A popular hill station, about 2 hours from Mandalay, is well-known for its colonial style houses with large compound and pine tree, unique horse carriages in town. The town dates to the early 20th century with an extraordinary combination of architecture and offers a glimpse of the past. Being a hill station, it is delightfully cool and pleasant the whole year round.

It is also known as “Pan Myo Daw”, means “The City of Flowers” because of its colorful and different species of flowers. A home to a large variety of trees and flowers not only from Myanmar but also from abroad, the national Kandawgyi Botanical Garden is the main evidence of “The City of Flowers”. The city is often referred to as Maymyo after the British commander Colonel May, who was stationed here in 1886.

Thanks to its history as a British retreat, the town is home to a mix of Burmese, Indian, Gurkas and British descendants and its architecture reflects this diversity. Among the most famous colonial buildings are Candacraig, an impressive red brick building built in 1904 by the British Bombay Timber Company, and the Governor’s House.

The main attraction in Pyin Oo Lwin is the Kandawgyi Gardens, which was established in 1915 by a British forester and spans more than 177 hectres. Allow a few hours here to walk around and appreciate the gardens, with its 500 plus species of trees, 70 types of bamboo and more than 300 orchid varieties. There is also a splendid aviary and an extensive display of petrified wood.

On the outskirts of town are the Anisakan and Pwe Kauk Falls. These two waterfalls are popular picnic spots for local families and a nice place to get some fresh air. As well, there are several small Shan villages surrounding Pyin Oo Lwin where you can see the traditional ways of life of this hill tribe group.

Pyin Oo Lwin, a good place for shopping of regional souvenirs such as knitted sweaters, wine, strawberry jams, is also famous for its plentiful fresh fruits. It is a popular stopping point on the way to the north Burma Road where Hsipaw and Kyauk Me towns are located. However it also makes for a pleasant overnight trip from Mandalay.