Pyin Oo Lwin (still widely known as Maymyo, its colonial name) is a hill station on a plateau at 1,000 metres in the Shan Hills, about two hours northeast of Mandalay. The British established it as a summer retreat — Colonel May, after whom the town was named, was stationed here in the 1880s — and it still feels markedly different from the lowland cities.
The colonial architecture is one of the main draws: brick and timber houses with English-style gables, turrets, and chimneys line the streets of the old town. Horse-drawn carriages are still a common way to get around. The National Kandawgyi Botanical Gardens, laid out by the former Governor Sir Harcourt Butler, are the main attraction — 177 hectares of well-maintained grounds with plants labelled in Latin and Burmese, and a good orchid collection.
The cooler climate means the area produces strawberries, coffee, and a range of vegetables that do not grow well in the plains. The Pwe Kauk Falls and Anisakan Falls, both within easy reach of town, are popular excursions. Anisakan in particular involves a steep hike down through forest to a dramatic cascade.