The glamorous scenery of Thanlwin River and the elegant town over view from Kyaik Than LAN Pagoda, even induced English famous Author, Rudyard Kipling to compose a famous long poem as he dedicated in his book “letter from the East”. Mawlamyine, the capital of Mon state is the third largest city after Yangon and Mandalay. A peaceful town is situated at the mouth of the Thanlwin River has been an ancient city. Located 28 miles from the sea, visitors to Mawlamyine are simply enchanted at the scenic beauty and its temperate climate.

In 1826, after the first Anglo-Burman war, the town fell into British hands. The atmosphere of post-colonial decay is still palpable here and it is a nice place to stroll with beautiful colonial buildings facing the river. The first English newspaper in Myanmar, the Maulmain Chronicle, was published here in 1836. The country’s first weekly in Bama (Burmese) language was published here in 1837, but no record remains of its name.

The most remarkable sites are Maha Muni Pagoda, Kyaik Than Lan Pagoda; the paramount site with heart alluring panoramic view of the town and the harbor, Yadana Bon Myint Monastery donated by a much love Queen of King Mindon, 182.9 meter long the world’s largest Colossal reclining Buddha with museum at Win Sein Meditation Center, First Baptist Church or Judson’s Church, the Taungwai Pagoda with five hundred standing Buddha Images along the hillside.  

How to Get There

This 299 Km long trip is about 10 hours drive by car and 18 hours by train from Yangon. Myanmar Airways fly to Mawlamyaing thrice a week.

Thanbyuzayat

About 40 miles (65 km) south of Mawlamyaing, Thanbyuzayat has the Death Railway which built during World War II, thousands of Allied Prisoners-of-war as well as many Myanmar died construction in the railway which symbolized the horrors of war and has a cemetery under the care of the Commonwealth War Commission. There are some Famous beaches called Kyaikkhami Pagoda and Setse beaches are just 20 km away from Thanbyuzayat. There is Rubber taping and salt making from sea water businesses can be observed.