Capital of Naypyidaw Union Territory, Myanmar
Photo: Hybernator, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
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An enormous half open-air, half housed complex celebrating the country's military. For a country with so many pressing needs you may find this multi-million dollar vanity project hard to stomach, but it's free, and anyone interested in military hardware and history will easily be occupied for some hours. It's a very long walk to see everything. If possible, hire a scooter from your hotel, register at the office 300 m beyond the entrance gates (bring passport) and then park at each of the three main buildings. Otherwise, brace for a walk of several kilometres, at least most of which are under covered walkways. It's wheelchair-friendly, for paralympians. Looking from the main road, the area on the left is Navy, straight ahead is Army and History, to the right is Air Force. There are few signposts in English. The Air Force has planes outside including a moth-eaten Spitifire. The Navy has scale models of ships outside. The three main buildings serve to eulogize the top brass and national heroes. The buildings behind/beside contain the detail, including military kit, 3D dioramas of varying quality, and engaging battle paintings. Most commentary is in Burmese but the key material is also in English.
Three enormous sculptures depicting the three most important kings in Burmese history: Anawrahta, Bayinnaung and Alaungpaya U Aung Zeya.
Exhibits of plants having medicinal applications from all of the major regions of Burma. There are thousands of plants at the park, representing hundreds of different species.
Opened in 2015, after the capital was moved from Yangon to Naypyidaw. The one there still exists though. Sections: Pre-historic & historic period, Culture, History, Arts, ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations), Children Discovery, and Temporary Exhibition Room.
Peace Pagoda
A prominent landmark in Naypyidaw. The pagoda, which houses a Buddha tooth relic from China, is nearly a replica of Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon and stands 100 m high. It also has a Maha Hsutaungpyae Buddha image in the Maha Pasadabhumi Gandhakuti Chamber, four jade Buddha images in the pagoda's hollow cave; a 33-m-high flagpole; Bo tree garden with Maha Bo Tree and the images of the 28 Buddhas, Marlini Mangala Lake with the chamber of Shin Uppagutta, and a pagoda museum. Opposite the eastern (main) entrance there are two cage houses with gilded roofs where they keep around eight white and three normal Indian elephants in pitiful conditions.
Park with a playground and water fountain complex, which hosts a musical light show every night.
Bento boxes and sushi and ramen.
3-star hotel, 5 floors (with elevator), modern (open in December 2017), 84 rooms. Free Wi-Fi. (Non-smoking) rooms feature large comfy beds, AC, TV, desk, lots of power sockets, fridge, safety box, private bathrooms. Buffet breakfast 06:30-10:00, with rice/noodles/soup, tea/coffee/milk, fruits/fruit juice, cereals, yogurt. On site restaurant, room service possible. 24-hour front desk. ATM. Parking. Bicycles can be rented for US$1 an hour. Friendly staff that speaks English and has good information about what to see in Naypyidaw. Seminar room. Swimming pool & fitness center planned for 2019. Free shuttle to nearby areas. Payment possible by credit card and cash.
By rail
There are several trains daily from Yangon and they take around nine hours.
By plane
To handle increased traffic to the capital, the existing airport at Ela was upgraded to handle larger planes. It lies 16 km (10 mi) southeast of Kyatpyae.
By bus
From Yangon buses travel the wide new toll highway for about five hours, including mandatory rest stop, to the capital, which unusually just springs out of nowhere at a nondescript intersection.
By tuk-tuk
Similar to those in Bangkok, although called a "thaw lar gyi" in Myanmar.
By taxi
Taxi drivers hang around the shopping centres and bus station and you need to negotiate with them. For foreigners the asking costs can be high at US$5 for even relatively short journeys.
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Naypyitaw · International · NYT
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