From Wikitravel

Myitkyina is the capital of Kachin State in Northern Myanmar. The population of the town is around 150,000 and includes a healthy ethnic mix of Bamar, Kachin, and Indian people.

[edit] Understand

A sleepy backwater town today, Myitkyina was the site of a bitter battle between Japanese and Allied forces during the Second World War. The town was almost completely destroyed in the battle. The location of the town, in an opportunistic valley between India and China, made it strategic enough to be on the Ledo Road built by the US General Joseph Stilwell. If Myanmar ever gets its act together, Myitkyina could, one day, become an important way station for trade between the two Asian giants, India and China. For now, Myitkyina is a destination because of the journey (by rail from Mandalay and then by ferry back to Mandalay via Bhamo) and because it is a staging point for trips to Indawgyi Lake and Putao.

You can enjoy Myitikyina between Late October and early February; it's a mild season. In other seasons you may find raining and heat and may not convenient to you.

[edit] Get around

Myitkyina is small. You can get anywhere in town by trishaw or on your own two feet.

If you arrive by train, turn left and walk along the main street to get to the city centre. After reaching an intersection with a clock tower, turn right and left to go to New Light Hotel, or left and right for YMCA.

[edit][add listing] See

• Hsu Taung Pyi Zedi
• Sri Saraswati Temple

[edit][add listing] Do

[edit][add listing] Buy

One can find and buy the World's best jade and gems. Buy Kachin Traditional dresses, handicrafts and other national cultural textiles and food.

[edit][add listing] Eat

[edit][add listing] Drink

[edit][add listing] Sleep

• New Light Hotel has nice rooms with free drinking water and shared bathrooms for 10 US$. Larger rooms with private bathrooms are also available.
• YMCA rooms with shared bathrooms are 8 or 10 US$ (depending on room size).

[edit] Get out

• Myitson (Mali Zup in Kachin language), the confluence of Mali and Nmai Rivers and the starting point of the Irrawady river, 20 miles from Myitkyina
• Indawgyi Lake

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