Worldclass Drives Myanmar
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WORLDCLASS DRIVES MYANMAR Aunglan Mindon Thar Ywathit Pho Kyar Ga Ya Shwebandaw Elephant Camp N 1 Naw Bu Baw MAGWAY Kyun Prayer Mountain Kone Kamma 2 Than Daung Rakhine Gyi 0 kilometers 50 Paung- Paukkhaung Taungoo (VYTO) Pyay dale 3 3 Htantabin UNESCO Oktwin 1 Section in drive Oke Pyu Ancient City Shit Pin (PRU) Sri Ksetra Zayatkyi Main sights 3 Shwe- R Thegon Kywebwe Suggested drive routes daung BAGO Expressway M – Y Alternative route A Tonbo 2 Mon Sealed road/highway Paungde Akauk Phyu S Y i Nattalin B t K Taung t a Kyangin 2 u Y n Kyaukkyi Gyeiktaw Zigon g O Myanaung A H A y e O y 4 Bet Ye a Gyobingauk Penwegon r M w G I a d Okpo Kyauktaga d M 4 y Hpa Do A O Kyeintali N Monyo Nyaung Tugyi Lay Pin A E Ma Za Minhla Li Kone Pyuntasa Shwezigon Letpadan Moe Yun Gyi Daik-U Satthwa Ingapu Wildlife Snct. Hpaung Hinthada Tharrawaddy 1 Taw Thi Gwa Lemyethna 2 Okekan Hpar Yar Gyi Zalun Ngathaingchaung Magyizin Kyon- 2 Yegyi pyaw Taik Gyi Y – M Expressway Bago Danubyu 1 Thanatpin in Bago e Ah Intagwa th a YANGON Archaeological P Thoke 4 Ka Ma Se Kyaunggon Hmawbi Zone Shwethaungyan Nyaungdon Hlegu Ohn Hne Chaung Hlawga 1 Dabein Thet Ka La Tar N.P Hlaing Insein Shawpya Ledaunggan Ngwesaung Darka Pantanaw Tharya Einme RGN Khayan Yangon Thanlyin AYEYARWADDY Thongwa Sinma Pathein Shwe Maubin Dala Laung Twantay Pyawbwe Kyauktan Lower Myanmar Yangon – Bago, Taungoo, Pyay & Hinthada following a scenic route to the old river trading city Highlights of Pyay, passing Sri Ksetra, the UNESCO Pyu Ancient City world heritage site en route. This road trip visits the historical cities of Bago and From Pyay, the direct return route to Yangon on Taungoo in the Sittaung Valley. Highway 2 is a shorter alternative to the recommend- After a side trip high into the hills to Tandaung Gyi, ed route on far less busy roads west of the Ayeyar- the drive strikes west across the forested Bago Yoma, waddy via Hinthada. About this Guide Distances ( ± 2.5 kms) between main destinations: Yangon International Airport – Bago: ± 75 kms Bago – Taungoo: ± 205 kms This guide is designed to make self-drive touring in Myanmar easier and must be used together with an Taungoo – Pyay ± 235 kms online navigation application—we recommend Pyay – Yangon via Highway 2 ± 275 kms Google Maps®. This guide uses Google Maps® Pyay – Yangon via Hinthada ± 365 kms spelling conventions for place names and distances, Suggested Itinerary (6 Days, 5 Nights): but actual distances from those shown in this guide Day 1: Yangon – Bago may vary (±) by 2.5kms depending on starting point. Day 2: Bago – Taungoo Tip: Google Maps is not always as up-to-date as their satellite Day 3: Taungoo – Tandaung Gyi – Taungoo imagery. Revert to the satellite view for road networks when Day 4: Taungoo – Pyay such is missing from maps. Day 5: Pyay – Akauk Taung – Hinthada Use printed or online media (such as Lonely Planet’s Day 6: Hinthada – Yangon Myanmar guide or Travelfish.org) for detailed infor- mation. This guide lists sights and a few suggestions Driving in Myanmar for restaurants and upscale (USD75+) and mid-range hotels (USD30–60+) in “overnight” paragraphs. All Yomacarshare rental vehicles are left-hand drive (right -hand shift) for driving on the right in Myanmar. Before You Arrive & Drive Traffic Speeds are relatively slow. Myanmar drivers are usually polite and often give way, especially Valid Driver’s License outside of major cities like Yangon and Mandalay. To legally drive in Myanmar, you must have a valid Due to old policy, more than 80 percent of vehicles international driver’s permit or ASEAN driver’s license. are right-hand drive vehicles. This may contribute to Smart Phone and Navigation Application uncertainty and greater caution. Approach intersec- Your smart phone should be preloaded with Google tions and circles cautiously and you will get through. Maps® or other navigation applications. Lane discipline approaching intersections is strict. Myanmar Sim Card Drivers do not enter empty left-turn lanes and then Getting a Myanmar sim card on arrival (essential for cut back in—they may pass on the inside (right side)! ® Google Maps ) is recommended—wifi in mid-range Sealed main roads are generally good, but uneven hotels is often inoperable. MPT coverage is good. road surfaces and abrupt gradient changes are com- Removable Device Holder mon—do not drive faster than the speed limit of 100 Bring a detachable holder suitable to attach your kph! Narrow one-lane provincial highways require device to the windscreen or dashboard for driver’s extra care; drivers must slow and put offside wheels ease of vision and minimal distraction from the road. on the hard shoulder to pass oncoming traffic! Tolls are common on Myanmar’s roads and usually Contents/Planning Your Drive vary from MMK 200–900+. Keep plenty of small notes of Myanmar currency to hand in your vehicle. Average journey speeds are often far less than 50 kph—do not plan on more than 200–250kms/day to Night Driving should be avoided since unlit vehi- ensure arrival at destination before dark! cles and other hazards raise the accident risk factor. Page Section 1: Yangon Int. Airport – Bago 3 Gas Stations: Please only top up your tank at new & overnight gas stations near large towns. These are less likely to serve contaminated fuel from old storage tanks that Section 2: Bago – Taungoo & overnight; 4 can lead to a breakdown of your vehicle! Around Taungoo – Tandaung Gyi Section 3: Taungoo – Pyay & overnight; 6 Hotline - 09 966235338 (09 YOMAFLEET) Around Pyay – Sri Ksetra, Akauk Taung Contact: [email protected] Section 4: Pyay – Yangon via Highway 2, 8 Further information: yomacarshare.com via Hinthada & overnight Lower Myanmar 2 Section 1 ± 62 kms: Han Thar Gardens Hotel & Restaurant Yangon Int. Airport – Bago (± 75 kms) Resort & Golf Course on the west side of highway ± 74 kms: Kyaik Pun Pagoda (Bago) From Yangon International Airport, follow the Turn west to the southernmost of the main his- divided Yangon–Mandalay Highway north. After ± torical sites in Bago. Four colossal Buddha images 26 kms, choose whether to go directly to Taungoo (± seated back-to-back face the cardinal directions. 252 kms) via the Yangon Mandalay Expressway or Tip: Foreigners must pay an inclusive MMK 10,000 fee take the Yangon-Mandalay Highway via Bago (NH1 to visit any of Bago’s archaeological and religious sites per ± 290 kms to Taungoo). There are two convenient day. To avoid a repeat payment, see all sites in one day. links to the Yangon–Mandalay Expressway (YME) from NH1 north of Bago. ± 76 kms: Shwe Thar Lyaung Pagoda Rd. (Bago) This road goes west to several historical Buddhist The Yangon–Mandalay Expressway is straightforward sites including the Maha Kalyani Labhasima, and has less traffic. Heavy trucks have to use the old where King Dammazedi (r. 1472–1492) placed 10 Mandalay Road (NH1), which passes through Bago stone inscriptions, the huge Shwe Thar Lyaung re- (historically known as Pegu/Hanthawaddy), Nyaung Lay clining Buddha image and the Mahazedi Pagoda. Pin and other small towns. Traffic on this road tends to be dispersed in rural areas but backs up at intersections and when trains delay traffic at the seven railway cross- ings on this much slower but more interesting route. Bago 00 kms: Yangon International Airport (RGN) The main sights east of the river (see above for places west of the river) are the Kanbawzathadi ± 22 kms: Taukkyan War Cemetery (Htauk Kyant) Golden Palace (09–16:30hrs) and the Bee Throne contains the graves of 6374 servicemen of the West- Hall in the palace grounds. ern Alliance who died in the Second World War, and commemorates 27,000 servicemen who died in other These two magnificent reconstructions leave no doubt campaigns in the country (a cemetery plan can be as to how the builders thought one of Myanmar’s downloaded from cwgc.org). great kings (Bayint Naung r. 1551–1581) perceived his majesty. The contemporary Archaeological Muse- ± 22.5 kms: Yangon-Pyay Road fork junction: um is also in the palace grounds. Hlawga National Park: Follow the Pyay Road Three blocks north of the palace is the Shwemaw- for ± 700m and turn left (west) for Hlawga daw Pagoda. At more than 114m in height it is the National Park (± 2 kms to ticket office for the highest paya in Myanmar (according to the “Guide to walk-in & drive-in zones). The drive-in entrance Bago,” a small printed guide on sale for MMK 5,000 (one-way) is 300m west of the ticketing area and in the Bee Throne Hall and elsewhere). To its east is walking zone. Hundreds of macaques wandering the Hintha Gon Paya. free in the drive-in zone happily climb over vehi- cles to get peanuts bought from vendors. Deer, Overnight in Bago lizards and peacocks should also be visible. For meals, try the Kyaw Swa Restaurant, Dagon ± 26 kms: Ah Myan Lan Restaurant & Bar & BBQ (Ngwe Taung), the Shwe The Yangon–Mandalay Expressway via Naypyitaw Li or the Hanthawaddy Restaurant. For mid-range starts here. Take this road for the fast route to rooms fairly close to town, try the Kanbawza Hinthar Taungoo if wishing to bypass Bago and the Moe- Hotel. The Supreme, the Aurora Gold and the Bago yungyi Wetland Wildlife Sanctuary (see Section 2). Star (which has a swimming pool) are in the same area. ± 28 kms: Hlegu Tollgate Tip: If you find a restaurant you like with an English-My- This is the first of several tollgates on this drive.