lonely-planet-myanmar-burma-11-edition

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BAGAN & CENTRAL MYANMAR

YA N G O N–M A N DA L AY HI G HWAY

A mile around the west end of the lake,

Shwe Kyaung is a walled monastery on the

inland side of the road with Japanese signs

leading to a WWII monument that Brit-

ish and Japanese survivors put up in 1972.

Monks will show you around. Just past the

monument, a picturesque path leads be-

tween the lake and (usually) fl ooded rice

fi elds.

Don’t keep going to the south side of the

lake, as the path leads into the no-go zone of

a military compound.

 4 Sleeping

Honey Hotel HOTEL $$

(%25755, 23588; Panchan St; r $10-30;a) Right

on the lake in town, this converted mansion

is Meiktila’s best bet. If available, opt for

room G2, which has views directly across the

lake. Newly built, more expensive rooms at

the front of complex substitute fresh paint,

linens and TVs for the lack of lake view.

Lakeside Wunzin Hotel HOTEL $$

(%23848, 23559; 49A Than Lwin Rd; economy/su-

perior/deluxe s $8/24/30, d $12/30/36;a) Show-

ing its years, the pricier, huge rooms here

overlook the lake from a quiet backstreet

out of the centre. Staff are happy to join you

for tennis on the scrappy court outside.

 5 Eating & Drinking

Meiktila’s not much for fancy eats.

Shwe Ohn Pin CHINESE $$

(Mandalay-Yangon Rd; dishes K2500-4500; h7am-

10pm) This clean tiled restaurant, located in

the centre, hands you an English menu for

its tasty Chinese and Myanmar dishes.

Golden Rain Tea Center TEAHOUSE $

(tea K200; h5am-9.30pm) This popular place,

just off the Mandalay–Yangon Rd, has all the

usual milky, sweet drinks and fi lling chicken

or pork steamed buns. Mix with locals at the

low tables shielded by a rattan roof cover.

8 Getting There & Away

Buses

Express buses zooming between Yangon and

Mandalay stop on the road east of the clock

tower (and not at the local bus station). Along

this road you’ll fi nd half a dozen ticket-sales

shops, including Asia World (%09-4301 1348)

opposite the Thiri Minglar Mosque.

Buses from Meiktila go to the following destina-

tions: Bagan (K6000, fi ve hours, daily at 4pm),

Lashio (K9000, eight hours, two daily), Magwe

(K5500, eight hours, four daily), Mandalay

(K2000, three to four hours, several daily), Nay

Pyi Taw (K2000, three to four hours, several daily)

and Yangon (K8500, 10 to 12 hours, three daily)

Pick-Up Trucks

From the bus station, pick-ups for Taunggyi

(K2500 to K4000, six hours) leave regularly,

stopping in Kalaw for the same price.

Pick-ups for Myingyan (K4000, 2½ hours)

leave regularly from the main road in front of the

Htee Thone Sint Paya, north of the clock tower.

Train

There’s a small train station in town, catching

slow trains heading east–west. A more useful

station is in Thazi, about 16 miles east, at the

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Lake

Meiktila

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Mandala

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Highway

Train

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Htee Thone

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Bus

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Clock

Tower

Asia

World

Pick-Ups to

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Meiktila e#0200m00.1miles

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To Aung San

statue (160m);

Lakeside Wunzin

Hotel (300m)

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To Shwe

Kyaung (1 mi)

Meiktila

æSights

1 Antaka Yele Paya .................................A3

2 Phaung Daw U Paya ............................A2

ÿSleeping

3 Honey Hotel .........................................B3

úEating

4 Shwe Ohn Pin.......................................B3

üDrinking

5 Gold Rain Tea Center ..........................B3