the administrative seat of Tachileik Township and Tachileik District and most populated city in eastern Shan State with 51,553 residents per 2014 census count, ahead of Kyaing Tong, but only 4th statewide.

Absurdly grandiose in scale, Naypyidaw (one translation is ‘Royal City of the Sun’) is a sprawling, shoddily constructed city with eight-lane highways, 24-hour electricity, and zones for shopping, government housing and hotels, ministry buildings and generals’ homes. Apart from the roadblocks that protect the roads leading to the generals’ mansions, ministry buildings and the parliament, it’s surprisingly open. Visits to some of its sights, including a giant gilded pagoda, allow you to mingle freely with locals while putting a dollar or two into the private economy. This aside, it can feel soulless – Canberra meets Brasilia with a peculiar Orwellian twist.