Rakhine
Rakhine State is located on the western coast of Myanmar. It has a long coastline on the Bay of Bengal in the west. The Arakan Mountains, rising to a height of 10,049 feet at Victoria Peak separate Rakhine State from central Burma. The state has some fairly large islands off the coast such as Cheduba and Myingun Islands. Rakhine hosts the Ngapali Beach, one of Myanmar’s premier beach destinations, located only 45 minutes by air from Yangon. Although the beach is quite popular, it is not very crowded. It is famous for its turquoise waters, wide stretches of white sand, palm tree groves and fishing village, it is relatively unspoilt. Rakhine offers a number of tourist spots such as Mrauk U, the ancient city of the Rakhine dynasty, Sittwe, Shitthaung Pagoda, Dukkanthein Pagoda, Kothaung Pagoda, Laymyatnha Pagoda, Andaw Pagoda and many more.
Being the northernmost state, Kachin presents amazing natural views for tourists to enjoy. It is the birthplace of Ayeyarwaddy, the most important river of Myanmar. A short ride from Myitkina will take tourists to Myitsone, where MayKha and Malika rivers join together to form Ayeyarwaddy. The clear water and the cool climate is to be cherished. The extensive banks of Ayeyarwaddy are ideal for farming and hence, lush green farmlands are the most common view here. Kachin is also home to Indawgyi, Myanmar’s largest natural lake, a stunning and secluded destination for nature lovers. It is fairly untouched although adventure activities such as recreational fishing, kayaking, trekking and cycling are available.
Kachin is the only state in Myanmar which is home to the mighty Himalayas. The snowcapped mountains are the birthplace of innumerable large and small rivers, lakes, flora and fauna. Tourists looking to enjoy the cool weather need to head out to towns nestled in the lap of the hills. Khakaborazi, the nation’s highest peak at 5,882m, is found in Kachin State. A mountainous region in the far north of Myanmar. It is also considered to be the highest mountain in Southeast Asia. The peak is enclosed within the Khakaborazi National Park, a mountainous park characterised by broad-leaved evergreen rain forest, semi-deciduous forest and snowy forest. The entire region is a treat to anyone who loves mountainous terrain.
Kachin has a number of distinct towns each of which has a distinctive character to itself. Myitkina is the capital and is a busy town which is also the business centre of Kachin State. A clean city with a cool climate, Myitkina is ideal for enjoying the scenic beauty of the Kachin region. A notable town located further north is Putao which is famous for the variety of birds and rare orchids. The forests on the east and west of Putao are filled with magnificent black orchids and the area provides excellent base to view the scenic beauty of the Himalayas, included its forests and rivers.
