Naypyidaw, also spelled Nay Pyi Taw, officially replaced Yangon as the capital of Myanmar in 2005. It is officially known by the acronym NPT.
Naypyidaw is unique and a little bizarre. It's a large and fully laid out city but with insufficient inhabitants and buildings for its size, so you can experience the unprecedented Asian scenario of never getting stuck in traffic. Whether this weird situation will remain when Burma's economy begins to boom is another matter since the lack of gridlock is certainly not down to superb road planning and cutting edge traffic control. What helps are the eight-lane boulevards and Parisian-sized roundabouts.
Naypyidaw was a rather secretive construction project by the ruling military junta in the early 2000s and, in November 2005, was suddenly proclaimed Myanmar's new capital. Government workers were given two months notice that they would have to move from Yangon with the re-location of all government offices and ministries. Most embassies and international organisations, like the UN, have not relocated since an education and health infrastructure is not yet in place.
- Defence Services Museum, Zeyathiri Township. 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. Free.
- Gems Museum.
- King Statues. Three enormous sculptures depicting the three most important kings in Burmese history: Anawrahta, Bayinnaung and Alaungpaya U Aung Zeya.
- National Herbal Park. 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. Free.
- Naypyidaw Safari Park.
- National Museum. Tuesday to Sunday, 9:30AM-4:30PM (last admission 4PM). 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. 5000 kyats.
- Uppatasanti 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.
Defence Services Museum, Zeyathiri Township. 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. Free.
Gems Museum.
King Statues. Three enormous sculptures depicting the three most important kings in Burmese history: Anawrahta, Bayinnaung and Alaungpaya U Aung Zeya.
National Herbal Park. 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. Free.
Naypyidaw Safari Park.
National Museum. Tuesday to Sunday, 9:30AM-4:30PM (last admission 4PM). 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. 5000 kyats.
Uppatasanti 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.
- City Park. Park with a playground and water fountain complex, which hosts a musical light show every night.
- Golf. Naypyidaw has four golf courses, Nay Pyi Taw City Golf Course, Yaypyar Golf Course, Yan Aung Myin Golf Course and Royal Myanmar Golf Course.
- Ngalaik Lake Gardens. A small water park along Ngalaik Dam, near Kyweshin Village on Ngalaik Lake. Has water slides, resorts, lodgings and a beach.
City Park. Park with a playground and water fountain complex, which hosts a musical light show every night.
Golf. Naypyidaw has four golf courses, Nay Pyi Taw City Golf Course, Yaypyar Golf Course, Yan Aung Myin Golf Course and Royal Myanmar Golf Course.
Ngalaik Lake Gardens. A small water park along Ngalaik Dam, near Kyweshin Village on Ngalaik Lake. Has water slides, resorts, lodgings and a beach.
Naypyitaw Myoma Market is the commercial centre of Naypyidaw. Other shopping areas include Thapye Chaung Market and Junction Centre Naypyidaw. In the "hotel zone" are two medium-sized shopping malls: Junction and Capital, each of which have reasonable supermarkets and restaurants. Junction also has a cinema. There's another shopping mall complex further north with a much larger supermarket and an exchange bureau. You can change money (only US dollars, not euros) at the travel agent in the Junction Centre but they sometimes run out of cash. Phone charge scratchcards are available in the Junction Centre. Foreign credit or debit cards are sometimes accepted in shops, however there are plenty of ATMs.
- Katsu, 164 Thiriyadanar Shopping Complex, +95 67 421 368. The only Japanese restaurant in Naypyidaw. Reliable food and much cleaner than the average restaurant in town.
Katsu, 164 Thiriyadanar Shopping Complex, +95 67 421 368. The only Japanese restaurant in Naypyidaw. Reliable food and much cleaner than the average restaurant in town.
Myanmar beer is very drinkable and there are several different types. Locally produced whisky is very cheap, 5,000 kyat a litre, even for the best local brands. Wine is also available including local red and white wine. International wines are available, usually around 8,500-15,000 kyat. The Junction and Capital supermarkets have sections selling wine, beer and whisky.