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'''Pyin U Lwin''' (''Maymyo'') is a city in the Mandalay Division of [[Central Myanmar]].
'''Pyin U Lwin''' (''Maymyo'') is a city in the Mandalay Division of [[Central Myanmar]].
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==Understand==
[[Image:Pyin U Lwin Myanmar.jpg|thumb|right|350px|Unique horse carriages and British colonial houses make Pyin U Lwin stand out.]]
[[Image:Pyin U Lwin Myanmar.jpg|thumb|right|350px|Unique horse carriages and British colonial houses make Pyin U Lwin stand out.]]
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Once the summer capital of the British Raj in Burma, Pyin U Lwin retains some of the hill station look that cities like [[Darjeeling]] and [[Simla]] in India used to have in the 1960s and 1970s. Because of its history as a summer capital and a military centre of the Indian Army during British times, it has both a large Indian population and strong Anglo-Burmese and Anglo-Indian communities. As a town near the border of [[China]], many Chinese are also settling down in this pleasant hill town. It is also an important market centre for goods from the Shan State and Kachin territories. It is home to the Defence Academy of the Burmese military, and an important military base. At an elevation of 1,070m, there is an abundance of flowers, strawberries, and coffee beans.
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==Understand==
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Once the summer capital of the Raj in Burma, Pyin U Lwin retains some of the hill station look that cities like [[Darjeeling]] and [[Simla]] in India used to have in the 1960s and 1970s. Because of its history as a summer capital and a military centre of the Indian Army during British times, it has both a large Indian population and strong Anglo-Burmese and Anglo-Indian communities. As a town near the border of [[China]], many Chinese are also settling down in this pleasant hill town. It is also an important market centre for goods from the Shan State and Kachin territories. It is home to the Defense Academy of the Burmese military, and an important military base. At an elevation of 1,070 m,there is an abundance of flowers, strawberries, and coffee beans.
===History===
===History===
The British "discovered" Pyin U Lwin after the capture of Mandalay at the end of the Third Burmese War. An early Englishman described it as, ''"Pyin U Lwin, a charmingly situated village of some five and twenty houses, with a market-place and a gambling ring, won our hearts."'' (Herbert White, ''A Civil Servant in Burma''). The British soon established a military post there and the village was renamed Maymyo (May Town) after the commander of the post, Colonel May, a veteran of the Indian Mutiny. Within a few years, after it was connected to [[Mandalay]] by rail, it became the summer residence of the British government in Burma (in the hot season, the civil service, almost to the man, would move from Rangoon to Maymyo). A little later, it was made the headquarters of the Burma Division, a largely Gurkha and Indian division, and the remnants of that division forms the core of the Nepali population of Pyin U Lwin today. White goes on to describe it as ''"Without pretension to the picturesque, it is a place of great charm and quiet beauty, with no palm trees and few pagodas, conspicuously un-Oriental, more like a corner of Surrey than of Burma."'' While the Surrey analogy will seem a stretch to anyone who has visited Surrey, Pyin U Lwin still seems less like Burma than almost anywhere else in the country.
The British "discovered" Pyin U Lwin after the capture of Mandalay at the end of the Third Burmese War. An early Englishman described it as, ''"Pyin U Lwin, a charmingly situated village of some five and twenty houses, with a market-place and a gambling ring, won our hearts."'' (Herbert White, ''A Civil Servant in Burma''). The British soon established a military post there and the village was renamed Maymyo (May Town) after the commander of the post, Colonel May, a veteran of the Indian Mutiny. Within a few years, after it was connected to [[Mandalay]] by rail, it became the summer residence of the British government in Burma (in the hot season, the civil service, almost to the man, would move from Rangoon to Maymyo). A little later, it was made the headquarters of the Burma Division, a largely Gurkha and Indian division, and the remnants of that division forms the core of the Nepali population of Pyin U Lwin today. White goes on to describe it as ''"Without pretension to the picturesque, it is a place of great charm and quiet beauty, with no palm trees and few pagodas, conspicuously un-Oriental, more like a corner of Surrey than of Burma."'' While the Surrey analogy will seem a stretch to anyone who has visited Surrey, Pyin U Lwin still seems less like Burma than almost anywhere else in the country.
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[[File:Purcell_Tower.jpg|thumb|Purcell Tower]]
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[[File:Purcell_Tower.jpg|thumb|220px|Purcell Tower]]
===Climate===
===Climate===
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==Get in==
==Get in==
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===By train===
===By train===
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The train station is north of the city and there are services to and from [[Mandalay]], [[Hsipaw]], and [[Lashio]]. Trains from [[Mandalay]] (USD2-4)leave at 04:00
arriving at 07:52 (but delay are common). Four hairpin bends and a steep ascent make this an interesting, if rather long, ride. You can get out and walk at various points while the train switches direction or makes its slow way up a steep ascent. There are two trains daily to [[Hsipaw]] and [[Lashio]] (05:30, 08:34) the journey is about 6 hours and 10 hours respectively and goes over the famous Gokteik Viaduct. To Hsipaw, upper class USD7, 1st class USD6, 2nd class USD4. Trains from Hsipaw and Lashio arrive at 15:40 and 18:40. The Pyin U Lwin train station is a bit far from the town centre and most accommodation, but horse-carriages and taxis are there to meet the trains.
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The train station is north of the city and there are services to and from [[Mandalay]], [[Hsipaw]], and [[Lashio]]. Trains from [[Mandalay]] (USD2-4)
leave at 04:00 arriving at 07:52 (but delay are common). Four hairpin bends and a steep ascent make this an interesting, if rather long, ride. You can get out and walk at various points while the train switches direction or makes its slow way up a steep ascent. There are two trains daily to [[Hsipaw]] and [[Lashio]] (05:30, 08:34) the journey is about 6 hours and 10 hours respectively and goes over the famous Gokteik Viaduct. To Hsipaw, upper class USD7, 1st class USD6, 2nd class USD4. Trains from Hsipaw and Lashio arrive at 15:40 and 18:40. The Pyin U Lwin train station is a bit far from the town centre and most accommodation, but horse-carriages and taxis are there to meet the trains.
===By bus===
===By bus===
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Line 28:
===By pick-up===
===By pick-up===
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There are two pick-up stations in Pyin U Lwin. Frequent pick-ups to/from Mandalay (
1
,000
kyat
) arrive/depart from opposite the clock tower. Hsipaw and Lashio bound pick-ups leave early in the morning from the Shan Market west of the town.
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There are two pick-up stations in Pyin U Lwin. Frequent pick-ups to/from Mandalay (
MYK1
,000) arrive/depart from opposite the clock tower. Hsipaw and Lashio bound pick-ups leave early in the morning from the Shan Market west of the town.
===By taxi===
===By taxi===
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Shared taxis to/from Mandalay (
8
,000
kyat
) and to/from Hsipaw (
10
,000
kyat
) will drop or collect you at your hotel. The Mandalay-bound shared taxi stand is across the clock tower while the Hsipaw/Lashio shared taxi stand is across from the Shan Market if you want to arrange the trip yourself. It is best to arrange a shared taxi the previous evening.
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Shared taxis to/from Mandalay (
MYK8
,000) and to/from Hsipaw (
MYK10
,000) will drop or collect you at your hotel. The Mandalay-bound shared taxi stand is across the clock tower while the Hsipaw/Lashio shared taxi stand is across from the Shan Market if you want to arrange the trip yourself. It is best to arrange a shared taxi the previous evening.
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Private taxis between Pyin U Lwin and Mandalay should be about
30
,000
kyat
(downtown Mandalay) or
35
,000
kyat
(Mandalay airport). Negotiate.
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Private taxis between Pyin U Lwin and Mandalay should be about
MYK30
,000 (downtown Mandalay) or
MYK35
,000 (Mandalay airport). Negotiate.
===By plane===
===By plane===
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Line 39:
==Get around==
==Get around==
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It is easy to get around on foot or on bicycles (
1
,200-2,000
kyat
per day from your hotel) or even on foot in the city centre. Or hire a ''gharry'', old garishly painted horse-drawn Victorian carriages that live on in Pyin U Lwin. For far-flung places, frequent pick-ups ply the Mandalay road, motorcycle taxis (you ride on the pillion) are available in the market, as are taxis. You can also rent a motorcycle to get around from a shop near the mosque. Ask at your hotel.
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It is easy to get around on foot or on bicycles (
MYK1
,200-2,000 per day from your hotel) or even on foot in the city centre. Or hire a ''gharry'', old garishly painted horse-drawn Victorian carriages that live on in Pyin U Lwin. For far-flung places, frequent pick-ups ply the Mandalay road, motorcycle taxis (you ride on the pillion) are available in the market, as are taxis. You can also rent a motorcycle to get around from a shop near the mosque. Ask at your hotel.
==See==
==See==
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| phone= | fax=
| phone= | fax=
| hours= | price=
| hours= | price=
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| content=In a rugged gorge and framed at the base by a Buddhist temple, Anisaken Falls makes a good half day hike from Pyin U Lwin. Mandalay-bound pick-ups (
300 kyat
) drop you at the village of Anisakan (tell the driver you're going to the falls and he'll drop you at the road to the falls rather than in the village itself). From there, follow a long road (about 2km) through the village, across a railway line, by a monastery, and through fields to the start of the trail. Alternatively, take a taxi from Pyin U Lwin to the trailhead and back (about USD15). It's also possible to get there by bicycle, since it's only 12km from town centre, but it's not a very nice ride as the road is steep, with a lot of traffic. Stalls at the trail head sell water, soft drinks, and snacks. The path is very steep but short, 35-45 minutes from the trail head to the bottom of the falls. You can then return the way you came or hike up to the top of the falls on a steep trail that runs along the falls itself. If you hike up the falls, you'll notice (with heart pounding from the steep climb) that the falls are actually three falls and the view of the lowest level becomes increasingly delightful as you head up. Once on the top, it is a short walk back to the trail head. If you came by pickup, walk back to the main road and flag a Pyin U Lwin-bound pickup, there are plenty.}}
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| content=In a rugged gorge and framed at the base by a Buddhist temple, Anisaken Falls makes a good half day hike from Pyin U Lwin. Mandalay-bound pick-ups (
MYK300
) drop you at the village of Anisakan (tell the driver you're going to the falls and he'll drop you at the road to the falls rather than in the village itself). From there, follow a long road (about 2km) through the village, across a railway line, by a monastery, and through fields to the start of the trail. Alternatively, take a taxi from Pyin U Lwin to the trailhead and back (about USD15). It's also possible to get there by bicycle, since it's only 12km from town centre, but it's not a very nice ride as the road is steep, with a lot of traffic. Stalls at the trail head sell water, soft drinks, and snacks. The path is very steep but short, 35-45 minutes from the trail head to the bottom of the falls. You can then return the way you came or hike up to the top of the falls on a steep trail that runs along the falls itself. If you hike up the falls, you'll notice (with heart pounding from the steep climb) that the falls are actually three falls and the view of the lowest level becomes increasingly delightful as you head up. Once on the top, it is a short walk back to the trail head. If you came by pickup, walk back to the main road and flag a Pyin U Lwin-bound pickup, there are plenty.}}
[[Image:Pwe_Kauk_Falls.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Burmese Families at Pwe Kauk Falls]]
[[Image:Pwe_Kauk_Falls.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Burmese Families at Pwe Kauk Falls]]
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==Buy==
==Buy==
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Pyin U Lwin is famous, in Myanmar that is, for strawberries, coffee, flowers, and sweaters. The market is full of shops selling these products. In spring (late Feb, early Mar), flower stalls line the road to Mandalay. The Golden Triangle Cafe and Bakery sells organic ground coffee from local plantations. Strawberry jam is readily available (it'll show up in your breakfast). And, many stores around the clock tower sell sweaters, the
specialty
of all old British hill stations everywhere.
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Pyin U Lwin is famous, in Myanmar that is, for strawberries, coffee, flowers, and sweaters. The market is full of shops selling these products. In spring (late Feb, early Mar), flower stalls line the road to Mandalay. The Golden Triangle Cafe and Bakery sells organic ground coffee from local plantations. Strawberry jam is readily available (it'll show up in your breakfast). And, many stores around the clock tower sell sweaters, the
speciality
of all old British hill stations everywhere.
==Eat==
==Eat==
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| phone= | fax=
| phone= | fax=
| hours=USD6-10 | price=
| hours=USD6-10 | price=
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| content=Fans, shared/private bath. Dirty, dark and does not provide sheets (along with Grace Hotel I) one of the oldest hotels
licenced
for foreigners in Pyin U Lwin. Buckets of hot water available on request. It can be noisy.}}
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| content=Fans, shared/private bath. Dirty, dark and does not provide sheets (along with Grace Hotel I) one of the oldest hotels
licensed
for foreigners in Pyin U Lwin. Buckets of hot water available on request. It can be noisy.}}
* {{sleep
* {{sleep
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| address=Lashio Rd | lat= | long= | directions=
| address=Lashio Rd | lat= | long= | directions=
| phone=+95 92 044030, +95 85 21405 | fax=
| phone=+95 92 044030, +95 85 21405 | fax=
−
| hours= | price=
5
,000-7,000
kyat
single/double
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| hours= | price=
MYK5
,000-7,000 single/double
| content=Fans, shared/private bath. This hotel had cleaner sheets then many of those charging USD10. There is no breakfast, but it's clean and they charge in kyat.}}
| content=Fans, shared/private bath. This hotel had cleaner sheets then many of those charging USD10. There is no breakfast, but it's clean and they charge in kyat.}}
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For some reason, international calls are cheaper in Pyin U Lwin and you can call overseas to the UK and US for about USD3-4 a minute by shopping around. Try the call office just before the cinema on the road from Grace Hotel I to the clock tower.
For some reason, international calls are cheaper in Pyin U Lwin and you can call overseas to the UK and US for about USD3-4 a minute by shopping around. Try the call office just before the cinema on the road from Grace Hotel I to the clock tower.
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* There are a few Internet cafes in town. One option is T.Net around the corner from the Golden Triangle Bakery,
400 kyat
/hour. Another one on the first street to the right after the bakery, Day and Night Internet. It has 14 computers.
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* There are a few Internet cafes in town. One option is T.Net around the corner from the Golden Triangle Bakery,
MYK400
/hour. Another one on the first street to the right after the bakery, Day and Night Internet. It has 14 computers.
==Go next==
==Go next==
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* [[Hsipaw]] - laid back Shan town a few hours to the northeast, and a good place for trips to Shan and Palaung villages.
* [[Hsipaw]] - laid back Shan town a few hours to the northeast, and a good place for trips to Shan and Palaung villages.
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[[WikiPedia:Pyin U Lwin]]
{{geo|22.034550|96.458747}}
{{geo|22.034550|96.458747}}
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{{IsPartOf|Central Myanmar}}
{{IsPartOf|Central Myanmar}}
{{guidecity}}
{{guidecity}}
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[[WikiPedia:Pyin U Lwin]]