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Pyay

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City
—°2
Pyay (Myanmar (Burma))
ℹ️

Practical info — Pyay

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🌤 Weather — 5 days

📍 Nearby

Sights nearby

💡 Tips

  • Visit the Shwesandaw Pagoda at sunset for a panoramic view of the city and the Irrawaddy River.
  • Hire a bicycle or a tuk-tuk to explore the ancient ruins of Sri Ksetra (Thayekhittaya), located 8km out of town.
  • Dress modestly (shoulders and knees covered) as Pyay is a traditional city with many sacred sites.
  • Take a boat trip on the river to see the rock-carved Buddha images at Akauk Taung downstream.
  • Visit the night market near the riverfront for an authentic and budget-friendly dinner experience.

🍽 Food

🍽
Pyay Thoke

A hearty local salad found at almost every stall in the night market area.

🍽
Fried River Fish

Fresh fish from the Irrawaddy, best enjoyed at simple restaurants along the riverfront.

🍽
Mont Di

Thick rice noodles with fish gravy, a local favorite for breakfast near the main markets.

🛍 Shopping · 🧘 Quiet spots

🛍
Central Market

Find local handicrafts and fresh produce from the fertile surrounding countryside.

🛍
Night Market

Great for clothing, household items, and a wide variety of local snacks.

🧘
Sri Ksetra Ruins

The vast site gives many quiet spots among ancient brick pagodas and rice fields.

🧘
Sehtatgyi Pagoda

A peaceful atmosphere can be found surrounding the massive seated Buddha statue.

Pyay (formerly Prome) sits on the Irrawaddy River 286 kilometres northwest of Yangon, with around 135,000 inhabitants. The town is famous for the nearby ruins of Sri Ksetra, capital of the Pyu city-states from the 5th to the 9th century and a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2014. The Pyu are considered Myanmar's earliest Buddhist culture; their 13-kilometre city wall is one of the largest surviving pre-modern urban enclosures in Southeast Asia. During British Burma (1886-1948) Pyay was developed into a key river-trade hub between Lower and Upper Burma. The 46-metre Shwesandaw Pagoda is one of Myanmar's holiest Buddhist pilgrimage sites. In World War II the town was heavily damaged in 1942. Today Pyay remains a busy river port and regional market town.

Best time to visit & climate

The most pleasant time to visit is Jan, Feb, Dec.

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Avg °C232629313129282828282725
Rain mm7171543112142965764147

Geography

Population
135,308 (2024)
Coordinates
18.81670, 95.21670

Facts

  • Bevölkerung ca. 135.000
  • 286 km nordwestlich von Yangon
  • Sri Ksetra UNESCO seit 2014
  • Pyu-Hauptstadt 5.-9. Jh.
  • 13 km lange Pyu-Stadtmauer erhalten
  • Britisch-Birma 1886-1948
  • Shwesandaw-Pagode (46 m)
  • Schwer beschädigt 1942

Explore nearby

Notable places around

Popa TaungkalatPopa Taungkalat22 km · WExplore →
Mount PopaMount Popa22 km · WExplore →
Popa Mountain National ParkPopa Mountain National Park23 km · WExplore →
PakokkuPakokku28 km · SWExplore →
HinthadaHinthada29 km · NEExplore →
Meinmahla Kyun Wildlife SanctuaryMeinmahla Kyun Wildlife Sanctuary31 km · EExplore →
MyingyanMyingyan33 km · NWExplore →
Thanboddhay PagodaThanboddhay Pagoda33 km · WExplore →

Route planner — Car & Motorhome

Where do you start? We build the route here, with stops and country notes along the way.

Vehicle
Only stops with (optional):

© OpenStreetMap contributors · OpenRouteService

Sights in the town Pyay (2)

Night Market📍 landmark

The Night Market in Pyay is a bustling market with street food and local goods.

Kanar Viewpoint🌿 nature

Kanar Viewpoint features a scenic overlook of the Irrawaddy River.

Frequently asked questions

How long should you stay in Pyay?
One to two days are enough to see the main temples and the city.
When is the ideal time to visit Pyay?
The months from November to February offer the most pleasant, cooler weather for sightseeing.
How to get to Pyay?
Pyay is easily accessible by bus or train from Yangon.
Are there special local dishes in Pyay?
Try the local noodle dishes, often served with fresh herbs.
Is Pyay family-friendly?
The city is safe and provides many cultural attractions that can be interesting for children.
Pyay: where is it located?
Pyay is located in Myanmar (Burma).
Pyay: what is there to see?
Highlights include Night Market, Kanar Viewpoint.
Pyay: when is the best time to visit?
The most pleasant time to visit is Jan, Feb, Dec.
Pyay: why is it worth visiting?
Pyay (formerly Prome) sits on the Irrawaddy River 286 kilometres northwest of Yangon, with around 135,000 inhabitants.
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Nearby cities

Bago — Pyay (Myanmar (Burma))
Bago
A historic city formerly known as Pegu, home to many Buddhist monuments.
Taungoo — Pyay (Myanmar (Burma))
Taungoo
A historic city in the Bago Region, known for its forestry and teak production.
Pakokku — Pyay (Myanmar (Burma))
Pakokku
A bustling city on the Irrawaddy River, known for its trade in tobacco and cotton.
Hinthada — Pyay (Myanmar (Burma))
Hinthada
A bustling city in the Ayeyarwady Region, famous for its rice farming.
Myingyan — Pyay (Myanmar (Burma))
Myingyan
An industrial city in the Irrawaddy River valley, known for its cotton cultivation.
Magway — Pyay (Myanmar (Burma))
Magway
The capital of the Magway Region, known for the production of edible oil and sesame.
Nyaung-U — Pyay (Myanmar (Burma))
Nyaung-U
A town on the Irrawaddy River, serving as the main access point to the ancient temples of Bagan.
Pathein — Pyay (Myanmar (Burma))
Pathein
A port city in the Irrawaddy Delta, famous for making traditional parasols.
Meiktila — Pyay (Myanmar (Burma))
Meiktila
A strategically important city in central Myanmar, on the shores of Lake Meiktila.

History & landmarks

Taung Kwe Pagoda — Pyay (Myanmar (Burma))
Taung Kwe Pagoda
The landmark of Loikaw, consisting of several golden stupas distributed on rugged limestone peaks.
Popa Taungkalat — Pyay (Myanmar (Burma))
Popa Taungkalat
A Buddhist monastery spectacularly perched on top of a steep volcanic plug.
Thanboddhay Pagoda — Pyay (Myanmar (Burma))
Thanboddhay Pagoda
A colorful, unconventional temple complex in Monywa decorated with over half a million small Buddha images.

Nature

Sittaung River — Pyay (Myanmar (Burma))
Sittaung River
An important river in central Myanmar, known for its strong tidal bore near the mouth.
Irrawaddy Delta — Pyay (Myanmar (Burma))
Irrawaddy Delta
A massive, low-lying river delta formed by the Irrawaddy River dividing into multiple branches before reaching the Andaman Sea.
Chindwin River — Pyay (Myanmar (Burma))
Chindwin River
The largest tributary of the Irrawaddy, flowing through picturesque valleys and dense jungles in the west.

More places

Bago Yoma — Pyay (Myanmar (Burma))
Bago Yoma
A mountain range separating the Irrawaddy and Sittaung river basins, known for its teak forests.
Kanbawzathadi Palace — Pyay (Myanmar (Burma))
Kanbawzathadi Palace
A reconstructed palace in Bago showcasing the splendor of the 16th-century Burmese empire under King Bayinnaung.
Sittang Valley — Pyay (Myanmar (Burma))
Sittang Valley
A wide and fertile valley located between the Bago Yoma and the Shan Hills, playing a crucial role in regional agriculture.
Moeyungyi Wetland Wildlife Sanctuary — Pyay (Myanmar (Burma))
Moeyungyi Wetland Wildlife Sanctuary
A man-made wetland in the Bago Region that has become an important stopover for migratory birds.
Mount Popa — Pyay (Myanmar (Burma))
Mount Popa
An extinct volcano in central Myanmar, known as a sacred site for the veneration of Nat spirits.
Popa Mountain National Park — Pyay (Myanmar (Burma))
Popa Mountain National Park
A protected area around Mount Popa, preserving rare plants and animals of the dry zone.
Meinmahla Kyun Wildlife Sanctuary — Pyay (Myanmar (Burma))
Meinmahla Kyun Wildlife Sanctuary
A protected mangrove area in the Irrawaddy Delta that plays a crucial role for the coastal ecosystem and protects crocodiles.
Laykyun Sekkya Buddha — Pyay (Myanmar (Burma))
Laykyun Sekkya Buddha
One of the tallest statues in the world, depicting a standing Buddha in bright yellow that dominates the landscape of Monywa.