lonely-planet-myanmar-burma-11-edition

170

EASTERN MYANMAR

THAZI TO INLE LAKE

Kalaw

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%081 / POP C10,000

Founded as a hill station by British civil ser-

vants fl eeing the heat of the plains, Kalaw

still feels like a high-altitude holiday resort:

the air is cool, the atmosphere is calm, the

streets are leafy and green, and the sur-

rounding hills off er some of the best trek-

king in Myanmar.

In addition to foreign trekkers, Kalaw has

a signifi cant population of Nepali Gurkhas

and Indian Hindus, Sikhs and Muslims, who

came here to build the roads and railway

line during the British period.

 1 Sights

Right in the centre of Kalaw is Aung Chan

Tha Zedi, a glittery stupa (Buddhist cer-

emonial tower), covered in gold- and silver-

coloured glass mosaics.

The town market (Merchant Rd; h6am-

5pm) is also worth a browse – several stalls

sell dried fruit and local liqueurs. Every fi ve

days the market is swelled by traders from

hill-tribe villages around Kalaw.

South of the market, the myriad stupas

of Hsu Taung Pye Paya were restored from

ruins using donations from visiting pil-

grims. For a good view over the market area,

take the steps on the north side of Union

Hwy to Thein Taung Paya, a modest Bud-

dhist monastery with a small congregation

of friendly monks.

There are more Buddhist monuments on

the outskirts of Kalaw; see our suggested

self-guided day hike in the Activities section

for details.

 2 Activities

Day Hike

Although trekking in the hills around Kalaw

without a guide is not recommended, there

are some interesting and easy-to-fi nd sights

just outside town that can be tackled in the

form of a self-guided, half-day walk.

Starting at the market, head south on

Min St, continuing to University St at the

roundabout-like junction (the park will be

on your left). Following the hilly, pine-lined

road, and veering left at the junction after

the Pine View Inn, it should take another ten

to fi fteen minutes to reach Christ the King

Church (University Rd), which was run by the

same Italian priest from 1931 to 2000. His

successor, Father Paul, presides over an en-

thusiastic daily mass at 6.30am and a well-

attended Sunday service at 8am and 4pm.

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(^10814)
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7
3
1
C
B C
2
3
1
2
B
A
A D
D
Kalaw
‚
To Thazi
(58mi)
‚
To Heho (16mi);
Taunggyi (43mi)
‚
To Pine View
Inn (800m)
0200m
e#00.1miles
‚