Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
THE MANDALAY-LASHIO RAILWAY
The 280km railway between Mandalay and Lashio took eight years to complete, thanks to
a series of major geographical challenges en route. First, between Mandalay and Pyin Oo
Lwin,itreliesonaseriesofzigzagsandreversestoclimbasteepescarpmentontotheShan
Plateau. More dramatically, near Nawnghkio the single strand of track soars 102m above
the Dokhtawady River on the famous
Gokteik Viaduct
.
Still Myanmar's highest bridge over a century after its construction, the Gokteik Viaduct
was completed in 1901, built by a US contractor using parts cast by the Pennsylvania Steel
Company, and shipped from the United States. The viaduct has been repeatedly renovated,
but trains still cross the span at a crawl - leaving those unafraid of heights with plenty of
time to lean out of the windows and enjoy the view.
GokteikStationisontheMandalaysideoftheviaduct.Ifyouwishtocrossthebridgeand
catch the train back to Mandalay in a single day, you'll need a ticket to Nawngpeng, fifty
minutes beyond Gokteik Station, where it's possible to scurry onto the single daily train
back to Mandalay.
ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE: PYIN OO LWIN AND AROUND
By bus
Buses and minibuses to Hsipaw leave from
San Pya
restaurant, 3km northeast of the
Purcell Tower on the main road. Buses to most other destinations leave from the Thiri Man-
dalar Bus Station just southeast of
San Pya
- tickets can be purchased from offices along the
Mandalay-Lashio road in the town centre.
Destinations
Bago(daily;10hr30min);Hsipaw(6daily;4hr);Kyaukme(6daily;3hr);Lash-
io (3 daily; 6hr); Mandalay (hourly; 2hr); Monywa (3 daily; 7hr); Naypyitaw (2 daily; 8hr);
Taungoo (daily; 10hr); Yangon (daily; 12hr).
By pick-up
Pick-ups to Mandalay (3hr, K2500) leave when full from just north of the first
roundaboutsouthwestofthePurcellTower.Servicesstartaroundfirstlight,peteringoutlater
in the afternoon.
Bysharedtaxi
ThefastestwaytogettoMandalay(2hr),Kyaukme(2hr30min),Hsipaw(3hr
30min) and Lashio (5hr 30min) is by shared taxi. Book through your accommodation and
the car will pick you up and drop you off at your destination. Mandalay-bound taxis (K7000)
depart from the roundabout southwest of town on the Mandalay-Lashio Rd from 6am until
they run out of passengers, leaving when full. Shared taxis to Kyaukme, Hsipaw and Lashio
leave from the
San Pya
restaurant from 8am onwards - regardless of your destination, you'll
need to pay the full fare to Lashio (K14,000).
