Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
There are a few sections where you'll need to bend over to get beneath dripping rocks
but most of the cave is high-ceilinged and adequately lit so you don't need a torch. It can
feel sweaty and humid inside. No shorts or footwear permitted.
The access road is around 2½ miles east of Myaing Gyi, just beyond the green sign an-
nouncing your arrival in Wetwun town. Turn right through a lion-guarded gateway arch
then descend inexorably for another 2 miles to the large parking area thronged with
souvenir stalls.
THE GOKTEIK VIADUCT
A highlight of the long, slow Mandalay-Lashio train ride is the mighty Gokteik Via-
duct, about 34 miles northeast of Pyin Oo Lwin. Built in 1901 by contractors from
the Pennsylvania Steel Company it bridges the Gokteik Gorge, a densely forested
ravine that cuts an unexpectedly deep gash through the otherwise mildly rolling
landscape. At 318ft high and 2257ft across, it was the second-highest railway
bridge in the world when it was constructed, and remains Myanmar's longest.
Trains slow to a crawl when crossing the viaduct to avoid putting undue stress on
the ageing superstructure, which, despite some 1990s renovation work, still creaks
ominously as trains edge their way across. In either direction, the best views are
from north-facing windows, that is the left side if you're heading towards Lashio.
It's also visible through the trees for some time as the train winds down from the
plateau and there are fine views from parts of Gokteik station (near the viaduct's
western end) but beware that the train only stops there very briefly. Theoretically
taking photographs of the viaduct is banned for 'security reasons', but nobody
seems to care if you do.
TOP OF CHAPTER
Kyaukme
082 / POPULATION C85,000 / ELEV APPROX 900M
Pronounced 'Chao-may', Kyaukme is a low-rise, bustling market town with a smattering
of colonial-era architecture, bracketed by monastery-topped hills, each only 15 minutes'
walk away using steep, covered stairways. The main attraction here is hiking into sur-
rounding Shan and Palaung hill villages. Although Kyaukme is rather bigger than Hsi-
paw, the town sees far fewer travellers and there's only one foreigner-licensed guest-
house. Kyaukme means 'black stone'; local legend has it that its citizens were dishonest
traders of precious (or not so precious) gems.
