Mawlamyaing, the third largest city in Myanmar after Yangon and Mandalay, is situated 300 km south east of Yangon at the mouth of the Thanlwin river. During colonial times, Moulmein (Mawlamyaing) was known as 'Little England' due to the large Anglo-Burmese community.
The town's highlight is Kyaikthanlan, which was built in 875 AD and enshrines the hair relic from the Buddha. Famed as Kipling’s Pagoda, it is the highest structure in Mawlamyaing standing 150 feet tall overlooking the town centre.
The Thanlwin bridge, stretching 3333 m over the Thanlwin river, the longest road and rail-bridge in Myanmar, is the most prominent landmark in the area. There are also places of interest in and around Mawlamyaing.
The largest reclining Buddha image in the world, 180 meters long and 30 meters high, Win Sein Taw Ya, is situated about 20 km south of Mawlamyaing. Inside are numerous rooms with dioramas of the teachings of Buddhism.
Thanbyuzayat, 60 km south, is reputed for the infamous Burma-Siam death railway for which construction tens of thousands of people died during World War II under the Japanese occupation. “Set Se” beach, few km away from Thanbyuzayat, is of a one-stop relaxation.