Maymyo, Myanmar (Burma)

Maymyo is Burma's best-known colonial hill station and a worthwhile 2-hours-trip from Mandalay. You can enjoy beautiful scenery, a cool climate and nostalgic atmosphere of former days with its old buildings and botanical gardens. The British called it Maytown, after Colonel May. It stands on a plateau, 1,000m up in the Shan Hills. The town, with its brick and timber houses-complete with English-style gables, turrets and chimneys-remains as a ghost like memento of empire. Botanical Gardens were laid out by Sir Harcourt Butler, former Governor of Burma. The plants and trees are labelled in Latin and Burmese. A wide range of fruits (including strawberries), vegetables and coffee can be grown in Pyin U Lwin. There are few interesting sights to check out: the Pwe Kauk and Anisakan Falls and to go to the Shibaa Village. This is little Britain, colonial stylée, with cooler weather than in Mandalay and wide boulevards lined with stately homes from a bygone era. Set in the foothills of northern Shan State, this former British hill town was known as Maymyo during the British era. It is easy to while away some time biking along shady avenues or sipping tea with the friendly locals. Local transport includes cute pony-led miniature wagons, straight out of the Wells Fargo days of the American West. Domestic tourists gravitate here during the hottest months (from March to May).