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Western Myanmar
Why Go? Rakhine State...... 293 Even as more of the country’s remote areas become ‘open’ Ngapali Beach ...... 293 and tourist numbers increase, Myanmar’s westernmost states remain staunchly untouristed. Sittwe ...... 298 The handful of tourists who make it to Rakhine State Mrauk U ...... 302 tend to confine themselves to the relaxing resorts of Nga- Chin State...... 309 pali Beach, and understandably so: the pristine sand and Mt Victoria the turquoise waters of the Bay of Bengal are some of the (Nat Ma Taung) ...... 309 country’s best. Yet those with more adventurous aspira- Paletwa & Around...... 310 tions can head to the state’s scrappy, atmospheric capital Sittwe and the old Rakhine capital of Mrauk U, an amazing archaeological site, studded with hundreds of temples. And for the even more daring, looming to the north is Best Places to elusive, underdeveloped Chin State, where if you’re willing Stay to deal with the red tape and lack of infrastructure, a richly traditional area of mountains, forests and culture awaits. ¨¨Yoma Cherry Lodge (p294) ¨¨Shwe Thazin Hotel (p307) ¨¨Royal City Guest House (p307) When to Go ¨¨Pleasant View Resort Western Myanmar (p295) °C/°F Temp Rainfall inches/mm ¨¨Sandoway Resort (p295) 30/86 12/300 ¨¨Noble Hotel (p300) 20/68 8/200
Best Places to 10/50 4/100
Eat 0/32 0 ¨¨Aung (p300) J F DNOSAJJMAM ¨ ¨Htay Htay’s Kitchen Nov–Mar Many Mid-May– Dec Rakhine (p296) Ngapali Beach mid-Sep During State Day, held ¨¨Pleasant View Islet hotels are closed the monsoons mid-month, Restaurant (p296) outside the high Sittwe and Mrauk is one of the season. U receive more region’s largest ¨¨Kaung Thant (p308) rain than else- celebrations. where. 1 Sitkwin BAGO Meiktila REGION Gyobingauk REGION Taungdwingyi Paukkaung Nattalin Ayadaw MANDALAY Hinthada Myingyan Minhla 2 Shwebo 2 Letpandon Pyay (Prome) Mt Popa Myayde Budalin Shwedaung Monywa Ta Ze Kyaukpadaung Yesagyo River Magwe
er Nyaung U Yenangyaung 2 REGION Sinte Riv Chaung U Ayeyarwady
in Thayet w climb a permit to et AYEYARWADY Chauk
d G Myan-aung
k Be among the handful Be ) Taung; (Nat Ma Victoria Padaung Chin Pakokku Minbu Padan Thandwe of visitors to the remote the remote to visitors of in Chin culture of heartland (p310) Paletwa such as Aung restaurant (p112) 7 6 River Mt second- the country’s p309), peak highest Myaing
Mindon er Ngape Old Bagan Pauk iv Kyeintali
REGION River MAGWE Salin Taunggo
(TaungupR Myabyin
Thandwe REGION
r
e Gwa SAGAING
Riv Kyaukkyi
Gangaw River
Ma-ei Lamu Ann
Isarbyin River Kyeinthali Ann Kan Thar Ya Lontha Sakhanmaw Tilin Kandauntgyi Kanpetlet Sane
iver Taunggok Sidoktaya
Dalet
R Mindat Falam Lotaw Thabyugyaing Andwe Kywe
(Andrew Bay)
STATE Ramree
River RAHINE Channel
Dalet Ngapali Beach Lemro Yebok Mt Victoria Thobagwin Matupi (Nat Ma Taung) Hakha Take in both the Rakhine the Rakhine in both Take Manaung on tongue your Burn Chin Villages Wethali Minbya Nang Gyar Myaungbwe Manaung CHIN STATE Kyun Kyun Bay Yinnbye Manaung Hanka Mahamuni Paya (p310) upriver from Mrauk U, U, Mrauk from upriver (p310) women tattoo-faced where the arm by around you lead spicy Rakhine food at a local at a local food Rakhine spicy 5 4 countryside and ancient countryside trip to on a half-day history and Mahamuni Paya Wethali (p308) Sami Kyaukpyu Pauktaw Island Pindawa Baronga Ponnagyun Mrauk U Paletwa Taung Pro Wabo Mayu River Bay of 50 km
Aung Kaladan 30 miles Bengal er Kyauktaw Riv Sittwe Buthidaung BANGLADESH Kyun Donpauk Boister Kodangauk Teknaf o 0 0 Maungdaw
L amidthe yourself se Savour the seafood, the seafood, Savour villages Chin to Boat Aungthabye Taungbyo
Ngapali Ngapali of and resorts sand Myanmar’s (p293), Beach beach sophisticated most destination 3 2
1 Western Myanmar Highlights temples and fortifications in and fortifications temples U (p302), Mrauk timeless Rakhine of capital former
mar Myanmar Highlights I N D I A N O C E A N
Western Myan 292