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Southern Myanmar
Mawlamyaing
 Mawlamyaing,the
Capital of Mon State,is the third largest city
of Myanmar. It is a charming town situated at
the mouth of the Thanlwin River. It is easily
accessible by road and rail from Yangon.
Sites to see in Mawlamyaing are Kyail Than Lan
Pagoda, Uzena Pagoda, Caves of Kawgoon and Payon,
( famous for its countless Buddha images) and
the city's tallest and most visible pagoda.
On the eastern past of the city, a hilly
north-south ridge; is the Mahamuni Pagoda, built
in typical Mon Style. It is the largest temple
complex in Mawlamyaing.
Kayikhtiyo
 A
Miracle Rock ( also known as Golden Rock Pagoda) is one of the
famous pagoda in this region and the jewel in the crown of the Mon
State. The famous rock lies within a day's drive of Yangon in the
town of Kyaikhtiyo., It is accessible all year round.It is located
high in the forested mountains above the Mon Capital ,Mawlamying.
The Golden Rock Pagoda is a small stupa only 5.5 meters high,
enthroned with the Buddha's hair.It stands on a gold-gilded boulder
precariously perched at the edge of a high cliff, 1,100km. above sea
level.The gold covered boulder is roughly in the shape of a man's
head, representing the head of a hermit. The boulder, which appear
to be constantly in danger of plunging down the mountainside, seems
a miracle in itself. Devotees of the Golden Rock Pagoda come there
on pilgrimage every year believing that it will brings them good
health and fortune.Every year on the night of December 31st , the
Golden Rock Pagoda shines with the lights of nine thousand lamps and
is made fragrant with nine thousand flowers offered by pilgrims.
Thaton
Thaton was an important center of Mon-civilization.It
stretched from the delta of Ayeyarwaddy Rover to
Thailand and
Cambodia, the center of so-called Golden Land
(also call " Suvannabhumi ").Buddhism came to
Bagan when Thaton was
conquered by King Anawratha, thus,starting the
Bagan dynasty in 1057. An important stupa in
this region is the Golden Pagoda Shwe Zayan,
which was supposedly built during the early Mon
era. It is a fomous standing Buddha.It is
similar to Dvaravati period Buddha in central
Thailand.The most famous hillside stupa in
Thaton is the Myathapeik Pagoda.
Mudon
 Mudon
is well known because of two hilltop shrines
Kyauktalone Taung and Yadana Taung .A 160 m.
long Reclining Buddha can be found there.The
Thanbyuzayat War Cemetery is located 64 km.
south of Mudon.
Than Byu Zayet
Than Byu Zayet was the western terminus of the
infamous Burma-Siam Railway, also known as the
"Death Rail Way" by the thousands of Allied
prisoners of War II (POWs) and Asian forced
laborers who were forced by the Japanese
military to build it. It was connected with the
famous "Bridge on the River Kwai" located in
Thailand. The World Largest Reclining Buddha
image and the World War Memorial Cemetery are
also located in Than Byu Zayet.
Kyaik-Kha-Mi Pagoda (Amherst)
The Kyaik-kha-Mi Pagoda,which is perched on the
rock by the sea and connected to land by a
covered causeway, is the main attraction town in
Mon State. It is located 88 km. south of
Maw-la-myaing.
Setse Beach
Setse Beach is a beautiful and scenic beach,
which attracts local popular as well as
tourists.
Dawei
Dawei is the capital of Tanintharyi Division and located in the
south of Myanmar. It was established in 1751as a minor port for the
Thai Ayuthaya Empire. Dawei longyi(sarong) is famous local product
of Dawei.The area produces rubber, dried fish and teakwood. There is
also an ore refinery at Kamyawkin and smelting plant nearby. Dawei
is situated about 614.3 km. south of Yangon on the northern bank of
the Dawei River. It can reached by car, air or by boat from Yangon
and Mawlamyine. It takes about two days by car or 50 minute by air
from Yangon. Myanmar Airways flies to Dawei 5 days a week. Near
Dawei there is beautiful Maungmagan Beach Resort.
Myeik
Myeik is a coastal
town in the southern part of Myanmar.
Silk, pearl and fermented fish paste (ngapi)
are local products of the region. Myeik
is located about 862 km. to the south of
Yangon. A two days boat trip is plesant
to get Myeik. From Yangon it takes about
2 days by Express bus to get to Myeik.
Myeik is also well-known because of its
Archipelagoes.
Kawthaung
Formerly called
Victoria point, Kawthaung is a
southernmost town in Myanmar. It is
located 921 km. from Yangon and 622 km.
from Mawlamyine. From Ranong, a border
town in Thailand, visitors can take 20
minute boat trips to get to Kawthaung
for sightseeing and shopping. Kawthaung
is only 45 minutes by air from Yangon.
It takes about 2 days travel time to get
there by boats. Traveling by air and
boat are the preferred ways to get there
since traveling by road is less safe and
uncomfortable. Other popular attractions
to visit in this area are: Lanpi Marine
Biological Park, Salone village, Shwe
Kyun (Runnel Island). Pearl of the Archipelago
Myeik (Mergui), also
known as the "Pearl of the Archipelago"
was a cosmopolitan port city with Thai,
Chinese, Indian, Malay, Portuguese,
Dutch, French and English. The local
population of Myeik was Myanmar who
spoke the language. "There are abundance
of strugglers of all nations in Mergee",
wrote an English man in 1688.Myeik is
now accessible by road from Yangon. The
road passes through Mawlamyaing and
Dawei. The 155 miles stretch between
Dawei and Myeik, which goes over the
Tanintharyi range, has some of the
loveliest vistas in the world. Myeik is
also accessible by air. If time permits.
the approach by sea is the most romantic
way to get Myeik. That was the way the
privateers went there over three hundred
years ago.Below is a poetic description
of a voyage by sea to Myeik.
After a delightful night voyage on a sea as smooth as a mirror and
after the southwest monsoon has withdrawn at the end of September,
you come to Tanintharyi Island with its tall tropical trees and lush
undergrowth on its eight hundredth foot high slope.
Maurice Collin wrote "Under the pale blue sky and intense sun, the
island has a forlorn beauty". Tanintharyi is one of 810 islands of
the Myeik Archipelagoes, which spans from Mali Island in the north
to Zardetgyi Island south-west of Bayin naung Point (Victoria Point)
in Kawthaung, Myanmar's Lands End. Sailing forty miles east brings
one to Katan Island with its range of peals. The sea here is dotted
with islands and surrounded by heights tree with gleaming beaches
and waves breaking on rocks. Eastward is the mainland, which is full
of mangroves. Looking towards the horizon, you can see mountain
ranges of up to 7,000 feet, call the Tanintharyi Yoma. As the boat
turns starboard, it will enters the inner water, which leads to
Myeik.
Nature provides a convenience haven there. Eight hundreds from Myeik
Town is Patet Island. At water's edge is a huge Reclining Buddha.
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