Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
About 155 miles (250km) north of Pyay and 93 miles (150km) south of Salay, Magwe's
locale on the Ayeyarwady River is nice enough, as is the impressive 1.8-mile (3km)
Magwe Bridge. Beyond this, however, it's a place of dilapidated buildings running along
a confusing web of leafy streets. Still, if you're travelling along the bumpy road connect-
ing Bagan and Pyay, you'll probably want to break your journey here and the stretch
your legs around the 'sights'. Famously, the capital of Magwe Division sat out of the
1988 pro-democracy marches.
Sights
Magwe's chief pagoda, the 1929
Mya Tha Lun Paya
, a mile (1.5km) north of the
Magwe
Bridge
, features a gilded stupa and occupies a hilltop site with great river views.
Just across the river, about the same distance north of the bridge, is Minbu and the fun
Nga Ka Pwe Taung
(Dragon Lake), a burping pool of butane gas and mud that has (over
the years) built a few acres of lunar-like terrain with bubbling pools atop four odd
mounds. The sludge isn't hot; if your toes slip in, wash them off below at a small pagoda.
The largest mound is named Thu Sei Ta and the second largest Nanda, for the mythical
Dragon King's daughter and son, respectively. It's about a 30-minute taxi ride here from
the centre.
Sleeping & Eating
Rolex Guest House
GUESTHOUSE $
( 063-23536; cnr Mya Than Lun Rd & Ayeyarwady Bridge; s/d with fan K8000/13,000, with air-
con K15,000/30,000; )
This rambling old guesthouse, on the roundabout facing the
bridge entry, has ageing rooms with cold-water bathrooms attached. It's easy to find and
will just about do the trick if passing through for the night.
Nan Htike Thu Hotel
HOTEL $$$
( 063-28205;
www.nanhtikethu.com
;
Strand Rd; r $50-120; )
Newly opened in 2013,
this riverfront hotel is the best in Magwe. Superior river view rooms are $70 and all are
smartly kitted out with flat screen TV, minibar and bathtubs. Facilities include a huge
kidney-shaped swimming pool. Across the road on the river's edge is the Elysium Res-
taurant. The hotel is 1.5 miles (2.5km) south of the bridge.
Mona Liza 2
BURMESE, CHINESE $
