Myingyan

Myingyan stands on the Irrawaddy River in the Mandalay Region, 110 kilometres southwest of Mandalay, with about 124,000 inhabitants. Set in Myanmar's dry central basin, the town has an extreme arid climate with less than 700 mm of annual rainfall and has been a centre of cotton and sesame cultivation for centuries. During British Burma (1886-1948) Myingyan became a key railway junction and cotton processing town; in 1903 the British built one of Burma's first mechanised cotton ginneries here. The town occupies a strategic position between Bagan (95 kilometres to the west) and Mandalay, and saw heavy fighting in 1945 during World War II. Today the local economy is dominated by textile mills and the rice trade. The surrounding villages preserve traditional mud-brick houses and handcrafted rural industries.

Nearby cities

Mandalay

The second-largest city in the country, known for its rich history and culture.

Meiktila

A strategically important city in central Myanmar, on the shores of Lake Meiktila.

Pyin Oo Lwin

A scenic hill station near Mandalay, known for its pleasant climate.

Kalaw

A former British hill station offering cool climate, pine forests, and the starting point for famous treks to Inle Lake.

Nyaung-U

A town on the Irrawaddy River, serving as the main access point to the ancient temples of Bagan.

Inle Lake

A freshwater lake in Shan State, world-renowned for its leg-rowing fishermen, floating gardens, and stilt villages.

Pakokku

A bustling city on the Irrawaddy River, known for its trade in tobacco and cotton.

Pyay

An important commercial city on the Irrawaddy River with ancient historical ruins nearby.

Hinthada

A bustling city in the Ayeyarwady Region, famous for its rice farming.

Magway

The capital of the Magway Region, known for the production of edible oil and sesame.

History & landmarks

Popa Taungkalat

A Buddhist monastery spectacularly perched on top of a steep volcanic plug.

Thanboddhay Pagoda

A colorful, unconventional temple complex in Monywa decorated with over half a million small Buddha images.

U Bein Bridge

The longest and oldest teakwood bridge in the world, spanning across Taungthaman Lake near Amarapura.

Nature

Irrawaddy River

Myanmar's most important and longest river, serving as a commercial waterway and lifeline of the country.

Irrawaddy Delta

A massive, low-lying river delta formed by the Irrawaddy River dividing into multiple branches before reaching the Andaman Sea.

More places

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Myingyan Steel Mill

A state-owned industrial hub for steel production in the Mandalay Region, built to meet domestic demand for construction materials.

Popa Mountain National Park

A protected area around Mount Popa, preserving rare plants and animals of the dry zone.

Mount Popa

An extinct volcano in central Myanmar, known as a sacred site for the veneration of Nat spirits.

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Tagaung Taung Nickel Mine

A major ferronickel mining and smelting project in the Mandalay Region, primarily destined for export.

Shwesettaw Wildlife Sanctuary

A nature reserve in central Myanmar established to provide a habitat for the critically endangered Burmese star tortoises.

Yeywa Hydropower Plant

One of Myanmar's main hydropower plants, located on the Myitnge River, feeding a large part of the national power grid.

Mogok Ruby Mines

A world-famous mining area in the Mandalay Region that has supplied the world's most sought-after pigeon's blood rubies for centuries.

Laykyun Sekkya Buddha

One of the tallest statues in the world, depicting a standing Buddha in bright yellow that dominates the landscape of Monywa.