Travel Myanmar: Places To Visit In Mon State, Myanmar

Public Transportation in Mawlamyaing

Mon State is situated between Kayin State and the Gulf of Mottama. It has a short border with Thailand’s Kanchanaburi Province. The Dawna range runs along the eastern side of the state and also has some small islands. The capital of the state is Mawlamyaing.

Getting To Mawlamyaing

There are regular express coach services to Mawlamyaing from Yangon, Nay Pyi Taw and Mandalay. Mawlamyaing can be accessible by train from Yangon and Nay Pyi Taw.

Attractions

Mawlamyaing, Kyaikhtiyo Pagoda (also known as Golden Rock), Thaton, Thanbyuzayat War Memorial death railway, Setse Beach and Kyaikkami Yele Pagoda.

KYAIKHTIYO – The Golden Rock Pagoda

Located 160 km from Yangon, this legendary Pagoda is renowned for its golden rock precariously perched. The pagoda is situated on a rocky mountain at 1100 meters above sea level and is an 11 km hike from the base camp. The pagoda is said to have been built during the life-time of Buddha some 2600 years ago. There are many options for transport and accommodation at Kyaikhtiyo.

MAWLAMYAING

Mawlamyaing was the first capital of the former British Empire and it was a major teak port from 1827 to 1852.

MON CULTURAL MUSEUM

It is a two storey building that displayed Mon cultural and history. The modest collection of the museum, scales with Mon inscriptions, hundred year old sculptures of wood, ceramics, thanaka grinding stones, silver betel boxes, laquerware and folding manuscripts an English language letter dated 22 December 1945 from Bogyoke Aung San to U Chit Hlaing, a prominent Mon Leader, are displayed downstairs and reading rooms are upstairs.

KYAIKTHANLAN PAGODA

Kyaikthanlan pagoda is one of the three famous pagodas build on Mawlamyaing Ridge. A hair relic of Buddha, Tripitaka manuscripts and gold images of Buddha have been enshrined and erected in 875 A.D. Successive kings raised the pagoda higher, from 17 meters to the present 46 meters. A big bell with a medieval Mon inscription and also another bell with an inscription in English, dated 30^th March 1885 can be seen on the platform. Great place to enjoy the sunset.

GAUNGSAY KYUN

Gaungsay Kyun is also known as “Shampoo Island”, during the Inwa (Ava) period, royal hair washing ceremony was held yearly by the water taken from a spring on this island. It is situated in northern-western end of Mawlamyaing and a good place to picnic. This island can access by boat.

KYAIKKAMI YELE PAGODA

Kyaikkami, located 9 km northeast of Thanbyuzayat, was a small coastal resort and missionary center known as Amherst during the British era. The main focus of Kyaikkami is Yele Paya, a metal-roofed Buddhist shrine complex perched over the sea and reached via a long two-level causeway; the tower level is submerged during high tide. Other attractions here are the colonial buildings that are about 100 years old.

SETSE BEACH

Situated from 24 km south of Kyaikkami and 16 km southwest of Thanbyuzayat. This wide, brown-sanded beach tends towards tidal flats when the shallow surf-life recedes at low tide. The beach is lined with waving casuarinas trees.

KYAIKMARAW PAGODA

It is located 24 km south east of Mawlamyaing. The main Buddha image sits in the position of the legs hanging down as if sitting on a chair. Therefore, the temple is famous for the Buddha which is sitting in the “western manner” and it is also well known for its hundreds of beautiful glazed tiles.

PHAAUK MEDITATION CENTRE

Phaauk Meditation Centre was established by monk U Kemarwutnare in 1925. In 1997, meditation camps are opened in Malaysia, Singapore, Japan, U.S.A, South Korea, England, India and Germany. Foreign monks have come and strived to Buddha doctrine since 1990. This center is very famous for its Buddhist meditation technique.

FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH

This church was founded by Reverend Adoniram Judson, an American Baptist Missionary, who translated the Bible into Myanmar and compiled an English-Myanmar dictionary. It is Myanmar’s first Baptist Church and situated on the corner of upper Main Road and Jetty Road in Mawlamyaing.

THAN BYU ZAYAT – Death Railway

Thanbyuzayat is 30 km south of Mawlamyaing. It was the western terminus of the infamous “death railway” by the thousands of Allied prisoners of war. A kilometer west of the clock tower in the direction of Kyaikkami lies the Thanbyuzayat War Cemetery, which contains 3,771 graves of Allied prisoners of war who died as building the railway. Most of those buried were British and there are also markers for American, Ductch and Australian soldiers. This Death Railway is 415 kilometer (258 miles) long between Bangkok, Thailand and Myanmar to support Japanese forces in the Myanmar campaign.

THAHTON

Thahton is said to be the original capital of the Mons but now that distinction has shifted to Mawlamyaing. However, Thahton still boasts some historical links. There are remnants of an old city wall with the shrine of a Bagan hero, Byatwi, who become a Nat (Spirit) after being killed by the lord of the town when he fell in love with the governor’s beautiful daughter. Now he is regarded as the guardian of the town and people come here to pray.