Anisakhan Fall (Dattawjient Fall)
This spectacular fall is located near the Anisakhan Village, about 9 km south of Pyinoolwin, off the Mandalay – Maymyo (Pyinoolwin) Road. From the village of Anisakhan on the main road, turn right at the train station and continue for another 2 km to reach the car parking area. From here, it is a 45 minute descent on foot through a river gorge to reach the fall. The fall consists of five steps; the third is quite impressive.
You can get a regular pickup bus from Maymyo (Pyinoolwin) to Anisakhan village. Better idea is to hire a taxi to the fall (up to the parking area). There is an entrance fee to the fall for foreigners.
Pwe Kauk Fall (Hampshire Fall)
Located 8 miles north east of Maymyo (Pyinoolwin), off the Mandalay – Lashio Road, Pwe Kauk Fall is an ideal place for picnics. Locally known as BE Fall, it was called Hampshire Fall during the British colonial period. The fall itself is not much spectacular but the location is quite peaceful, making it a favorite spot for picnic among the locals. You can swim in the upper part of the fall but the lower part is quite dangerous as there are many undertows in the bottom of the fall. Many people have lost their lives at the bottom of this fall. There is an entrance fee for foreigners.
On the way to Pwe Kauk Fall, you can visit three Shan villages – Mogyopyit, Yechando and Ye Ngeye. From Pwe Kauk, you can also take a one hour hiking tour to a nearby U Naung Gu (U Naung Cave), a natural cave containing several pagodas. Monks and hermits occasionally use this cave for meditation.
Pagoda of the Reluctant Buddha (Maha Ant Htoo Kan Thar Pagoda)
This is a very recent pagoda. A Chinese temple in Yunnan, China, ordered three massive marble Buddha images to be sculpted in Mandalay. After the marble images were finished, they were transported by a tuck to China. After passing Maymyo, the truck got accident, and one of the three Buddha images fell down of the truck. After unsuccessful attempt to salvage the Buddha image, the truck driver declared that he had a dream where the Buddha told him he did not wish to be taken to China. Thus they left the Buddha image and left with the other two images. A local monk believed to have supernatural power then moved the Buddha, and built a temple for the Buddha. Later, the Buddha image was renamed Maha Ant Htoo Kan Thar Buddha. Apart from this interesting story, and a massive marble Buddha, there is not much to see here.
Peik Chin Myaung Cave (Maha Nandamu Cave)
This massive cave was a new discovery, just discovered about 15 years ago. The Peik Chin Myaung Cave is situated about 12 miles outside Maymyo (Pyinoolwin) near Wetwun Village (3 miles to the south of Wetwun). The cave is formed in a limestone mountain, and estimated to be between 230 and 310 million years old. A stream is flowing inside this massive cave which is about 2 miles deep. Hundreds of pagodas were built inside the cave by devoted Buddhists. The whole cave is lit with electric lights. Be careful of your camera and electric equipments inside the cave as it is quite humid inside. Moreover, the deeper you go, the hotter you get, with a feeling of suffocation. If you have a respiratory problem, don’t go too deep inside. A spectacular waterfall cascades down the cliffs near the caves.
The cave is easily accessible by car. There is a regular pickup truck buses between Maymyo (Pyinoolwin) and Peik Chin Myaung Cave. Alternatively, you can hire a taxi to the cave from Maymyo.
Trekking
Maymyo (Pyinoolwin) is a very good place for trekking and you should schedule at least one day of your stay here for trekking alone. Osama is a trekking guide from Maymyo (Pyinoolwin), and quite well known among tourists. He can be contacted at Dahlia Hotel. Another trekking guide is Yarzar, from Royal Park View Hotel, who knows the place very well.
Editor’s Note: Many of the above information has been obtained from our reference book Lonely Planet Guide to Myanmar (Burma)
