Page 249 - The Rough Guide to Myanmar (Burma)

PINDAYA INLE LAKE AND THE EAST 247

GETTING TO SHWE OO MIN CAVE
The easiest way to reach the cave is by taxi or motorbike. These can drop you at the bottom
of the lift up to the cave, taking virtually all the effort out of a visit. If you want to walk, there’s
an extensive – and surprisingly confusing – network of covered staircases leading up to the
cave from various directions (you might find it helpful to take a picture of the mountainside
before you head on up, which you can then use as a reference to aid navigation once you’re
there and when coming back down). The shortest but steepest ascent is via the staircases
directly below the cave – a breathless ascent up around five hundred steps. It’s much nicer to 6
walk up via the Hsin Khaung Taung Kyaung monastery (see below). The climb to Shwe
Oo Min is much gentler following this route, and the path itself is peaceful and with lovely
views – far nicer than yomping along the busy main road to the cave. However you get there,
it’s best to visit the cave either early or late in the day, when the worst of the tour groups
have gone – and ideally when they open at 6am, when you’re pretty much guaranteed to
have them almost entirely to yourself.

Hsin Khaung Taung Kyaung
• Daily 24hr • Free • Accessible on a variety of paths from Shwe Oo Min Pagoda St, about a 15min walk
south of town
The large teak-wood Hsin Khaung Taung Kyaung is well worth a visit if you’re in
Pindaya for more than just a few hours. It’s quite easy to visit this monastery on your
way to or from Shwe Oo Min (see box above) – it’s downhill to the north of the cave,
along a dirt track from one of the covered arcade exits.
ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE PINDAYA
BY PLANE minibus (or motorbike taxi) on to Pindaya (30min; K1000
Heho airport (see p.241) is 65km from Pindaya; a taxi will by minibus/pick-up); note that transport to Aungban tends
set you back at least K45,000–50,000. If that’s too steep, to dry up in the afternoon, in which case your only way out
you could walk the 2km south to the main road and find a will be by taxi.
bus or pick-up heading west to Aungban (1hr 30min); from To Nyaungshwe Heading to Nyaungshwe, first catch a
there, it’s easy to find a pick-up for the remaining 1hr bus/minibus heading towards Taunggyi and get off at
journey to Pindaya. Heading from Pindaya to the airport, Shwenyaung (3hr), from where it’s a 30min ride by taxi
you could make use of the few daily buses to Taunggyi (see (K10,000) or pick-up (K1000) to Nyaungshwe. Travelling in
below), though obviously these may not depart at times the opposite direction is tricky: first get to Shwenyaung,
appropriate for you, and you’ll have to make your own way then hope you can get a seat on a passing bus, minibus or
from the main road to the airport. pick-up to Aungban (1hr 30min), where you’ll need to
change onto another pick-up for the final 1hr leg of the
BY BUS, MINIBUS AND PICKUP journey to Pindaya.
Pindaya doesn’t crop up on many bus schedules. There are
two daily buses (6am & 7am) plus minibuses (6am & 2pm) BY TAXI
to Taunggyi (3hr 30min), departing from the junction Given the difficulty in reaching Pindaya by public
outside the Dagon restaurant/beer station (see p.248). transport, taking a taxi is a tempting option. Count on
To Kalaw To reach Kalaw you’ll have to take a pick-up to around K30,000–35,000 to Kalaw, a bit more to
Aungban (1hr; K3000), and then a second pick-up or Nyaungshwe.
ACCOMMODATION
Conqueror Resort Shwe Oo Min Rd T081 66355, Global Grace Hotel Shwe Oo Min Rd T086 22447,
Wconquerorresorthotel.com. Sprawling resort complex, Wglobalgracehotelpindaya.com. A reliable mid-
with accommodation dotted around the attractive gardens range option. Standard rooms in the main building are
in a mix of bamboo, wood and brick bungalows vaguely bright and light, with great lake views and balconies –
inspired by local architectural styles. Rooms are large and although the fittings are looking a bit battered.
stuffed full of chintzy furniture, with verandas front and Deluxe rooms ($10 extra) in the annexe are more
back, while facilities include a spa, restaurant and a good- modern and smartly furnished but contrastingly dark
sized pool. $85 and viewless. $40