Chin State Travel

Best time to visit

The rainy season in Chin State lasts longer than elsewhere in Myanmar. In the rainy season (running from May to October), landslides block muddy roads, the mountains are obscured by cloud and mist. 

The summers are short, warm, and partly cloudy and the winters are short, cool, dry, and mostly clear. 

The best time to visit Chin is between November and March. For general outdoor tourist activities or warm-weather activities, the best time of year to visit is from late March to mid May, and for hot-weather activities is from early April to late May.

Check the below table for the general idea of Chin State weather throughout the year.

Chin State’s current weather and 7-day forecast

CHIN STATE WEATHER

Trekking / Hiking

With the lush environment wherever your head turns, Chin State really is a good destination for activities like trekking and hiking. The natural beauty of the untouched surrounding with huge mountains and hills sure will add more to your liking if you are one of the adventurous people like me.

See the untouched flora and fauna

Not only being the untouched western side of Myanmar but also Chin State has a wide variety of unique flora including orchids. Taung Zalat, also known as tree rhododendron, and pine trees are also particularly unique to this region due to its high altitude. Plus, the fruit grown in the Chin State is mostly organic. Apples, oranges, damsons and other garden fruits are in large quantities and the locals also cultivate grapes. There are also many species of birds, reptiles and butterflies. The Mythuns, a rare species of cattle, are also a unique sight.

Observe the interesting culture and traditions

Payae (Payel) Facial Tattoo 

People in Chin Hills used to have the custom of tattooing (Payae) the face of the women. Nobody is really sure how the custom became established, but a legend was that hundreds of years ago, Burmese kings and nobles used to come to Chin Hills and hunt for the beautiful Chin girls, as the fame of their beauty reached the court of Burma. To avoid their women being captured by the Burmese, they had no way but to destroy this beauty. They did it by tattooing the face of young girls. Although nobody could authenticate the validity of this story, many Chin girls, especially those from the North are indeed very beautiful. Although the tradition of tattooing faces is disappearing, it is still prominent in the Southern part of the State, particularly in Mindat and Kanpetlet.

Chin Head Basket 

We have in Chin Hills something we call ‘Chin head basket’. It is a kind of basket that you carry by hanging around your head with a string. You don’t carry it by hand. The basket is quite a large one, big enough to carry a 5 gallon water container. And people, even young women and children, carry them by a string hung over their head. It is somehow a tiring thing to do so. For the Chin people, they have been carrying for almost their whole life so seem to have no problem carrying a heavy head basket over their head.

Taste the authentic Chin traditional beer a.k.a ‘Khaung’ 

‘Khaung’ is a kind of alcoholic beverage made locally in some parts of Myanmar, mostly among ethnic people. There are various kinds of ‘Khaung’ produced locally but most widely known are  a big load since they were youKachin and Chin ‘Khaungs’. In Chin state, the most famous ‘Khaungs’  is made in Southern Chin State, mainly in Mindat Township. In contrast to ‘Khaungs’  from other ethnic people, Chin ‘Khaungs’  is made from millet seeds, not rice or sticky rice. Every family in Mindat grows millet seeds in their farms solely for the purpose of making khaung. The taste of Chin khaung is sweet, and a bit sour. It tastes somewhat like a mix of alcohol, grape fruit juice and lemonade. Khaung plays a very important part in Chin culture. If you are offered a cup of khaung in Chin Hills, don’t refuse under any circumstances. You are considered a guest of honor and refusal of the offer will be considered rude.

Chin Hills

Highlights - Difficult to reach and out of bound for most foreigners, Chin Hills region will present the rare visitors. However, Chin Hills region is still the most preserved, most original, and most beautiful place with natural beauty and plenty of cultural heritages in Myanmar.

Mount Victoria National Park

Mount Victoria (Nat Ma Taung in Burmese, or Khonuamthung in the local Chin language) is set in the stunning and little-visited Nat Ma Taung National Park, home to a variety of rare and beautiful flora and fauna and ethnic tribes known for their tattoo-faced womenfolk.

The ruggedly beautiful scenery is also full of colourful flora and fauna, and offers great opportunities for hiking – whether a simple half-day climb up Mount Victoria or a multi-day exploration of the surrounding mountains and villages with your local Chin guide.

Rih lake

Rih lake is situated at a distance of about two miles from Tiau which is the boundary river between Mizoram (India) and Myanmar, and is within the village area of Rihkhawdar in Myanmar. The village itself is an establishment of adventure that lures the visitor to explore the mysterious and supposedly demon-haunted lake. It is 14 miles from Champhai in Mizoram and 63 miles from Falam, a town of Myanmar.

Rih has a heart shape and it is very difficult for visitors to reach this place because of the terrain. For the people of Myanmar, this is one of the most beautiful places to enjoy the sweet and romantic vacances.

Kennedy Peak

Kennedy Peak is a 2,703-metre (8,868 ft) peak in the Tedim Township of the Chin State of Burma (Myanmar) that dominates the Tedim Road. It’s one of the world's ultra-prominent peaks, as it rises 4,951 feet (more than 1500 m) above all other peaks nearby. It the second highest mountain in Chin State, next to Mount Victoria.

It was the site of a battle during World War II in which Ram Sarup Singh, a subedar of the British Indian army, led his unit with great bravery in attacking and capturing a strong Japanese-held position, then persisting despite wounds in defending it against counterattacks, until killed. He was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross.

Falam Baptist Church

Falam Baptist Church is not very old – dating back only to 1983 – but this is possibly the largest church in Chin State and it dominates Falam. It's worth checking it out on a Sunday, when it's packed out and the sound of the congregation singing hymns can be heard throughout the centre of town.

Loknu Culture and Rhododendron Festival - January

Loknu Culture and Rhododendron Festival are celebrated annually to promote Chin tourism industry, to conserve the environment of Mount Khaw Nu M’cung (Mount Victoria), and to reveal the culture of Loknu land at Kanpetlet Township, Chin State in 2020. The festival will involve Loknu traditional dance entertainments, the unique exhibitions of Chin Culture, the conservation program of Mount Khaw Nu M’cung and Rhododendron and educated booths.

Chin National Day - February 20

Chin National Day is celebrated annually on February 20th both in different townships of Chin State and all over the world where Chin people reside. It is an auspicious day to promote and show the unity and solidarity of the Chin people. It is a tradition to celebrate Khuang Cawi and Chin wrestling on this day. Other events such as traditional exhibitions, local development exhibitions and traditional food display can be seen on this special day.

New Year Festival (Kup Ti Festival) - April 1

New Year festival is celebrated to be free from diseases and poverty with new mind and soul from everyone’s home. At midnight, water which is not touched and drunk by birds and other animals is fetched and put as New Year water. The water is sprayed the surrounding of the house in the early morning. In previous days, it was celebrated for 7 days from April 1-7 but it is celebrated only one day in these days. Rice bean, dried mython and rice are served for gathering meal and that is followed by dancing happily. The music of Bamboo flute with mouth was an essential for Kup Ti festival dancing.

Khuado Festival - Between October and the beginning of November

The most important sacrificial ceremony of “Khuado festival” is celebrated in Tedim township, the northern part of Chin State. It is a festival to celebrate successful harvesting, to banish evils for good harvests, good hunting, health and prosperity of the villagers, to have a tranquil life in the country, to strengthen the friendship and unity among the acquaintances, and to have family gathering every year, between October and the beginning of November, after the crops have been harvested.

Khuang Cawi Festival

The word “Khuang Cawi” derived from the Chin language. “Khuang” means “mound’ so the litter is built like a mound cabin structure in which the hostess would stand in majesty. The word “Cawi” means “holding aloft”. In fact, the word “Khuang Cawi” means “Holding aloft with a mound-structured litter”. Khuang Cawi is not such a wedding ceremony as it is a great honor to the beautiful wife or daughter in front of the guests, relatives and the public by any Chin nobleman. The Chins place an enormous degree of honor and esteem on Khuang Cawi festival so it is mainly celebrated on the Chin National Day.

Traditional Chin Wrestling

The husk of rice and millet were gathered on a flat ground to make a wrestling ring. One of the referees has to fire the gun in order to open the ring and to banish the evil gods from the ring. Women and dog are not allowed to pass the ring. When there is illness or disease in the designated area, the ring is opened by breaking eggs not by firing gun. There is a belief that there can be some injuries if women and dogs to enter the ring. Strong wrestlers with unique skills can be the victor by defeating more than 10 opponents. The victor of the traditional wrestling is honored not only in the wresting ring but also in everywhere. Chin people really appreciate such honor in their whole life.

Lung Yu Festival

Lung Yu festival is the Munn Chin tribe harvesting festival celebrated by the only person with the best fertility of crops. Relative from near and far are invited to join the festival. One to six mythons are used for the sacrifice. Those who come to the festival bring at least one pot of Chin traditional wine for the festival. Lung Yu festival was celebrated for 7 days in the previous years but only 3 days in these days. Additionally, taking memorial stones from the nearby rivers, sacrificing to gods, and honoring the host are significant parts of the festivals.

Etui

Dried and pounded corn or fresh corn is firstly boiled together with mython meat or mython bones. Before it is cooked, ricebean, potato, pumpkin or pumpkin leaf, Anhling (local herb), bean leaf or favourite leafs are put into the broth. It is a real match to eat chillies, basil leaf or Phaih Phai leaf, pasted fish together with Etui. Vegetarians can also try Etui only with vegetables but not with meat. The cooking and ingredients of the Etui differ according to the Chin tribes.

Chicken Salad & Mython Salad

Chicken salad is mainly served at tribal ceremonies and it is one of the main curries at home in Southern Chin State. Chicken meat or mython meat is carved and split into pieces. Ginger, Phaih Phai leaf (local herb) and chillies are pounded separately. The chopped onion, pounded ginger, Phaih phai leaf and chillies are mixed into the meat by adding some salt to make chicken or mython salad.

Chin Coffee

Chin coffee plantation takes place mostly in Tedim, Mindat and Kanpelet townships. Chin coffee is such a type of Arabica which can be grown only in the high slit soils between 4,000-9,000 feet above sea level. There is no specific side effect of Chin coffee as it is organic in term of colouring and fertilizing. Chin coffee is enriched with unique smell and wonderful taste so it becomes a major attraction for coffee lovers. You can consume it at the cafe below-

Meh Buh

Meh Buh is not only served at the festivals but also it is a daily meal of the Southern part of Chin State. Mython meat, mython blood and rice are deliciously cooked together. It is necessary to stir the broth till the soup is enough. When the water becomes less, pounded ginger, chillies, onion or garlic, and phaih phai leaf are added into the soup. Mython meat or beef or chicken can be favourably added, too.

Pyar Hin (Ash Curry)

Pyar Hin (Ash curry) is one of the most popular curries in the Southern part of Chin State. The cork of corn (or) some yam leaves (or) banana leaves (or) millet stem (or) basil buds are dried and burnt to get the ashes. Those ashes are filtered with water which is used to cook with chicken, pork, mython or other kinds of meat in order to get delicious curry.

Sabuti

Sabuti is the traditional food of Chin people. It is the food every Chin tribe eats heartily. The main ingredients to cook Sabuti are corn and meat (beef or pork). The word “Sa” means “meat” and the “buti” means “corn broth”. Sabuti really match with minced chilli by adding tomato and onion, roasted mython, cabbage, coriander, and bitter eggplant. On the other hand, vegetarians can eat corn broth with peas, pumpkin and potato.

Chin Traditional Wine

“Wine” is a well-known product of Chin traditional food. People proudly enjoy grape, wild peach, and rhododendron wine at festivals. As the fruits are cleanly and purely fermented, Chin traditional wine is suitable for health and good for souvenir as well. Nowadays, coffee wine from coffee seeds is becoming popular among the locals and visitors.

Sailawn Rawl ( Round Tray Rice )

Enjoying Sailawn rawl (round tray rice) represents the unity, sharing and love of Chin people. In the round tray rice, many people can eat minced rice, boiled chicken, chicken salad, boiled pork, mython, other curries and pounded chillies putting together in the tray. You can consume it at the restaurants below-

Mython Steak @ Grilled Mython

Mython is the meat got only in Chin State. As a traditional food, mython meat salad is made with ginger, chilies, Phaih Phai leaf (local herb) and other spices as additional ingredients. It is sometimes grilled as a local food as well. Currently, the mython steak takes the place of beef steak among the locals and visitors in Chin State. 

Hakha Donuts

Hakha donuts are the most well-known and tastiest local product of Hakha. The main ingredients of Chin donuts are flour, sugar and eggs. The recipe of Chin donuts was taught as a lifelong inheritance by the last American Baptist Missionary couple, Robert G and Elizabeth Johnsons. Hakha donut is freshly made near Hakha Baptist Church, Old Bazaar block, Hakha, every day. 

Sticky Rice (Sathluak)

Chin traditional sticky rice (Sathluak) was mostly served in traditional events such as Chin Traditional Day, seasonal events, weddings and festivities. The pork is boiled until tender and cooker the rice or the glutinous rice with the drained water of the pork. The cooking pot is stirred continuously to make it sticky. Sathluak is usually served with banana leave or the shell of banana tree. Nowadays it can rarely be seen only on Chin National Day and Festivities.

Pork Stew with figer millet

Pork Stew with figer millet is one of the most famous dish in Mindat. Figer millet is normally used for Khaung Ye (Millet Wine). For this cuisine, Figer millet is grinded to powder and cooked with pork. A very nutritious and tasty cuisine of Mindat.

Floral Breeze Hotel

The Floral Breeze Hotel (Mt. Victoria) features a restaurant, bar, a garden and terrace in Kanpetlet. This 3-star hotel offers a concierge service and luggage storage space. The accommodation offers a 24-hour front desk, room service and ticket service for guests. At the hotel, all rooms are equipped with a desk, a flat-screen TV and a private bathroom. At The Floral Breeze Hotel, each room is equipped with a seating area. 

Add: Myoma (2), Khuanu M'cung Street, Kanpetlet Township

Mountain View Hill Resort

The hotel is located on the way from Kanpetlet town to Mt.victoria . The hotel was constructed on the hill which is 5320 feet above sea level and also is the nearest place to Kanpetlet town. The resort offers quiet and tranquil surroundings and the most stunning views of the beautiful mountains as the sun rises over them. Switch off, and we mean this literally, take the opportunity to enjoy the beauty of Chin’s mountains, unwind and of course, take in the breathtaking views. It is very enjoyable to walk along the comfortable slope to traditional market. The panorama view will be astonished everyone with such a wide mountain range , Kanpetlet city, the Chin village and sea of clouds from time to time .

Add: Quarter 2, Kanpetlet town, Mindat District

Mountain Oasis Resort 

Located in the small village of Kanpetlet, Mountain Oasis Resort is the only hotel option for anyone planning to hike Mount Victoria.

Add: Quarter 2, Kanpetlet town, Mindat District, Southern, Chin State, Myanmar

Pine Wood Villa

The second oldest hotel in Southern Chin State (Kanpetlet), it is paradise for visitor from both locals and foreigners. The hotel is surrounded by a lot of pine trees, It also has amazing view for sunrise.

The hotel is 5 Kilometer (3 miles) away from Kanpetlet, on the way to Mt.Victoria and Mindat.The hotel is standing at 6000Feet (1828.8 meters) above sea level. The hotel has wider car parking space in front of Hotel, and also provided many services such as breakfast, laundry, good chef and waiters, large dining room and large garden give visitors unforgettable memory during their stay. Rooms are fitted with hairdryer and coffee facilities. Shower facilities included in all Room.

Add: Myoma (2), Khuanu M'cung Street, Kanpetlet Township

Sky Palace Hotel

Situated high up in the mountains, Sky Palace Villa (Nat Ma Taung @ Mount Victoria) is located in Kukhkyan. Offering panoramic mountain views, the accommodation is equipped with satellite TV and a balcony with seating. There is also a minibar and a private bathroom with a shower. Drinks can be enjoyed at the bar, while the on-site restaurant serves local dishes. Sky Palace Villa has a 24-hour reception, bicycle rental and laundry services. 

Add: Myoma (2), Khuanu M'cung Street, Kanpetlet Township

G-9 Hotel

Hotel G-9 is just 2 miles far from Kanpetlet; 45-minute walk from Hotel G-9 is ‘Koelong’ waterfall – a distance of 20-minute drive from Hotel G-9. Hotel G-9 stands on the way of ‘Mt.Natma’. Mt. Natma is 13 miles from Hotel G-9. The facilities such as heaters & air-conditioners, hair dryers, flat screen TVs, water boiling pots, etc., are equipped in rooms.

You can closely witness ‘Cloud Sea’ from the room. You can visit the old colonial guesthouse within 10-minute drive along the serpentine mountain road. The way from Bagan to Kanpetlet (Hotel G-9) may be a 3:50 hour drive _ 162 Km. The way from Yangon to Kanpetlet (Hotel G-9) is 739 Km _ a 11:23 hour drive.

Add: Hotel Zone, Kanpetlet-Mindate Road, Kanpetlet Town, Chin State, Myanmar

Shwe Taung Tann Guest House

One of the few places to stay in Kanpetlet itself, Shwe Taung comes with three options: tiny, dismal rooms in the front-facing orange building; nicer ones with wood floors and hot-water bathrooms in the green annex around back; and a few small wooden bungalows with balconies and mountain views.

Add: Hotel Zone, Kanpetlet-Mindate Road, Kanpetlet Town, Chin State

Win Unity Resort

Win Unity Hotel, Natmataung Chin State is located in Kanpetlet. The accommodation provides a 24-hour front desk and room service for guests. All units in the hotel are equipped with a flat-screen TV. At Win Unity Hotel, Natmataung Chin State every room comes with a private bathroom.Guests at the accommodation can enjoy a continental breakfast.

Add: Myoma (2), Khuanu M'cung Street, Kanpetlet Township

Mountain Oasis Resort (2)

Mt.Oasis Resort (2) is located on the right side of Mindat- Pakokku road just after the entrance gate of the town. It takes about 10 minutes to get downtown from the resort. Since the resort is relatively far from the downtown and all the buildings are set in the pinewood, the environment is private and pleasant. The resort have 20 rooms in total, with bungalows, six units building and two-storey building types. The resort provide the amenities such as renting a local tour guide, a hot shower, a large space for car parking, 24 hours electricity

Add: East Ward, Mindat, Southern Chin State

Hotel Mindat

Hotel Mindat is a local investment and licensed to operate in Mindat, Chin State, and Licensed  No. HA1125, started business since December 2015. The hotel offers 29 Standard Rooms and 2 Superior Rooms.  

Hotel Mindat inclusions 24 hours hot & cold shower, 24 hours electricity, WiFi network, Daily  Breakfast (Vegetarian on demand), spacious free car parking, Laundry service and Restaurant.  

Add: No.82, East Quarter, Mindat-Matupi Road, Mindat

Htut Khaung Gyi Hotel

Add: Mindat - Pakokku Rd, Mindat

Netvilla Motel

Add: Hakha Street, Sabaung Quarter, Matupi Township

Thantlang Hill Resort Hotel

Add: No(1) Quarter, Lunglei Street, Thantlang Township

To get the capital city, Hakha, you can either take a direct bus from Mandalay or Kalay township via Falam. Taking the bus from Kalay is highly recommended as it takes a scenic route. The entrance gateway to Chin Hills is Mindat, Kanpetlet Township which is easily accessible by road from Bagan. Kanpetlet is only 103 miles from Bagan.

We recommend you check the latest bus schedule and price via rome2rio.com

Contact us to get more information