Located high in the Shan Hills of Myanmar, Taunggyi sits at an elevation of more than 1,400 meters (4,712 feet) above sea level, giving it a pleasant temperate climate throughout the year. It offers a cool contrast to the sweltering lowlands that earned it a somewhat admiring nickname from British colonials – “The Switzerland of the East”.
Taunggyi’s name literally means “big mountain” in Burmese. Its modern development began in 1894 when the British colonial administration decided to move its offices from Maing Thauk (Fort Stedman) on the shores of Inle Lake, as an escape from the lowland heat.
From a series of small villages predominantly inhabited by the Pa’O ethnic group, the British created a new capital for the future Shan state from scratch. But not completely from nothing – the Pa’O’s traditions still form the basis for many of Taunggyi’s most moving cultural activities and locations.
History and Culture in the City
For starters, Taunggyi’s surrounding villages, such as Sagar Village and Naung Kai, offer intimate glimpses of Pa’O cultural practices, with tourists taking instruction from black-clad Pa-O women on weaving or making crafts within these villages’ traditional stilt houses.
Closer to the city center, numerous museums, temples and sacred sites reflect the local heritage, preserving Pa’O influences alongside later Burmese and colonial-era additions.
A good bit of context can be gleaned at the Shan State Cultural Museum, whose exhibits offer crucial insights into local history and culture through displays of traditional crafts and artifacts.
The Shwe Phone Pwint Pagoda, located on the eastern side of the city, provides panoramic views of Taunggyi and features picturesque murals depicting the story of Buddha’s life. Then there’s Sulamuni Pagoda – Taunggyi’s largest pagoda was built in 1994 to commemorate Taunggyi’s 100th anniversary. Its structure is a visual echo of Bagan’s Ananda Temple.
Myanmar’s First Vineyard
However, not everything about Taunggyi follows tried-and-tested formulae. Challenging typical perceptions of agriculture in Southeast Asia, the Taunggyi area is also home to Aythaya Vineyard, Myanmar’s very first home-grown wine distillery.
From the start, the company focused its work on producing premium wines with the whole country as its market. The owners believe – and still do! – that the local, moderate, high-altitude climate is ready to grow a world-class wine.
Aythaya’s slogan – “A better wine every year” – reflects the owners’ optimism in Taunggyi’s terroir to deliver truly world-class wine. With 150 days of sunshine, Taunggyi’s warm climate and ideal soil conditions, how could they not make that dream come true?
Fiery Beauty at the Taunggyi Balloon Festival
Time your visit to attend Taunggyi’s spectacular Fire Balloon Festival, held annually during Tazaungdaing to mark the end of the rainy season and Buddhist Lent in November.
During the event, locals compete in launching huge, ornately decorated hot air balloons into the night sky.
The festival is also renowned for its pyrotechnics, where gargantuan bamboo frames laden with homemade fireworks are attached to the balloons. Once airborne, they unleash unpredictable showers of sparks and explosives over the crowds below.
Getting There and Best Time to Visit Taunggyi
The main access to Taunggyi is via mountainous roads, reachable by bus or car from major cities like Yangon (about 7 to 10 hours) and Mandalay (about six hours). For those preferring air travel, you can book a flight to Heho Airport, which is about 24 miles (39 km) or an hour’s drive away, followed by a taxi or bus ride to the city center.
It’s far off the beaten path – Taunggyi’s better known as a gateway to the better-known Inle Lake – but it’s a rewarding detour to for visitors brave enough to wander deep into Shan State and see what everybody else has been missing.
