Kalaw
 Kalaw stands high on the western edge of the Shan
Plateau. It is 70 km west of Taungyi, about halfway
along the Thazi-Taungyi road. This was a popular hill station in the British
days and it is still a peaceful and quiet place. At
an altitude of 1320 m it is also pleasantly cool and
a good place for hiking amid gnarled pines, bamboo
groves and rugged mountain scene.
A former colonial British hill station, this
small-town offers cool temperatures (Kalaw sits at
1,300 meters elevation) and plenty of trekking
opportunities. The population is a mix of Shan,
Indian Muslims, Bamars and Nepalis (Gurkhas retired
from British military service), many of whom are
missionary educated. Traveling by car, it's about
two hours west of Nyaungshwe on the western edge of
the Shan hills.
Interesting Places
Nee Paya (Bamboo strip lacquer Buddha Image)
 It
lies in Pinmagon Monastery, of Pinmagon Village,
Kalaw Township, south of Shan State.
It was estimated to have been established in
First Inn-wa Period over 500 years ago. The donors
were hard to ascertain and there were no records but
its head was sharp upright, its ears were not
touching the shoulders and the nether garment was
covered for the whole of its lower parts. So it was
believed to be historic. It is eight feet four
inches high. It is noted for its longevity, its
prevention of fire, and its wishgranting powers.
Occasionally radiation seemed to come from the
pagoda at the front of image. The image is now
lacquered and gilded all the way.
Kalaw Shwe U Min Pagoda
Around Kalaw
Places of interest are Thein Taung Pagoda, Aung
Chan Tha Pagoda, Su Taung Pyae Pagoda and the King
Church.
Other things to do Shop around for a trek, walk
toward temples & churches, meet
tribes at the colorful every-5-days market, take the
stairs to a temple & a good view of the village,
walk up the hill for an even better panorama, a
pleasant 1.5 hours trip, taste strawberry lassi,
feed birds, breathe fresh air filled with pine trees
smell, while on trek, visit coffee, tea or cigar
leaves plantations or see elephants at work.
Palaung Village
It takes two hours (short way) or four hours
through the hills to the village of the Palaung
tribe. At first a steep track leads down into a
narrow valley where the Palaung cultivate cheroot,
tea, damsons and mangoes on the hill.
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