Massive and Bizarrely empty City - Naypyidaw
Massive and Bizarrely empty City - Naypyidaw
Naypyidaw, officially spelled
Nay Pyi Taw is the capital city of Myanmar (formerly known as Burma). It is
administered as the Naypyidaw Union Territory, as per the Constitution. On 6
November 2005, the administrative capital of the country was officially moved
to a greenfield site centered some 13 km (8 miles) west of Pyinmana, and about
320 km north of Yangon, the previous capital.
The capital's official name
was announced on 27 March 2006, Myanmar's Armed Forces Day. It first became the
capital of Myanmar in 2006, after the government decided to move the capital
from Yangon with minimal explanation. Much of this planned city was completed
in 2012. The 24th and 25th ASEAN Summit as well as the Ninth East Asia Summit
were held in Naypyidaw. It was also one of the host cities for the 2013
Southeast Asian Games. The city is notable for its unusual combination of size
and low population density.
Nay Pyi Taw is massive and
bizarrely empty place, it is a gaudy, multi-lane highway strewn testament to
the power of the generals who ruled (and to some extent, continue to rule) this
country.
Gigantic spaces between occasional ministries,
government buildings, malls and hotels are one of Nay Pyi Taw’s most striking
features, and the city is divided into different ‘zones’, with most
foreigner-registered hotels being situated in three hotel zones (called Dekkhinathiri,
Uttarathiri and Pohbbathiri – but your own hotel is the only name you need to
know).
COMMUTING BETWEEN NPT AND YANGON
Many business travellers, and
those involved in Myanmar’s politics and development, travel to Nay Pyi Taw for
government meetings – although the bulk of business is done in Yangon, which is
also the point of arrival for most international visitors.
Most senior politicians
commute to Nay Pyi Taw from Yangon on a weekly basis, which is easier to do now
that flights are more regular and the main trunk road through middle of the
country has been improved.
THINGS TO DO IN NPT
Although the primary focus of
Nay Pyi Taw is the business of government, there are a variety of things for
visitors and tourists to keep themselves occupied:
- The Water Fountain park is well worth a visit and is best seen at sunset; the main attraction is a fountain show, where the fountains dance in time with music. There's also a big play area, and a tower you can climb up with good views of the city.
- The huge Uppatasanti Pagoda, a replica of Yangon's Shwedagon Pagoda built in 2009, is impressive - and has the added attraction of being able to walk inside its domed interior. It was built just 30cm shorter than the Shwedagon in order to not upstage its historically revered counterpart. Outside the pagoda are six white elephants, intended to be auspicious but in reality a rather depressing sight.
- The National Museum is home to a range of artefacts reflecting Myanmar's past, from fossils up to 20th century political history. Like many museums in Myanmar, it is poorly curated but does offer some points of interest. K5,000 entry fee.
- The Pyidaungsu Hluttaw, Myanmar's vast 31-building parliament, is a sight to behold and also gives a chance to see the Nay Pyi Taw's widest highway, with 12 lanes of empty road in each direction. Normally the Hluttaw can only be viewed from a distance, but you can get a guided tour of the buildings with a pre-arranged permit. We can arrange this for you as part as a package with accommodation and guiding; permits must be obtained at least 10 days in advance and we will need a scan of your passport page and, if you have a car, registration details. To find out more, contact us through this form or email info@go-myanmar.com (note that we can only arrange guides from Yangon or Mandalay, as we do not have guides based in Nay Pyi Taw).
The towering statues of three
old kings, presumably designed to reflect the power of the generals, feature on
postcards in Myanmar (often accompanied by military parades) – but are in fact
off-limits to visitors.
45 minutes drive to the
northeast of Nay Pyi Taw, near the town of Yezin, there are a bunch of things
to see - a zoo; safari park; planetarium; the site of the SEA Games athletics
complex; and the Defence Services museum, a sprawling place where the best
exhibits are outside; you can climb around old tanks, rockets, boats,
helicopters and planes (including a Spitfire).
The enjoyable National
Landmark Garden is just to the south. A 400 acre park built in the shape of
Myanmar, here you get driven around in golf buggies to see the country’s famous
sights. It's quite pricey at $10 for foreigners – that includes a one hour
guided tour, but not attractions such as the log flume, bumper carts and haunted
house (!). Within the grounds are two tall observation towers which give good
views of the area.
A taxi to get to this area and
back will cost around K40,000 from most Nay Pyi Taw hotels, and if you take a
15 minute detour on the way back you will find a row of beer stations lining
the Sittang river, offering a great spot for a drink and a bite to eat.
EATING OUT AND NIGHTLIFE
There isn’t a big choice of
restaurants or bars in Nay Pyi Taw, but here are some of the best options:
- Emerald Restaurant is a stylish, western-run place at the Emerald Palace Hotel, serving a number of quality western and Asian dishes. Phone: + 95 (0) 6741 9321, + 95 (0) 67810 6001, 6002, 6003, email: info@emeraldpalace.com
- Cafe Flight. Housed in an old aeroplane, this restaurant is more of an interesting curiosity than a fine dining experience. Make sure to book in advance to get a table in the plane itself, as the main restaurant building is devoid of character. Phone: +95 (0) 9 420 712 432, email: restm@skypalace.asia
- Diplomatic Bar and Rangoon Kitchen at the Kempinski Hotel. These high-end establishments offer great food, drinks and service – and the outdoor pool deck is perfect for a sunset drink.
- Maw Khan Nong. At the budget end, this large and lively beer station serves simple local and Thai dishes; it is located on a small hill above the well-known Thabyegone (Tha Pyay Kone) Market. Note that there are two restaurants with the same name, one at the bottom of the hill, and one at the top.
- YKKO. Part of a well-known Myanmar restaurant chain, this restaurant serves good Myanmar fare and can be found at Capital Hypermarket on Yaza Thingaha Road.
- Junction Centre shopping arcade has modern facilities and a range of places to eat, as well has a cinema. It is located close to the main hotel zone.
GETTING AROUND AND ATMS
Distances are almost always
too long to walk, so getting around Nay Pyi Taw is usually done by taxi, which
will need to be ordered from your hotel and are far more expensive than in other
cities in Myanmar – usually costing at least K5,000 to K10,000 per journey, and
sometimes more. Yang Ni Oo Taxi Service offer good cars, and can be contacted
on +95 (0) 9333 55884 or +95 (0) 9360 60850.
A cheaper alternative is to
get a ride on a tuk tuk or motorbike taxi, which cost from K1,000 per person.
Visa- and Mastercard-ready KBZ
Bank ATMs can be found at Nay Pyi Taw International Airport and at the popular
Myoma Market (where many buses arrive and depart from). ATMs can also be found
at many hotels.
http://www.go-myanmar.com/naypyidaw-nay-pyi-taw
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