Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Sights
Lake Meiktila
is the town's premier attraction. There are no boating options, but you can
cycle around some of it. Between the road and rail bridges, west of the city centre, you
won't miss
Phaung Daw U Paya
, a temple housed in a giant floating barge shaped in the
form of a golden
karaweik
, a mythical bird.
Cross the road bridge to reach the wooden pier leading to the pretty
Antaka Yele
Paya
, a small pagoda perched on an island in the lake. Back on the main road is an
Aung
San statue
.
A few hundred metres southwest of the bridge is a building that was once a
British co-
lonial diplomat house
. The building was used as an interrogation centre by the Japanese
in WWII, and many years later Aung San Suu Kyi and Michael Aris honey-mooned here.
The house is to the east of the Lakeside Wunzin Hotel.
A mile around the west end of the lake,
Shwe Kyaung
is a walled monastery on the
inland side of the road with Japanese signs leading to a
WWII monument
that British and
Japanese survivors erected in 1972. Monks will show you around. Just past the monu-
ment, a picturesque path leads between the lake and (usually) flooded rice fields.
Don't keep going to the south side of the lake, as the path leads into the no-go zone of
a military compound.
Sleeping & Eating
Honey Hotel
HOTEL $
( 064-25755; Panchan St; s/tw $30/35; )
Right on the lake in the southern tip of the
town centre, this converted mansion is Meiktila's leading budget option. If available, opt
for room G2, which has views directly across the lake. Newly built, more expensive
rooms at the front of the complex substitute fresh paint, linens and TVs for the lack of
lake view.
Lakeside Wunzin Hotel
HOTEL $$$
( 064-23848;
www.mountpleasanthotelmyamar.com
; 49A Than Lwin Rd; superior/deluxe/ste
$59/72/85; )
Showing its age these days, the more expensive suites here overlook the
lake from a quiet backstreet out of the centre. Discounts are regularly available.
Staff are happy to join you for tennis on the scrappy court outside should you be trav-
elling with a racket. It is located to the west of the town centre about 1000ft (300m) from
Antaka Yele Paya.
