Northern Myanmar - Myanmar (Burma) - page 512

(Nandan Rd; adult/child under 12yr/camera $5/3/1; 7am-6pm, aviary 8am-5pm, orchid garden
& butterfly museum 8.30am-5pm, Nan Myint Tower lift operates till 5pm) Founded in 1915, this
lovingly maintained 435-acre botanical garden features more than 480 species of flowers,
shrubs and trees. For casual visitors, its most appealing aspect is the way flowers and
overhanging branches frame views of Kandawgyi Lake's wooden bridges and small gil-
ded pagoda. Admission includes the swimming pool, visits to the aviary , orchid garden
and butterfly museum and the bizarre Nan Myint Tower .
Looking like a space rocket designed for a medieval Chinese Emperor, the 12-storey
tower offers panoramic views which are better appreciated from the external staircase
than through the grease-smeared windows of the observation deck.
Annoyingly, you can't use a bicycle to get around the grounds so bring walking shoes
and allow around two hours to do it justice. Using the southern entrance slightly reduces
the walking you have to do. By 6pm either gate will likely be locked so watch the time -
there are no closure warnings.
The garden's two entrances are both on the eastern side of Kandawgyi Lake, around a
mile south of smaller Kandawlay Lake.

National Landmarks Garden MUSEUM
(adult/child $4/2; 8am-6pm) This extensive hilly park is dotted with representations of
landmarks from around Myanma. Some are pretty tacky. The entrance is across the road
from National Kandawgyi Gardens, a little to the north of its southern (main) entrance.
There is also an amusement park just to the north; one ticket gets you into both sites.

Colonial Buildings COLONIAL BUILDINGS
Most of Pyin Oo Lwin's trademark colonial-era buildings are dotted amid the southeast-
ern woodland suburbs on and off Circular Rd. Many look like classic 1920s British
homes, while the biggest have the feel of a St Trinian's-style boarding school. There are
also a number of decaying but still impressive mansions on Nan Myaing St heading to-
wards the Naval College.
Check out the splendid Former Croxton Hotel MAP GOOGLE MAP (Gandamar Mya-
ing Hotel; Circular Rd) , as well as the Number 4 High School MAP GOOGLE MAP (Circu-
lar Rd) and the Survey Training Centre MAP GOOGLE MAP (Multi-Office Rd) . Up near
the Shan Market, a fine half-timbered mansion is now a Seventh Day Adventist Church
MAP

(Cherry St) .

GOOGLE MAP

Chan Tak CHINESE TEMPLE
MAP GOOGLE MAP