Taunggyi
Taunggyi is situated in the southern Shan State
and is the capital town of Shan States. It is
4,712feet above the sea level and has a moderate
climate. Also located about 500 kilometers north of
Yangon and about 10 kilometers southeast of
Mandalay. The capital city of the Shan State, is
situated on a high plateau surrounded by high
mountains.
It is situated on a high plateau surrounded by
high mountains. As Taunggyi lies on a hill region,
the atmosphere is conducive to good health
especially by means of the salubrious mountain air.
It usually rains in Taunggyi from June to November
and average annual rainfall is 32.68 inches. To
reach Taunggyi you first have to fly to Heho, about
40 kilometers to the West, because the town itself
does not boast an airfield.
 Taunggyi can be reached by road, rail or air from
all parts of the country. The distance between
Yangon and Taunggyi is 456 miles and can be reached
by road directly. The road to Taunggyi is full of
bends and zigzags and, seen from above, resembles a
snake. One can have a good view of the surrounding
area while travelling along this road. As soon as
you enter Taunggyi, the magnificent Sao Sam Htun
Hospital can be seen first and further on there are
the Taunggyi Department Store, the market, Dhammayon
(congregation hall), Agricultural Bank, cinemas and
shops and stores, restaurants, churches, Shan State
Cultural Museum. Taunggyi Degree College, the golf
course and residential buildings.There are pines,
cherry and eucalyptus trees growing all over the
town and the whole area is green and pleasant. The
busiest part of Taunggyi is the Myoma Market, a
place where people from the environs used to flock
only once every five days to buy and sell their
regional products. Now it has become a daily market
and is constantly crowded with people. It is also
the gathering point of different national races
residing in Taunggyi.
Interesting Places
Cultural Museum
Another interesting place to visit in Taunggyi is the Cultural Museum where cultural
objects, musical instruments, traditional dresses,
household and farm implements, paintings,
sculptures, arts and crafts of the different
national races residing in Shan State can be seen.
There are also 'Hawnans" (palatial residences) where
the Shan Sawbwas (Shan Chieftains) used to live can
also be observed.
Events
Air-Balloon Festival
 In Taunggyi, the capital
city of the Shan State, the people celebrate the
Tazaungdine festival with Kahtein (offering of monk
robes) as well as the releasing up fire-balloons
into the sky. Balloons in the shape of elephant, ox,
horse, water-buffalo, bird, pig, fish, owl and
parrot are released. The Taunggyi festival is the
biggest festival in the country. It is attended not
only by Taunggyi Citizens but also by people from
southern Shan State and many different races.
Taungyi's Kahtein tradition is amazing and worthy of
reverence.
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