Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
The capital of Kayah State is a tidy-feeling town on the Pilu River. There's one must-see
sight in Taung Kwe Paya; other than that, it's more about exploring the surrounding areas
and spending time in a low-key destination where relatively few other travellers have
been.
Sights
Taung Kwe Paya
BUDDHIST TEMPLE
(NH5; camera fee K500; daylight hours)
Virtually rocketing from the landscape is this ex-
plosion of craggy limestone and white and gold stupas. The mountaintop Buddhist
temple compound is Kayah State's most famous sight, and the
loi kaw
(Shan for 'island
of mountains') are allegedly the origin of the town's name. Even if you're templed out,
the wacky Buddhist Disneyland vibe is heaps of fun, and the views of the town and
countryside really are breathtaking.
To the east extend a few other similar rock-topped temples, including
Tat Tapin Mont
,
'One Tree Mountain'. On ground level, the area includes a huge
reclining Buddha
and
Poke Hpayone Paya
, Kayah State's largest monastery with more than 500 monks and
novices.
Thiri Mingalarpon Kyaung
BUDDHIST TEMPLE
(Hawkyi Rd; admission by donation; daylight hours)
Dating back to 1912, this monastery
formerly served as palace of Kayah
sao pha,
sky lords, until 1959. After the last
sao pha
passed away in 1987, his children donated the then-decaying structure to a local Buddhist
organisation. Had they not done this the government, at that time keen to do away with
symbols of Kayah identity, would probably have allowed the building to fall into disre-
pair.
Christ the King Church
CHURCH
(NH5; daylight hours)
Long the stomping ground of Roman Catholic missionar-
ies, Kayah State is seemingly home to more churches than Buddhist temples. Built in
1939, this is the state's oldest remaining church, and has an attractive bell tower with a
bell brought from Italy. These days, mass is held in a larger adjacent temple in Burmese,
English, Kayan and Latin.
Kayah Cultural Museum
MUSEUM
