Pyin Oo Lwin Myanmar's Highland City of Flowers

Pyin Oo Lwin

Myanmar's Highland City of Flowers

Now, in mid May, the first rains are falling. The grass is growing and all is green and fresh; a great time to visit and enjoy Pyin Oo Lwin.***Strawberries are almost over.*** Temperatures are pleasant especially in contrast to the Irrawaddy valey, the countryside is green and fruitful. Walking trips are very pleasant.***Kandawgyi National Gardens are splendid***Plenty of great bargains in the hotels and shops***

[ Maymyo in the 1920s ] [ Calendar ] [ Real Estate ] [ Churches ] [ PyinOoLwin Nursery ] [ Governors ]

Links to other sections

Photos from the 1920s

Memories and biographies

Welcome to Pyin Oo Lwin (Maymyo)

Pyin Oo Lwin offers visitors cool days and nights, peaceful rural roads and tracks for walkers and cyclists, trekking in the fruit and flower producing countryside, and interesting shopping. Old times can be re-lived with coach rides, and many historical and beautiful places are within easy reach. Just over an hour's drive from Mandalay, Pyin Oo Lwin is an ideal and refreshing destination for visitors to Upper Myanmar. Many new cafes and restaurants have recently opened in town, and a sign of the times are the two new sets of traffic lights on the main road!

A historical town

This website tries to provide a view into some of the history that is rarely mentioned in guide books, as well as drawing attention to aspects of the town which are well known to the locals, but which tour guides may skip over. Take your time and enjoy!

For some historical and literary/biography perspectives of Pyin Oo Lwin click here, and for a map click here. Festivals and monthly flowers and zodiacs are here. A new book, 'Pyin Oo Lwin' by U Chit Swe has been published in Burmese in December 2008. Excellent background to the history of the town.

Useful Links

Pyin Oo Lwin weather throughout the year

Glorious in autumn (lush greenery), winter (perfect blue skies and amazingly starry nights) and spring (strawberries and cream, flowers, fresh fruit and vegetables). Summer starts in late April (Thingyan festival) with most rain between June and September.

Pyin Oo Lwin Weather now

Normal annual high: 32c; lowest low: 1c

May 2009: 93f(max), 72f(min) (see Calendar ), but usually in the top 70s.

It's certainly getting warmer these days, and the town is full at weekends with people from Mandalay escaping the heat. It's still cool at night though. Hibiscus, bougeanvillia and poinsettia are at their best now. Red Flamoyant trees are in full glorious bloom, and luscious strawberries are still on sale beside the road into the town. Occasional tropical downpours, but these soon blow away, with cool air and mild sunshine following on. Beautiful!

How to get to Pyin Oo Lwin

From the Mandalay International Airport there are two choices: either hire a taxi directly to Pyin Oo Lwin (cost about $45 - negotiable); or take a taxi into Mandalay to the Unity Hotel (about $15 - fixed price). There is a roadside stop for Pyin Oo Lwin taxis here, with the cost of a seat in a shared taxi about $7 (or about $25 for 4 foreigners sharing). The first option takes about 1.5 hours, the second about 2.5 hours. Click here for taxi phones.

It's also possible to get to Pyin Oo Lwin by train (5 hours), bus (2.5 hours), or Hilux pickup (3 hours). Hotels can advise on these. Train bookings and tickets can be bought only at Mandalay Railway Station. Trains run right through to Hsipaw and Lashio.

NB Some night trains from Yangon to Mandalay are still discontinued (December 2008), but there are now more flights up-country and good, regular direct buses (about 15 hours) between Yangon and Pyin Oo Lwin. It's not usually possible to do a one day sightseeing trip from Yangon to Mandalay and back again.

Staying in Pyin Oo Lwin

Pyin Oo Lwin has hotels from top class down. Comfortable country inns with good food and service, medium range hotels, and budget hotels - all give that old-fashioned individual attention and assistance.

Overall, price is a good guide to quality and comfort. Despite inflation prices have remained quite stable. Best bargains are about $6 in the lower bracket (see Grace Hotel) and $25 in the upper (Royal Park View). Budget travellers should check out Dahlia Motel, too. A Suite for two at the Kandawgyi Lodge costs around $75. Hotels are currently offering good discounts.

In the off-season (after mid-April to end September) bookings aren't needed. It's worth calling in advance for rooms in the better hotels since they do fill up occasionally - on the weekends near Full Moon days, for example.

Pyin Oo Lwin has wonderful picnic spots in every direction

Orchids grow in profusion in Pyin Oo Lwin

Before you leave please v isit the Pyin Oo Lwin Guestbook. Thanks!