Page 190 - The Rough Guide to Myanmar (Burma)

188 Central MyanMar Yangon to MandalaY
shades, Euro pop blasts out of loud speakers and the fountains “dance” to the thudding
beats while an appreciative audience of locals ooh and aah.
Gems Museum
• Yaza Thingaha Rd, 400m south of Thabyegone Roundabout • Tues–Sun 9am–4pm • $5
Next to the distinctive, flying-saucer-shaped Maniradanar Jade Hall exhibition centre,
the modest, one-room Gems Museum serves up a decent overview of Myanmar’s gem
production. On show are assorted rubies, sapphire, lots of jade and the country’s largest
pearl, although few visitors find it worth the inflated admission price.

Defence Services Museum
• Zeyathiri Township • Mon–Thurs, Sat & Sun 10am–4pm • $20
Even compared to the size of Naypyitaw, the Defence Services Museum is incredibly
grand in scale, based some 10km northeast of the city centre. Spread across its simply
enormous six hundred acres are several aircraft hangars stuffed with military hardware
and history, as well as a lake showcasing multiple examples of Myanmar’s navy ships.
Almost all of the displays push the military’s propaganda, so it’s an interesting place to
visit – if only to get an idea of how the country’s generals view the world.
Zoological Gardens and Safari Park
• Zeyar Thiri, a 45min drive northeast of the centre • Zoological Gardens Tues–Sun
8.30am–8pm • $10 • Safari Park Tues–Sun 8.30am–4.30pm • $20 • A taxi to the zoo will cost around $25–30 return
4 Naypyitaw’s Zoological Gardens and Safari Park claim to be the largest in Southeast
Asia, and are home to over six hundred animals, including white tigers, leopards,
elephants, kangaroos and, most famously, a group of penguins living in a specially built
air-conditioned cage. Unfortunately, the zoo has deteriorated since it opened and the
animals are no longer well cared for, so it is worth avoiding.
arrIVal anD DePartUre nayPyItaW
By plane Naypyitaw’s shiny new airport is 16km southeast Destinations Kalaw (daily; 5hr); Lashio (daily; 13hr);
of the centre. A taxi from here into town (there are no Mandalay (7 daily; 4hr); Mawlamyine (2 daily; 11–12hr);
buses) will cost around K10,000. Meiktila (7 daily; 3hr); Pyin Oo Lwin (2 daily; 8hr); Taungoo
Destinations Bangkok (6 weekly; 2hr); Heho (daily; (hourly; 2hr 30min); Yangon (10 daily; 6hr).
40min); Mandalay (3 daily; 50min); Yangon (5 daily; 1hr). By train The huge railway station is in a hugely
By bus The main Myoma Bus Station is on Yan Myo Thant inconvenient location 14km north of Uppatasanti Pagoda,
Sin Rd, around 6km northwest of the hotel zone. a K17,000 taxi journey from town.
Approaching from the south, you may be able to hop Destinations Bago (5 daily; 7–8hr); Mandalay (2 daily;
off on Yaza Thingaha Rd, where most of the city’s hotels 6–7hr); Taungoo (3 daily; 2hr 30min); Thazi (3 daily; 3hr);
are located. Yangon (3 daily; 9–10hr).
GettInG arOUnD
By motorbike taxi Naypyitaw is way too big to even K4000 for the trip from Myoma Market to the Yaza Thingaha
think about walking around. Motorbike taxis hang out hotels, or around K10,000 for a half-day tour of the city.
around many of the hotels, Capital Hypermarket Centre, By taxi There are usually taxis for hire outside the Capital
Junction Centre and Myoma Market – count on around Hypermarket Centre, or you can book one through your hotel.
aCCOMMODatIOn
All accommodation is located in what is known as the Hotel Zone, which lines Yaza Thingaha Road, and none of it is
small or subtle. Most of the hotels still seem as if they’re fresh out of their wrappings, although the lack of visitors can make
them feel decidedly moribund. There are no budget places to stay, although the massive glut of accommodation at least
means that most places are excellent value.

The Hotel Amara 11 Yaza Thingaha Rd T067 422201, even the cheapest rooms have polished wooden floors and
Wthehotelamara.com. A very good-value option, where elegant bedspreads. Pricier rooms are stretched out along a

178-197_Myanmar_B2_Ch4.indd 188 30/06/17 2:20 pm