Hpa-An Town

Hpa-An is the capital of Kayin (Karen) State. The town stretches over a large area and is on the banks of the Than Lwin (Salween) River. On the riverbanks, logs are pulled out of the water and are processed in small sawmills.
There is a small Lake with Mt. Zwegabin in the distance, a very scenic picture!
Hpa-An also offers a museum displaying Karen Culture.

THAN LWIN (SALWEEN) RIVER
Around Hpa-An the Than Lwin river flows through the wide plains, there are plenty of small islands and sand banks in the river. On the river banks farming is done. There are many small jagged rocks in the plains, most of them with stupas or pagodas on top.
Boat tours can be done towards Mawlamyaing or north of Hpa-An. There is beautiful scenery to be seen.

MT. ZWEGABIN
Rises around 650 Meter steeply from the plains. A pagoda is on top for those who are fit enough to walk up to the top, basically all the way on countless stairs. The way itself is good, no climbing required.
The view over the river and the plains compensates for the strenuous walk. You might enjoy a deafening cricket concert; there are plenty of crabs to be seen as well. Amazing enough there are a lot of plants and trees growing in the partly vertical walls of rock.

BAYIN NYI CAVE
Bayin Nyi Cave is located closer to Thaton town than to Hpa-An, so makes an ideal stop on the way too Yangon. This is another steep Rock in the plains with a monastery at the foot of the mountain. There is a hot spring with bathing possibility. At the end of the rainy season, the area might be partly flooded. It is idyllic and a nice view the monastery around the plains. There are shy monkeys around.

GO GON CAVE
Is a bit out of Hpa-An town on the other side of Than Lwin River towards Thaton / Yangon. A cave with many Buddha Images inside and thousands of small Buddha Stucco works on the rocks at the cave.