Hpa An Myanmar – Top Picks for Attractions and Sights
Many travellers find that once they’ve ticked off a few of the main attractions there’s little to do in the town itself, but there’s also a lot to enjoy on the outskirts so it’s worth doing some research and ensuring that you enjoy both what Hpa An itself has to offer as well as the surrounding areas.
Attractions within the city
In the town itself there are a few main cultural highlights to enjoy. The first one that’s popular with tourists looking to get a better understanding of the area is the Kayin Cultural Museum which only takes an hour or so to explore, costs less than a dollar and focuses on the history and lifestyles in the Karen state region of Myanmar. Whilst it probably won’t be the best museum you visit in the country, it’s a nice starting point to learning more of the area’s history.
The riverside area is also a popular hangout for people looking to admire the picturesque scenery and is a good spot to watch a sunset.
When it comes to sunsets, many people say you haven’t visited Hpa An unless you’ve managed to catch a sunset at Shweyinhmyaw pagoda. This is the most well known pagoda in the town itself and a lovely spot to catch a sunset against some stunning landscapes.
There’s also a small lake in the town – Kan Thar Yar Lake – which is a great place to have an afternoon wander round and soak up some of the local scenery. Once you’ve ticked these off your list you’ve probably seen most of what Hpa An has to offer, although luckily there is still a lot to enjoy just outside of the town.
Attraction outside the city
One of the most popular draws outside of the town of Hpa An are the many caves that it’s possible to explore. The area is known for its towering limestone cliffs which, similarly to various areas of Laos and Vietnam, host complex and beautiful networks of caves that are popular with tourists.
Many start at Saddar cave, which is decorated with various Buddhist monuments, and is around a 15 minute walk through to the end of the cave. It’s easily accessible by motorbike but at around 30km out of Hpa An, is too far for most people to cycle comfortably.
Other caves that you can put on your must-visit list include Kawt Ka Taung, which also has a small swimming area and hill that can be climbed nearby, and the most famous Bat Cave. If you visit at sunset, thousands of bats take to the sky and emerge from the mouth of the cave which can be quite a shocking sight if you’ve never seen anything similar!
The caves are in beautifully scenic locations and it’s well worth either taking a tour or travelling independently to explore some of these.
Another local attraction that’s particularly popular with hikers is Mount Zwegabin, which can be climbed using the many steps to the summit. It’s estimated to take up to four hours to climb up and down and is a particularly steep journey, especially in the heat of the dry season. Take care to take plenty of water and enjoy the monastery and pagoda at the top, as well as some absolutely beautiful views. This place really shows the natural beauty of the Karen area and why it’s so worth visiting on a trip to Myanmar.
Finally, another popular pagoda outside of town is the rather unique Kyauk Kalap which is easy to access by tuk-tuk or motorbike. It’s a pagoda set on the top of a stunning rock formation on a man made lake and is definitely one of the most instagrammable locations you’ll find in the local area.