Kayin State Myanmar

Area : 30381.667 sq-km (11730.849 sq-miles)
Population : 1431377
Capital : Hpa-an
Religion : Buddhism, Christianity, Leke

Myanmar Kayin State is located in eastern part of Myanmar connected with Thailand. It also shares with Shan and Kayah State in the north and Mon in the west. Myanmar Kayin State has a hot and humid climate because of the mountain ranges that lie in its backdrop and its location which is near to the sea too. The lowest annual rainfall in the region is 120 inches and the highest is 190 inches. The regions get most of the rain in summer.

The main rivers in the province are Thanlwin, Thaungyin and Attaran rivers. The national races live in this region are mainly Kayin and Burma Myanmar. Other races like Pa-O, Shan, Mon and Rakhine are also residing there. The capital of Myanmar Kayin province is Hpa-an. Paddy is the main crop of Myanmar Kayin State. Winter groundnut is cultivated on silted-land and monsoon groundnut at hill-side farms. Other crops grown in the region are sesame, beans and pulses, sugarcane, rubber, areca, coffee, coconut and fruits. Other products such as iron, lead, copper, tin, coal and antimony are mined in Kayin Myanmar province too.

Capital of Myanmar Kayin State in Myanmar is Hpa-an and is a small town but busy commercial centre that, doesn't necessarily warrant a trip. However, the beautiful river cruise between Hpa-an and Mawlamyine and a few off the beaten track excursions make it worth the while of the intrepid traveler who travel around Myanmar. Away from the jetty, which is crowded with trucks and motorcycles, it still has something of the village atmosphere like farmers come to town in their horse carts, or trishaws stacked with baskets or mats to sell in the Myanmar market. The towns Myanmar people are a mixture of Mon, Bamar and Muslim. Burmese is the primary language, but Kayin is mainly spoken in Myanmar Kayin State. The mosque seems to be the town hub and there are numerous teashops around town, along with pick-ups to Thaton and on to Kyaiktiyo.

You can reach Hpa-an, capital of Kayin State Myanmar, by road from Yangon across a bridge over the Thanlwin River, west of the town, or by river ferry from Mawlamyine. Another new bridge across the Gyaing River at Zathabyin, east of Mawlawyine, links Hpa-an with Mawlamyine by road. The trip by car takes an hour. A new Muttama bridge (Longest Bridge in Myanmar) makes saving time for travelers from Yangon Myanmar.

From Hpa-an a rutted, unsurfaced road heads 143km southeast to Myawadi, a town controlled by the Tatmadaw ( armed forces) on the western bank of the Thais opposite the northern Thai town of Mae Sot. A large number of Kayin refugees fleeing KNLA-Tatmadaw Myanmar battles are encamped on the Thai side of the border in this area.

One of the main tourist attraction place only eleven kilometers south of Hpa-an is Mt Zwegabin, which is both a scared and tall mountain. At 722 m high it affords panoramic vies of the surrounding countryside from the summit. To get to the mountain, take a pick up in the direction of Thamanya and get off at the Zwebin jection. It's 15 minute walk from the junction through a village to the base of the mountain on the west side past thousands of identical Myanmar Buddha statues lined up in row after row. The path up isn't exactly picturesque it's nothing more than hundreds and hundreds of concrete steps, but once up the top, the two hour effort is rewarded. If you arrive before noon at the small Myanmar monastery at the top you can take advantage of a complimentary lunch (rice), orange and tea) and the 11 am monkey feeding different primates, different menus. It's possible to overnight here, which means you can also appreciate the fantastic Myanmar sunsets. The descent down the east side of the mountain takes around 45 minutes, and from the bottom it's another 3 km to the main road from where you can catch a pick up back to town. Hiring you won transport someone to drop you off on one side and pick you up one other, make everything run smoother.

Sadder Cave is 10 or 15 minutes journey through the cave to the other side, which exit into a lake and paddy field view. Thousands of miniature clay inside saddar cave.

Cross along footbridge to get to this Myanmar monastery, built in the middle of an artificial lake, from where there are good views of the surrounding countryside, obscured only by the birds and butterflies fluttering nearby.