Page 193 - The Rough Guide to Myanmar (Burma)

Yangon to MandalaY Central MyanMar 191
here you’ll reach the Nagaryon Pagoda, built in honour of the Japanese soldiers killed
in Meiktila during World War II. A gilded statue of Aung San stands outside.
The market
East of the Yangon–Mandalay road, north of the railway station • Most stalls open daily 8am–6pm
It’s worth having a wander through Meiktila’s sprawling and enjoyably ramshackle
market, where hundreds of hawkers sit beneath lopsided parasols and sell vegetables
and other produce, and shopkeepers measure rice, pulses, tea and spices from
cut-down oil drums.
arrIVal anD InFOrMatIOn MeIKtIla
By bus and motorbike taxi The bus station is just (7 daily; 3hr); Naypyitaw (7 daily; 3hr); Sittwe (daily; 26hr);
northeast of the clocktower at the northern end of town, Taunggyi (3–4 daily; 4hr); Yangon (6 daily; 9–10hr).
although services usually also drop off passengers along By train The railway station is more centrally located
the main road. On arrival, there are plenty of motorbike than the bus station, just southeast of the market,
taxis available to ferry you across town, although the place although it’s situated on a small branch line with limited
is small enough that you could just walk. Agents selling bus services. To reach Yangon, Mandalay or Lake Inle it’s much
tickets can be found all along the road running east from easier to go to nearby Thazi – where regular pick-ups run
the clocktower. from the bus station (45min), leaving when full – and
Destinations Bagan (daily; 3hr 30min); Lashio (5 daily; pick up a train there.
10–11hr, with some services continuing to the Chinese Services There are ATMs at the CB Bank, next to Rainbow
border at Muse); Magwe (2 daily; 4hr 30min); Mandalay Travels, at the AGD Bank opposite, and the Ayeyarwady Bank.
GettInG arOUnD 4
By motorbike taxi Meiktila is easily walkable, although drivers’ official jackets) around town. Count on K500–1000
there are plenty of motorbike taxis (identifiable by their per journey.
aCCOMMODatIOn
Honey Hotel Pan Chan St, near the lake T064 23588. quiet location just across the lake (and next to the one and
Medium-sized hotel in a peaceful spot overlooking the only court of Meiktila Tennis Club – rackets available), this
lake. Rooms (all large with a/c and – in theory if not always good-value hotel has large, and starkly furnished, rooms in
in practice – hot water) are a bit grubby but perfectly ok for the main building with lake views, lots of sunlight and
a night, if you don’t mind the rock-hard mattresses and decent bathrooms ($50). The cheaper rooms are smaller,
feral dogs in the street outside. $5 extra gets you a TV and smellier and lack lake views, but are otherwise clean and
minibar. $35 quiet. It also goes by the name of Floral Breeze Hotel or a
Wunzin Hotel Taw Koane Quarter T064 23848. In a combination of both names. $30
eatInG
There’s a convivial little cluster of teahouses and cafés along the street around the Gold Rain Tea Shop, while towards dusk
dozens of food stalls set up here, creating one of the region’s most appealing night markets. For breakfast mohinga,
there’s a good stall about five buildings west of the Pan Nu Yaung restaurant.

Champion Bakery Yangon–Mandalay Rd. Stock up notches upmarket. A small army of staff will greet you here,
here for a long road journey with fresh breads, cakes, and the menu includes a big list of authentic Thai dishes
sandwiches and biscuits. Sandwiches are around K500– plus a slightly shorter and less interesting Chinese
1000. Daily 7am–9pm. selection, backed up by a long drinks list. Mains K2500–
Gold Rain Tea Shop Off Yangon–Mandalay Rd. One of a 5000. Daily 10am–9pm.
cluster of lively teahouses along this side street, with tables Pan Nu Yaung Yangon–Mandalay Rd. Popular local
set out on the broad pavements and serving up tea, coffee restaurant dishing up cheap rice and noodle snacks,
and enormous Chinese-style buns stuffed with minced including mohinga (K500–1000), alongside Thai, Burmese
chicken or pork. Nothing you eat here is likely to cost more and Chinese mains, with most dishes going for K1500–
than K1500. Daily 6am–8pm. 3500. The sign is written In Burmese only, but confusingly
Lecker Corner Off Yangon–Mandalay Rd. This smart there’s a bright red sign out front saying “Dot” in English.
restaurant has taken Meiktila’s limited eating scene several Daily 8am–9pm.

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