A ridge on the eastern part of the main town centre separates Mawlamyine with the surrounding satellite settlements of Dai Wun Kwin and Myay Ni Gone. The ridge runs in a north-south plane where a number of pagodas and Buddhist monastries have been built. From here you'll get beautiful views of the town looking westwards from a number of vantage points. A scenic lookout area has been provided for this specific purpose and can be easily accessed by road. It's an easy twenty minute walk from Lower Main Rd if you go via the shortcut that's described below. 






Directions to Scenic Lookout

1. The starting point for the directions given here is the corner of Lower Main Rd and Wut Kyi Phayar St. This intersection is located near the Aurora Guesthouse and a block away from the Breeze Rest House. Most of Mawlamyine's main streets are sign posted in both Myanmar script and English so it shouldn't be difficult to find. 













2. Walk along Wut Kyi Phayar St eastbound towards the ridge. You'll go past a large pagoda complex on the right about 30 meters from the intersection, followed by a mosque on the left. After walking past the mosque for another 50 meters, you'll encounter the intersection with Baho St.











3. This is the view of Wut Kyi Phayar St after crossing Baho St. The white Buddhist monastry building with three pagodas sitting on top of it is your turning point. Continue walking along this street and cross the next major intersection which is Upper Main Rd (or in Myanmar, Htet Lan Magyi St). After crossing this, Wut Kyi Phayar St becomes narrower and steeper. Continue all the way until you reach the end.



















4. This is the end of Wut Kyi Phayar St at the T-intersection with Taung Yoe Dan St. Taung Yoe Dan St is the main street which runs just below the ridge. The flight of stairs you see in this picture on the left is a short cut to monastries located on the ridge. Turn right here and continue walking up the stairs. Make sure you choose the stairs on the left. The stairs on the right leads to the entrance to a primary school.









5. It's not quite the stairway to heaven, but these set of brick steps will lead you up the ridge to the road where the scenic lookout is located. It's quite a steep climb so be sure to take some breaks along the way. It can also be very slippery during the wet season due to fungi growing on the steps. It's a well trodden path so you won't be looked upon suspiciously if you encounter anyone along the way. Furthermore, not only humans use this shortcut to get to the top of the ridge; I once came across a small boy with his herd of goats going up here as well!

















6. This is the view at the top of the stairs. The white Buddhist monastry building can be seen on the right of the picture as well as a signboard which reads in English Sasana 2500 Pagoda. Don't enter this monastry as visitors aren't welcome. If you do you'll either be chased out by the monastry's minders or by the aggressive barking dogs in the yard. To head to the lookout, turn right here and continue walking up the road. It gets steeper the closer to the top you get, but it shouldn't be a difficult climb for most able bodied persons.







7. This is the view from the lookout. You can see Bilu Island across the Thanlwin river very clearly from here.














8. This is the view looking north of the Thanlwin Bridge and Mottama.