 | |
| Shan state | |
| Capital | Taunggyi |
|---|---|
| Residents | 5.800.000 |
no value for residents on Wikidata:  | |
| surface | 155,800 km² |
other value for area on Wikidata: 155801  | |
| no tourist info on Wikidata: | |
| location | |
 | |
The Shan State(Burmese: ရှမ်းပြည်နယ်, IPA: [ʃáɴ pjìnɛ̀]) - (shan: မိုင်း တႆး) is a region or administrative unit in the east Myanmar.
places
Highlights in Shan State:
Kalaw - Many travelers end up here on their way further to Taunggyi, Pindaya or for Inle Lake. The place has some nice pagodas. Kalaw is ideal for hiking in the mountainous surroundings. You can go on tours from half a day to five days in length. Local guides can be organized on site. A two to three day hike to Inle Lake is also possible. |
Nyaung Shwe - Nyaung Shwe itself is not necessarily an attraction. However, the city forms the entrance to the fascinating Inle Lake. From here you can take boat tours to the floating villages of the Intha. The area at the edge of the lake is wonderful to explore on a bike. |
Pindaya - Pindaya is located on an almost square lake at the foot of a mountain range. The place is known for Shwe U Min Pagoda a cave system with over 8000 statues of Buddha. But you can also go on beautiful mountain hikes from here. |
Known places:
- Narrowing - The city in the east of Shan State is one of the main places of the Golden triangle
- Lashio - Lashio, in the north of the state, offers beautiful pagodas, hot springs, heights and a colorful market. In addition to the plane, it can be reached from Mandalay.
- Taunggyi - It is the largest city within reach of the Inle Lake. Taunggyi is known nationwide for its annual hot air balloon festival in November.
- Tachilek - The city is more likely to be known to Thailand visitors, as it is part of the excursions to the Golden triangle. Within Myanmar, however, the city cannot be reached by land for tourists.
Other places in Shan State:
- Aungban - Transfer point on the way to Pindaya.
- Hsipaw - The small town used to be the capital of a local empire under one Saopha.
- Kyaukme - City in a fertile region in the north, surrounded by fields and gardens.
- Hey and Shwenyaung - The places themselves hardly have anything to offer. You are the starting point of the way to Inle Lake for people who arrive by plane or train.
Other goals
- Inle Lake - Fascinating lake inhabited by the Intha, with floating villages and gardens.
background
In the period up to the 16th century, the Shan region was still very influential in Burma. The region later split up into individual states and territories and the British took the entire region under their administration. 33 former princes formed the 1922 Federated Shan Stateswhich included most of the former principalities of the Shan area. Shan State joined the later in 1947 Union of Burma at, but with the option of being able to leave the Union again. The local princes were later ousted and the area occupied by military forces. Shan State is still a politically unstable region. Military conflicts break out again and again. The Shan State Army-South fights for an independent Shan state and the United Wa State Army in the northeast for the autonomy of the Va a Chinese minority in Myanmar.
As in many regions of the whole country, there are also many individual ethnic groups and minorities. One finds the large groups of the Shan, Pa-O, Intha, Taungyo, Danu, Palaung other Kachin. Then there are the Bamar, Chinese and Karen. In the mountains there are other groups like those mentioned above Va.
language
Due to the many peoples and ethnic groups, there is also a colorful mix of languages in the region. Anyone who knows a few bits of the official Burmese languages will certainly be understood. In the touristically interesting areas it is of course possible to speak with a basic level of English.
getting there
If you want to travel to Shan State, you have to cross the mountains. The traveler who moves on the road gets a lot to see. However, you should plan some time. Even the federal highways are single-lane and have a lot of serpentines in the mountains. The most used route is the road 4, the Meiktila and Taunggyi connects and continues after Narrowing and Tachilek leads. The overland route to Narrowing however, it is forbidden for tourists. The same goes for the street 5 of Toungoo through the Kayah State above Loikaw to Taunggyi. The north of the region is via the federal highway 3 opened up. Of Mandalay the places line up here Pyin U Lwin, Kyaukme, Hsipaw and Lashio a.
There are two rail lines that lead into Shan State. Visitors to the Inle Lake, Pindayas and the city Taunggyi start at the intersection of the north-south route and east-west route in the sleepy village Thazi. Anyone who uses the location to change trains should plan for several hours of delays when planning their journeys and, if necessary, stay in one of the simple guest houses in Thazi or in the nearby town Meiktila stay. The trains start in Thazi (slower than on other routes because of the mountains) Kalaw and further after Shwenyaung (Inle Lake) and Taunggyi. The second railway line connects Mandalay and Lashio. Between Pyin U Lwin and Kyaukme is located near the town of Nawnghkio das Gotheik Viaduct, the largest steel railway viaduct in the world. Photographing the viaduct is officially prohibited.
The most convenient way to head for the region is of course by plane. Domestic airlines fly to four airports and are of interest to tourists.
- 1 Heho Airport (IATA: HEH)
Most used airport. From here, travelers can reach popular attractions such as the Inle Lake, Pindaya as Kalaw or Taunggyi - 2 Lashio Airport (IATA: LSH) Those who want to travel the northern landscapes will find their starting point in the city Lashio
- 3 Kengtung Airport (IATA: KET) If you want to travel to the city in the east of the Shan State, you have to take the plane, as the land route into the interior of the country is closed to tourists.
- 4 Tachilek Airport (IATA: THL) Most of the tourists of this border town with Thailand in the Golden triangle are more likely to take the land route in the neighboring country and visit the city as part of an excursion program. Within Myanmar, travelers can only travel by plane.
The following airlines fly to Shan State:
- Air Bagan: Hey ↔ Mandalay, Thandwe, Yangon, Narrowing and Tachilek; Lashio ↔ Mandalay; Narrowing ↔ Mandalay, Hey and Tachilek
- Air Mandalay: Hey ↔ Nyaung U (Bagan), Narrowing and Tachilek
- Myanma Airways: The airline, which is usually not recommended, flies the airports Hey, Narrowing, Lashio, Möng Hsat and Tachilek at.
Tourist Attractions
Shan State certainly offers a lot of interesting attractions for travelers. The possibilities are limited by long, arduous travel routes as well as the closure of larger regions to foreign tourists and certainly by the tight schedules of many visitors. Myanmar is still a little-visited travel destination and hardly anyone will therefore limit their entire vacation time to a single region of the country.
The most important port of call is the region west of the city Taunggyi. Here you can find the fascinating one Inle Lake and Pindaya with its cave system with over 8000 Buddha images. The north of the country is scenic. Starting point for the region around the city Lashio. Also of interest is the east of the state with the cities (which can only be reached by flight) Narrowing and Tachilek in the Golden triangle.
activities
Hike: Hikes in the mountainous surroundings of the villages are highly recommended Kalaw and Pindaya. The Danu ethnic group lives here for the most part. The range extends from half-day hikes to 5-day tours. However, you shouldn't start a hike alone. Missing maps make orientation difficult and none of the local residents speak English. An overnight stay is possible in the monasteries of the villages. Some of the villages are also prepared for such visits. In the places mentioned you can easily rent guides in the area, as well as porters. The guides also get groceries and cook along the way. Such a hike brings real insight into the life of the local people. In the simplest case, you can find out about possible tours and a guide in your own accommodation. In addition to a mountain hike, there is also the possibility of Kalaw off to Inle Lake to hike. For most visitors, the lake is often next on the tour schedule.
To go biking: The surroundings of the Inle Lake can be explored very well on a bike. Some hotels Nyaung Shwe on the edge of the lake are prepared and also rent bicycles.
kitchen
nightlife
security
The Shan State represents a security risk for travelers in some regions. Despite an official ceasefire between the army and the individual ethnic groups who fight for autonomy with their own military, security cannot be guaranteed. Raids have also been reported on some streets, such as on the route from Taunggyi to Narrowing. Large parts of the region are closed to foreign tourists or can only be reached with a special permit. If you want to visit remote areas, you should inform yourself in advance and after arriving in Yangon inform about the current situation. Anyone interested in a few excursions can ask any local travel agency. The state travel agency may be available for individual inquiries and permits MTT the best choice.
climate
| Taunggyi | Jan | Feb | March | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mean highest air temperature in ° C | 22 | 24 | 27 | 28 | 27 | 25 | 23 | 24 | 24 | 23 | 23 | 21 | O | 24.3 |
| Mean lowest air temperature in ° C | 7 | 8 | 11 | 15 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 11 | 8 | O | 13.4 |
| Rainy days in the month | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 12 | 15 | 16 | 11 | 10 | 4 | 1 | Σ | 76 |
http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather.php3?s=75084 Climate data from Taunggyi on Weatherbase | ||||||||||||||
The climate is due to the higher elevation (Inle Lake is a bit cooler than the national mean at approx. 900 m above sea level. If you plan to hike over several days in the mountainous regions, you should have warmer clothing with you, especially for the night.
literature
- : Hear the heart. Goldmann publishing house, Sep 2004, ISBN 3442457262 , P. 288 (German). - The poetic romance novel takes place in this sleepy place and carries a lot of the magic of Myanmar.
Web links
- www.unpo.org - Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization - Detailed information about the peoples in Shan State.
