Kachin & Its environs

Myitkyina is the capital of Kachin State located in northern part of Myanmar. May Kha and May Li Kha River, which originate from Kachin mountain ranges join and form Ayeyawaddy River. This is the longest river and most useful in Myanmar. Visitors can tour the confluence of "Malikha" and "Mehka". They are the source of the Ayeyawaddy River. Different tribes of national races live in harmony with their own cultures, customs, dialects, dances and lifestyles. The people earn their living by farming, vegetable, gardening and digging gold and Jade. The overland trade route to India and China and World War II supply line to China along the Ledo Road pass through Myitkyina. For mountaineering enthusiasts, expeditions to Mount Khaka Bo Razi and Mount Gam Lan Razi would be an adventure. Myitkyina can be reached by road, rail, river and air. The travelers can take regular flights from Yangon and Mandalay to Myitkyina.

Held every year on 10 January, which is also the Kachin State Day marking the anniversary when the state of Kachin joined the Union of Myanmar in 1948. The Manaw festival is held in honor of Nats (traditional family gods) to ensure good weather for a bumper harvest or to celebrate good fortune and success. There are traditional dances by various Kachin groups, tug-of-war matches and bean-bag fighting games and food galore, sold at makeshift stalls. The fun continues all-day long. It is the most colorful gathering you could have witnessed anywhere, with men and women in the traditional formal costumes, headgear, ornaments, jewelry and ceremonial weapons.

Putao is one of the attractive towns in Kachin State surrounded by snow-capped mountains. It is cool the whole year round and there are many varieties of citrus fruits grown in the orchards. Flowing streams and rivulets, straw-roofed houses and fences of pebbles and creek stones provide a pleasant, pastoral contrast to the scenes and sights of modern cities. The suspension bridges are the typical river crossing in this region. People of the Rawan, Lisu, Khamti-Shan, Jingphaw and Kachin are represented in the region. It is the nearest town to the base camp for climbing Mt. Khakhaborazi (5889 meters) the highest mountain in Myanmar and in South-East-Asia.