Northern Myanmar

Northern Myanmar is a region of Myanmar.

Cities

• 1 Myitkyina – The capital of the Kachin State.
• 2 Sagaing – The capital of the Sagaing Region.
• 3 Bhamo
• 4 Indawgyi – A lake and nature reserve.
• 5 Kalay – Township near Tamu (for India).
• 6 Katha
• 7 Laiza – Kachin Independence Organization (KIO) headquarters, bordering China
• 8 Laja Yang — an important village on the way to the Kachin state capital, Myitkyina via Bhamo Hwy, about 20 km from Laiza.
• 9 Mai Ja Yang – A rebel-run casino-laden border boom town. Although it seems that the casino has been converted to a university now.
• 10 Monywa – A town famous for its two huge statues of Buddha and a golden pagoda.
• 11 Putao
• 12 Tamu – The border town and gateway to India's Manipur state.

Other destinations

• 1 Indawgyi Lake. Seasonal lake and weekend area known for bird watching. (updated May 2019)

Understand

Kachin State has been de facto independent from central government's control since 1962, when the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO) unilaterally seceded from the Union of Myanmar. A peace deal struck in 1994 after a government army offensive made the arrangement more or less permanent, with the KIO-controlled area formalized as Kachin State Special Region #1, although KIO promptly split up into squabbling factions and the internal situation remains precarious at best.

Unlike much of predominantly Buddhist Myanmar, the Kachin people are predominantly Christian.

Talk

In Special Region #1, Mandarin will get you a lot further than Burmese (or English).

Get in

Getting in depends on where you're going. For access to government-controlled areas like the capital Myitkyina, there are direct flights from Yangon, although the adventurous may also opt to travel by train from Mandalay (24-30 hours). For the rebel-controlled north, you'll either have to battle your way through massive bureaucracy to secure permits, or take the easier way by entering via China.

Get around

Myitsone (Mali Zup), a confluence of the Mali and Nmai Rivers, a naturally splendid hangout.

See

Bawbawgyi Pagoda at Sri Ksetra

• 1 Pyu Ancient Cities (Pyu city-states). A world heritage site made up of several ruins around Northern Myanmar, some of them older than 2,000 years. (updated May 2019)

Stay safe

WARNING: Overseas job scams are rampant in Northern Myanmar. People are lured in by offers of a high-paid job with little to no experience or work visa needed, then held hostage under threats of violence and forced to work in call centers, online gambling, etc. See Human trafficking for details. Chinese speakers are most frequently targeted, but others have been trapped as well. If you or somebody you know have been caught in this scam, contact your country's diplomatic mission.

Government travel advisories Hong Kong