Kachin State Travel

Best time to visit

Best time to visit Kachin State is during the dry season, between October and May. 
The wet season runs from June to September, many roads are very muddy or even not passable during this time.

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

Kachin State's current weather and 7-day forecast

KACHIN WEATHER

Kachin State offers some of the most beautiful mountains and valleys around. Here are our must-see sights.

1. Sri Saraswati Temple

Sri Saraswati temple stunningly gold painted temple not far from the river, devotees offered to show you inside the temple, beautiful inside, get great photos early morning or after dark the temple is well lit up.

2. Irrawaddy Confluence

This place is considered the source of the Irrawaddy River on which the vast majority of Burma/Myanmar depends. The confluence is from two tributaries, the Mali Kha and the N Mai Kha which flow out of an outlying subrange of the Greater Himalayan mountain system which terminates in northern Kachin State. This confluence is very easy to reach and quite popular with local tourists. Although you will have to hire a car, or rent a motorbike, it is not accessible by public transport. By car it will take around an hour to reach from Myitkyina.

3. Roman Catholic Diocese of Myitkyina

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Myitkyina is a diocese of the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic Church in Burma. Erected in 1939 as the Apostolic Prefecture of Bhamo, the prefecture was created from territory in the Apostolic Vicariate of Northern Burma. In 1961, the Prefecture was elevated to a full diocese, suffragan to the Archdiocese of Mandalay. The current bishop is Francis Daw Tang, appointed in 2004. Currently the Diocese manages numerous churches, schools and clinics throughout Kachin State.

4. Indawgyi Lake

Indawgyi Lake, a secluded place for nature lovers in remote Kachin State. The largest lake in Myanmar, Indawgyi remains pristine and undeveloped and has been designated as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve; it’s still possible to find places where you won’t hear the drone of a motor – or even see a single boat.

Indawgyi Lake is one of Southeast Asia's largest freshwater lakes located in the town of Mohnyin, Kachin State, Myanmar. The lake is about 13 km from east to west. There are about 20 villages around the lake. Ethnic groups mainly living in the area around the lake are Shan and Kachin, mainly those working in agriculture.

5. Myoma Market

Put on the most comfortable pair of kicks you’ve got because you’re heading to Myoma Market. With around 250 retail stores offering gadgets, beauty products, and stationery, and 400 stalls selling fresh local produce, this market is always teeming with life. What’s more, it’s only a 17-minute drive away from PARKROYAL Nay Pyi Taw.

6. Kawn Moo Lon Golden Sambur King Pagoda

Kawn Moo Lon Golden Sambur King Pagoda is situated in Kham Ti Lung area 12 miles from Machambaw, ten miles east of Putao, on east bank of Malikha River in Kachin State, northern most of Myanmar. It was one of 84000 pagodas built by Thiri Dhamma Thawka the great king, enshrining three relics under the tutelage of Thatitha Arahantha, at the place of demise of the king of sambur that was the Embryo-Buddha left on Hinthagon (Ngun Pik) Hill many existences ago. In the east entrance are an image of Kakusana Buddha, Matali nat and Manuthiha, in the north an image of Gonaguna Buddha, king of nats, and king of wuns, in the west an image of Kassapha Buddha, Wathondaray guardian of the earth, and figure of a lion, in the south an image of Gautama Buddha, a figure of an ogre and a king of tigers. In the south-east are a satellite pagoda and an image of Arimetreya.

7. Manao Festival

Manao Festival has been held for more than three decades. Manao festivals is the celebration of the New Year, victory in battles, reunion of the tribes, etc. Everybody joins the spiritual dance lined up behind one another. The traditional Manao poles are decorated in colorful Kachin motifs and are centered in the middle of the festival ground. All who came to the festival wear their best traditional costume and the main feature of the festival is dancing around the erected Manao poles, quite similar to the totem poles of North American Indians. Manao festival is held in Myitkyina and Putao in Kachin State.

8. Khakaborazi Mountain

Khakaborazi Mountain in Kachin State in Myanmar is the highest and most beautiful mountain in the northern Myanmar state of Kachin. The region where tributaries of Ayeyarwaddy River originate is picturesque. It’s a unique place where mountaineers can enjoy their climbing.

Entrance fee: Free
Operation hours: 24 hours
Time needed: Approximately 3 hour

There are several options to stay overnight in the Kachin State surrounds. Here are some of our suggestions to make it easier for you to choose your accommodation:

Budget hotel

Hotel Hukaung

Located in Myitkyinā, Hotel Hukaung provides a bar, shared lounge and terrace. Among the facilities of this property are a restaurant, a 24-hour front desk and room service, along with free WiFi. Free private parking is available and the hotel also features car hire for guests who want to explore the surrounding area.

Guest rooms are equipped with air conditioning, a flat-screen TV with satellite channels, a fridge, a kettle, a hot tub, a hairdryer and a wardrobe. The rooms include a shared bathroom with a bidet and free toiletries.

Wun Tawp Garden Hotel 

Wun Tawp Garden Hotel features free bikes, outdoor swimming pool, a shared lounge and garden in Myitkyinā. The accommodation provides a 24-hour front desk, a shuttle service, room service and free WiFi.

At the hotel every room is equipped with a private bathroom.

The nearest airport is Myitkyina Airport, 7 km from the accommodation.

Mid-range hotel

Hotel Madira @ Myitkyina

Hotel Madira @ Myitkyina has a restaurant, fitness centre, a bar and shared lounge in Myitkyinā. Featuring a garden, the 3-star hotel has air-conditioned rooms with free WiFi, each with a private bathroom. The accommodation features a 24-hour front desk, room service and currency exchange for guests.

All rooms at the hotel are fitted with a seating area and a flat-screen TV. The units have a wardrobe.

The accommodation offers a children's playground.

The nearest airport is Myitkyina Airport, 2.6 km from Hotel Madira @ Myitkyina.

Myit Sone Hotel

Myit Sone Hotel offers air-conditioned accommodation in Myitkyinā. Among the facilities of this property are a restaurant, a 24-hour front desk and room service, along with free WiFi throughout the property. Free private parking is available and the hotel also features car hire for guests who want to explore the surrounding area.

All rooms at the hotel are fitted with a seating area. At Myit Sone Hotel the rooms include a desk, a flat-screen TV and a private bathroom.

The nearest airport is Myitkyina, 5 km from Myit Sone Hotel.

Deluxe hotel

Malikha Lodge

Boasting a restaurant, Malikha Lodge is set in Putao and also provides a bar and a garden. A hot tub and a bicycle rental service are available for guests. The accommodation offers a 24-hour front desk, room service and organising tours for guests.

The nearest airport is Putao, 10 km from Malikha Lodge.

Hotel Myitkyina

Hotel Myitkyina in Myitkyinā features a bar and a shared lounge. Among the facilities of this property are a restaurant, a 24-hour front desk and room service, along with free WiFi throughout the property. Free private parking is available and the hotel also offers car hire for guests who want to explore the surrounding area.

The units come with air conditioning, a flat-screen TV with satellite channels, a kettle, a shower, a hairdryer and a desk.

At the hotel all rooms are equipped with a wardrobe and a private bathroom.

The nearest airport is Myitkyina, 6 km from the accommodation.

Kachin State is the northernmost state of Myanmar and bordered by China and India. Kachins love their culture and tradition. They maintain their culture in detail from language to clothing, food, etc. Kachin foods are non-oily and cooked well with vegetables. All forest vegetation is cooked together with wild animals like snake, monkey, crow, hart and deer. As an unusual food, eat tiger meat for their health and dry the meat and sell them. Also some interesting cultures related with foods can be seen.

They have some rules and regulations based on foods. Based on the ancient Kachin beliefs, pregnant women can’t eat honey which will cause abortion for them. Also eating pumpkins will cause liver disease and before drinking water or whisky, throw a little amount of drink to give god and children eating eggs will stop developing their feet. Moreover, men eating tiger hearts will strengthen them and believe that should eat during wars. At the other side, believe eating crow will grow your fear.

Kachin steamed fish

Kachin steamed fish is really famous food not only in Kachin but also in most cities. Variety of Kachin spices, rice powder, tomatoes and fish are wrapped in banana leaf and steamed that’s why really healthy and delicious food.

Sweet rice wine

Sweet and cold drink is very famous drink in Kachin state and made by boiling together black sticky rice, milk and sugar. Also very famous dessert.

Kachin Herbal Eggs

Kachin medical egg is one of the popular foods in Kachin Traditional food. It is boiled together with special herbs and fruits and good for health.

Kachin pounded beef salad with herbs

Kachin beef salad is very popular food of Kachin. It is made with pound beef,  garlic, ginger, shan coriander, soybean, phat phel leaf, green chili and basil are beat up together. If finished all, add lime juice and can be eat together with the rice.

Kachin style Chicken curry

The most suitable for rainy season food is Kachin style Chicken curry and most popular food in Kachin. Chicken is cooked together with pickled bamboo shoot, phat phel leaf, basil and tasty with spicy sour flavor.
 

Kachin State can be reached by road, rail or air. The most convenient way is to fly from Yangon or Mandalay. You can refer to the information below:

Mandalay to Kachin State

By flight 

The best way to get from Mandalay to Kachin State is to fly which takes 50 minutes and costs $110 - $230. 

By bus

There is a direct bus departing from Mandalay and arriving at Myitkyina. Services depart once daily, and operate every day. The journey takes approximately 16h.

Mandalay to Kachin State bus services, operated by Myat Mandalar Tun Express, depart from Mandalay station.

By train

There is a direct train departing from Mandalay Central Station station and arriving at Myitkyina. Services depart five times a day, and operate every day. The journey takes approximately 22h 30m.

Mandalay to Kachin State train services, operated by Myanmar Railways, depart from Mandalay Central Station.

Yangon to Kachin State

By flight 

The best way to get from Yangon to Kachin State is to fly which takes 2h 20m from Yangon Airport to Myitkyina Airport and costs $150 - $400.

By bus

Travel by bus from Yangon to Kachin State takes 24h 14m and costs $49 - $53.

By train

There is no direct train from Yangon station to Kachin State. However, there are services departing from Yangon Central Station and arriving at Myitkyina via Mandalay Central Station. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 38h 30m.

Yangon to Kachin State train services, operated by Myanmar Railways, depart from Yangon Central Station, arrive at Myitkyina station.

Contact us for the latest flight schedule and price. Or you can check via some online platform such as SkyScanner.com or Kayak.com

Here you can find some tips to book the cheapest flight

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