Pyin Oo Lwin Travel

Best time to visit

The dry season is from November to February. It enjoys pleasant weather with little rainfall and cool temperatures.

Therefore, the dry season has become the peak tourist season in Pyin Oo Lwin and is a wonderful time to visit.

The hot season is usually from March to April when the weather is dominated by searing heat and there is less rainfall.

The rainy season is from May to October. The southwest monsoon erupts in May, bringing rain showers to the area. Heavy rainfall may have an impact on tourism, such as making roads difficult to travel on, and spoiling some views. So it’s recommended for you to arrange some indoor activities.

However,as it is the low season, costs will be cheaper than in the peak season.

Check the below table for the general idea of Pyin Oo Lwin weather throughout the year.

Pyin Oo Lwin’s current weather and 7-day forecast

PYIN OO LWIN WEATHER

Pyin Oo Lwin makes a fantastic stop on any trip to Myanmar, not just as an escape from the heat but as a fascinating contrast to the culture of the lowlands. Well-connected to Mandalay by road and rail, it’s easily added to most itineraries.

But how should you make the most of your time once you get there? Here are a few of our highlights:

1. Admire the colonial architecture

Wooden summer cottages and brick-and-timber houses characterise the architecture in Pyin Oo Lwin, which is quite unlike the grand colonial edifices found in Yangon or Mandalay. It’s almost like stepping into 19th century England!

2. Take a horse-and-cart ride

Wander around Pyin Oo Lwin town centre for a little while and you’ll notice a rather bizarre sight: horses hitched up to old-fashioned carriages painted in vivid pinks, greens, purples and reds. Adding to the bizarre time-travel sense of the town, this is an experience not to be missed.

3. Take a stroll through the botanical gardens

Pyin Oo Lwin’s botanical gardens – the National Kandawgyi Gardens – were established by the British Forest Officer Alex Roger in 1915. Modelled after London’s famous Kew Gardens, the garden contains 514 species of indigenous tree and 74 foreign species, as well as 300 types of orchid and 25 different roses.

4. Hike to minority villages

Though the town itself is a very pleasant place to while away a few days, Pyin Oo Lwin also makes an excellent base for hikes into the surrounding mountains. Burma is home to over 135 different ethnic minorities, and in the hills around Pyin Oo Lwin you’ll come across tribal villages hidden in the forests where life goes on as it has done for centuries.

5. Take the train over the Goteik Viaduct

Another legacy of the British, the old railway passes through Pyin Oo Lwin on its way from Mandalay to Lashio in the heart of northern Shan State. Though you might not want to go quite this far, the section of track that connects Pyin Oo Lwin with Hsipaw is one of the most spectacular train journeys in the world, crossing over the Goteik Viaduct: a railway trestle built in 1900 that towers more than 100 metres over the valley below.

6. Head out to Anisakan Waterfall

In the countryside just outside of Pyin Oo Lwin, the 120-metre-tall Anisakan Waterfall makes a superb day trip from town. The journey by road from Pyin Oo Lwin to the waterfall car park takes around 20-30 minutes, then it’s a further 40-minute walk down steep jungle paths to the waterfall itself. Why not rent a bicycle in town and head out under your own steam?

Budget hotels

Grace Hotel II Pyin Oo Lwin 

Add: No.46/48, Mandalay-Lashio Road, Quarter-3, Near Clock Tower, 11111 Pyin Oo Lwin, Myanmar

Set within 5 km of National Kandawgyi Gardens and 11 km of The View Restaurant and Bar, Grace Hotel II Pyin Oo Lwin provides rooms in Pyin Oo Lwin. Featuring ticket service, this property also provides guests with a sun terrace. The accommodation offers room service, a shared lounge and organising tours for guests.

The units in the hotel are fitted with a kettle. The shared bathroom is equipped with free toiletries. At Grace Hotel II Pyin Oo Lwin every room has a desk and a private bathroom.

Guests at the accommodation can enjoy a continental breakfast.

Thiha Bala Hotel 

Add: No.13, in front of YMBA Block 4, Quarter 7, Pyin Oo Lwin Township, 11101 Pyin Oo Lwin, Myanmar

Featuring free WiFi throughout the property, Thiha Bala Hotel offers accommodation in Pyin Oo Lwin, 400 m from Purcell Tower. Free private parking is available on site.

Each room at this hotel is air conditioned and has a flat-screen TV with satellite channels. You will find a kettle in the room. Rooms are fitted with a private bathroom. For your comfort, you will find slippers, free toiletries and a hairdryer.

There is a 24-hour front desk at the property.

The hotel also offers free bicycle rental. 

Hotel Sakura Pyinoolwin 

Add: No.(37/A), 5th Street, YaKaKa(4) Mandalay-Lashio Road, Pyinoolwin, 08051 Pyin Oo Lwin, Myanmar

Boasting a terrace, Hotel Sakura Pyinoolwin is situated in Pyin Oo Lwin in the Mandalay Region region, 400 m from Purcell Tower and 1.1 km from Pwe Kauk Falls. Among the facilities at this property are a 24-hour front desk and room service, along with free WiFi throughout the property. The hotel has family rooms.

All rooms are fitted with air conditioning, a flat-screen TV with satellite channels, a fridge, a kettle, a shower, a hairdryer and a desk. With a private bathroom, rooms at the hotel also feature a city view. At Hotel Sakura Pyinoolwin, the rooms include a seating area.

A buffet breakfast is available each morning at the accommodation.

Hotel Sakura Pyinoolwin offers a hot tub.

Mid-range hotels

Hotel Win 

Add: Corner of Aung Zay Ya Road & Clerk Street, No-3 Ward, Front of Pepole Park, Pyin Oo Lwin., Pyin Oo Lwin, Myanmar

Situated in Pyin Oo Lwin and with Purcell Tower reachable within 300 metres, Hotel Win provides concierge services, non-smoking rooms, free bikes, free WiFi and a shared lounge. This 3-star hotel offers valet parking and a tour desk. The accommodation features a 24-hour front desk, room service and currency exchange for guests.

All rooms are fitted with air conditioning, a flat-screen TV with cable channels, a fridge, a kettle, a bidet, a hairdryer and a desk. The rooms have a private bathroom with a shower and free toiletries. At the hotel, each room is equipped with a seating area.

Guests at Hotel Win can enjoy a buffet or an Asian breakfast.

Hotel Maymyo 

Add: No.12, Ya Da Na Street, Ya Ka Ka 3, Block No 4,, 11101 Pyin Oo Lwin, Myanmar 

Hotel Maymyo is situated in Pyin Oo Lwin, within 5 km of National Kandawgyi Gardens and 11 km of Dat Taw Gyaint Waterfall. 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.

The rooms are fitted with air conditioning, a flat-screen TV with satellite channels, a kettle, a shower, a hairdryer and a desk. At the hotel rooms include a wardrobe and a private bathroom.

Guests at Hotel Maymyo can enjoy a continental or an Asian breakfast.

Hotel Shwe Nann Htike 

Add: No.71-Za, Forest Street Quarter 6, Near Chinese Temple,, 11101 Pyin Oo Lwin, Myanmar

Located in Pyin Oo Lwin, 2.9 km from Purcell Tower, Hotel Shwe Nann Htike provides accommodation with a restaurant, free private parking, free bikes and a bar. Among the facilities at this property are a shared lounge and a concierge service, along with free WiFi throughout the property. The accommodation features a 24-hour front desk, room service and currency exchange for guests.

A buffet breakfast is available daily at the hotel.

Hotel Shwe Nann Htike offers a terrace.

Hotel Akimomi 

Add: No.126, Khay Mar Street, Block No.6, Pyin Oo Lwin, 11101 Pyin Oo Lwin, Myanmar 

Set in Pyin Oo Lwin, 2.6 km from National Kandawgyi Gardens, Hotel Akimomi offers accommodation with a restaurant, free private parking, a bar and a garden. Among the facilities at this property are a kids' club and a concierge service, along with free WiFi throughout the property. The accommodation provides a 24-hour front desk, room service and currency exchange for guests.

The units at the hotel come with a seating area, a flat-screen TV with satellite channels and a private bathroom with a hairdryer and a shower. All units at HOTEL AKIMOMI feature air conditioning and a desk.

Guests at the accommodation can enjoy a continental or a buffet breakfast.

Hotel Akimomi offers a children's playground. The area is popular for cycling, and bike hire and car hire are available at the hotel.

Deluxe hotels

Aureum Palace Hotel & Resort (Pyin Oo Lwin)

Add: Ward 5, Governor's Hill, Mandalay-Lashio Highway Road,, 11111 Pyin Oo Lwin, Myanmar

Set in Pyin Oo Lwin, 1.1 km from Purcell Tower, Aureum Palace Hotel & Resort (Pyin Oo Lwin) offers accommodation with a restaurant, free private parking, a bar and a garden. This 3-star hotel offers a 24-hour front desk and room service.

The air-conditioned rooms provide a garden view and come with a desk and free WiFi.

All guest rooms at the hotel come with a seating area and a flat-screen TV with satellite channels.

Continental and buffet breakfast options are available every morning at Au.

Hotel Pyin Oo Lwin 

Add: No. 9, Nandar Street, 11221 Pyin Oo Lwin, Myanmar

Offering an outdoor pool and a restaurant, Hotel Pyin Oo Lwin is located in Maymyo. It features well-decorated accommodation with modern facilities. Free Wi-Fi access is available.

Hotel Pyin Oo Lwin is a 10-minute walk from National Botanical Garden. It is a 15-minute ride from Pyin Oo Lwin City Centre and a 1.5-hour ride from Mandalay Airport.

Boasting a private balcony, air-conditioned rooms and suites here are provided with a seating area, a safety box and a flat-screen TV. Featuring a shower, private bathrooms also come with a bath and a hairdryer.

At this hotel guests will find a 24-hour front desk, a garden and a bar. The property offers free parking.

Pyin U Lwin has quite a few Indian sweet shops with the usual complement of Indian sweets (barfi, laddoo, gulab jamun, etc.). If you have a sweet tooth, this is the place to indulge it. There are several shops close to the Mandalay pick-up stand (on Lashio Road by the Clock Tower), and at least one near the Central Market.

Aung Padamya Restaurant

A bit of a distance from the clock tower (behind the Shan Market) and in a residential neighborhood (in what looks like a converted garage) this is possibly the best Indian restaurant in all of Myanmar. However they have no menu and as a result, you pay high tourist prices. They only have one curry which has coriander in it. So if that is not your thing avoid.

Krishna Restaurant

An unmarked South Indian restaurant in a lane behind Grace Hotel II (House 50, Block 5, Gorakha Road - parallel to the Mandalay-Lashio Road), Krishna serves Indian curries with lentils, chapatis, and rice. Well priced and good home cooked food. Try their unsweetened lassis! Another alternative for those into South Indian food might be the "South Indian Food Centre" (walk the main road east of clock tower and take the first lane to the right, just follow the signs). As of may 2014, they do serve chapatis.

The Club Terrace

A slightly more expensive, nicer restaurant near the golf course (25 Club Road, Quarter No. 5. Tel: 085 22612) with a English translations on the menu which serves good Malay and Thai food.

The Night Market 

Every day around 5PM there is a night market with a lot of street food, behind the clock tower, which replaces the day market. You can find a lot of fried stuff also suitable for vegetarians, as well as traditional tea, amazing Myanmar salads as well as Indian food.

Fudo Bakery

Very nice cake and ice cream shop. If you have a craving for something sweet this is the place to be. Try the donuts! Only downside is that they use a lot of plastic, especially for take-away. They do good coffee too.

If you are vegetarian or simply feel like having a tasty salad, try one of the Myanmar traditional salads (Tomato salad, ginger, cabbage, lemon, pickled tea leaf, etc. ). They are very tasty and can be found in every city. You can find them in Pyin Oo Lwin at the night market, or during the day in several local eateries. One of these is on the main road, on the turn to the Hindu temple on the right, next to a big tree. If you are in doubt, just ask for it!

Vegetarian Restaurant at Chinese Temple, Chinese temple close to Candacraig. You can choose buffet (rice, soup, salads and veggies: 1500ks) or order from menu. Make sure you try their samosas for 50ks, they are delicious.  

Get in

By train

The train station is North of the city and there are services to and from Mandalay, Hsipaw, and Lashio. Trains from Mandalay (ordinary class 550K, upper class 1200K) leave at 4:00 am and arriving at 7:52 am. Numerous hairpin bends and a steep ascent make this an interesting, if rather long, ride. You can get out and walk at various points while the train switches direction or makes its slow way up a steep ascent. There are two trains daily to Hsipaw and Lashio (5:30am, 8:34am) the journey is about 6 hours and 10 hours respectively and goes over the famous Gokteik Viaduct. Trains from Hsipaw and Lashio arrive at 3:40pm and 6:40pm. The Pyin U Lwin train station is a bit far from the town centre and most accommodation but horse-carriages and taxis are there to meet the trains.

By bus

There are scheduled night bus services to Pyin U Lwin from Yangon and return. Buses to and from Hsipaw will drop you off but you have to pay the fare for the entire trip. The buses tend to be full so it is unlikely that you'll get a seat on them when leaving Pyin U Lwin. There is also a night bus leaving Nyuang Shwe (Inle Lake) at 7 pm. It stops at the main bus station in Mandalay, but you stay on and it continues to Pyin U Lwin. Cost is 18,000 kyat. Also there are some direct buses from Monywa Bus Station to Pyin U Lwin.

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

By pick-up

There are two pick-up stations in Pyin U Lwin. Frequent pick-ups to/from Mandalay on the corner 27th/82nd arrive/depart from opposite the clock tower and train station area (more cars available). You can try going on the seats beside the driver, they are popular though and might cost you 500-1000ks more. Hsipaw and Lashio bound pick-ups leave early in the morning from the Shan Market west of the town.

By taxi

Shared taxis to/from Mandalay and to/from Hsipaw will drop or collect you at your hotel. The Mandalay bound shared taxi stand is across the clock tower while the Hsipaw/Lashio shared taxi stand is across from the Shan Market if you want to arrange the trip yourself. It is best to arrange a shared taxi the previous evening.

Private taxis between Pyin U Lwin and Mandalay should be about 30,000 kyat (downtown Mandalay) or 35,000 kyat (Mandalay airport). Negotiate.

There are also private taxis from Pyin U Lwin to downtown Mandalay for 15,000ks.

By plane

A military airstrip is nearby in Anisikan.

Get around

It is easy to get around on foot or on bicycles (1,200-2,000 kyat per day from your hotel) or even on foot in the city centre. Or hire a gharry, old garishly painted horse-drawn Victorian carriages that seem to live on in Pyin U Lwin. For far-flung places, frequent pick-ups ply the Mandalay road, motorcycle taxis (you ride on the pillion) are available in the market, as are taxis. You can also rent a motorcycle to get around from a shop near the mosque. Ask at your hotel.

Contact us to get more information