One day in Yenanchaung

It was a region friendly with me since I read school textbooks in my childhood. The region was friendlier with me in reading fiction books when I was in teenage life. I have never considered paying a visit to such region. While reading the books related to such region, I have felt suffocation and hotness. Actually, it was a lovely town with hospitality for the guests.

Although there were no so many attractions, the historic town still preserves buildings in colonial era.

Yenanchaung, the land of oil wells dubbed as black gold possesses lovely beauty which cannot meet panoramic scenes of dry region of Myanmar despite hotness in summer. On my way to Bagan, I took a spare time to visit Yenanchaung. Although there were no so many attractions, the historic town still preserves buildings in colonial era.

Five names of Yenanchaung

Everybody immediately knows Yenanchaung is included in Magway District of Magway Region. In the post-war era, government offices opened in the town located on the eastern bank of Ayeyawady River. It was named Seiktha Kunhtauk, Kyaukka, Yenantha and ever lighting city (Meemanyein City). As of 1973, its name has been Yenanchaung, the fourth largest city in Magway Region.

I noticed Yenanchaung is a native land of Abbot Ashin Chandadhika, writers Juu, Myat Nyein and Thet Oo Maung (Chauk) and vocalists Ko Tin Hlaing and Yenantha Soe Hlaing. Moreover, it was the land of school where national leader General Aung San attended. It was the land of marking the first May Day celebration.

Climatic conditions

I think it does not need to compose hotness of the town. But, all the guests can prefer hotness of the city. Despite hotness, some parts of the town are formed with hilly areas. The guests can taste travel feeling on their ways among hills but these hills are barren among vast dry plains in its environs.

Attractions in Yenanchaung

Buildings in colonial era are attractive to guests. In the past, film directors choose Yenanchaung to create films portraying the past events. Actually, Yenanchaung is the second Hollywood of Myanmar apart from PyinOoLwin. So many films created in Yenanchaung caught attention of the people. Not only local people but also student youths will give a helping hand to you when you visit the attractions. Their help and hospitality is one of the facts to pay visit to the town.

Stone inscription chamber for Tri Pittakat treatises

It can be said as Yenanchaung stone inscription chamber. Cornerstones were laid down for the chamber on 13 October 1914 and construction completed on 21 October 1925. It is located on Yadanagiri Hill in Ponnagon Ward. The chamber, the pagoda, the prayer hall and the Buddha image were donated by oil well owner U Tha Kan and wife Daw Khin Thin including daughter Khin Ma Ma Gyi. The chamber showcases 114 stone plaques for Vinaya treatise, 213 plaques for Abhidhamma and 124 plaques for Suttan. I noticed the famous novel with the title of “Paramiphet Khin Mon (1982) written by writer Nyein Kyaw was based on the stone inscription from the chamber.

Oil wells

These are good scenes for taking photos rather than travelling. Especially, the scenes along Yenanchaung-Chauk road are attractive to photographers to take wonderful photos. But, the oil wells are operating themselves, and it is difficult to ask about the oil wells because of lack of people there. Please refer my photo at the top.

Sanaynan Stupa

Only when Sanaynan Stupa is included in the talks about Yenanchaung, will its history be complete. The stupa was one of 84,000 stupas built by King Asoka from India. The stupa built on 218 Sasana era is located on Awatagiri Hill. Its name is Shwemuhtaw, then Shwemyintin and now Sanaynan because the site of pagoda was moved and moved to the southwest corner of the town.

The house with 99 doors

It is eminent in Yenanchaung. Taking a position near Sanaynan Stupa, the house is formed with ninety nine doors. Except 99 doors, it does not have any amazing things but it can bring the souls of guests to the past. Readers seem the house as residence of the novel with the title of Yenantha Khin Khin Gyi created by writer Maung Thein Hsaing. All the travellers went to the house without fail. However, owners of house will not allow any guests to visit there. It will be just a trip to the house for taking photos.

Eight-dimensioned Hsutaungpyae Pagoda

The pagoda takes a position on a hillock where travellers can enjoy aerial views of the town. Travellers should enjoy scenes from the hillock in the morning and evening. Travel in the afternoon to the pagoda was inappropriate because I felt hotness.

Yananchaung Degree College

I have never specified universities and schools as travel attractions. Now, I expressed signboard in front of the degree college and the lovely road, rather than visiting on the campus. I was pleasure for looking at the degree college portrayed in the novels of writers.

Hillock of Cupid

The Hillock of Cupid is on the lovely ground situation as a favourable attraction mentioned in the novels of writer Juu. The hillock was improved in public recreation style, facilitated with heart-shaped frames for taking photos, seats for taking relaxation and sports gear for taking physical exercises. I felt walking flavour on dried grass and crawling dwarf plants with spikes on the hillock as well as strolling along a small ravine. But, travellers need to take care of plunging into the ravine while taking photos. In fact, they should pay visit to the Hillock of Cupid in the morning and evening.

Pinn Creek

Proper sites for taking a bath can be seen along the bank of Pinn Creek. The creek will be full of water in monsoon but only narrow waterway streams in summer. So, travellers can swim in the waterway happily while going for a picnic. Food stalls are alive both upstream and downstream Pinn Creek. I prefer to visit the site with wide scene beside the bridge.

NatkanU Valley

It is a good site for conducting geological surveys. A record was mentioned that soil particles are of Kyaukkok Formation (Irrawaddy Formation). The valley is in shape of pavement between two rocks. Some parts of the valley are 31 feet high. The whole route is 1,871 feet long. Some scripts were created by youth travellers on the walls. Some parts of the walls were depicted with pictures. If beautiful paintings can be created on walls of both sides, it may be attractive to travellers. Such a site is beautiful for taking photos and observing geological conditions.

Yenanchaung is a lovely town despite not so many travelling sites. Travellers can pay visits to religious edifices including Pin Sakkalanpa Pagoda in Yenanchaung. The buildings in works of colonial era take positions inside and outside the town. Large water tankers made of iron sheets are also catching attentions of travellers.

Modern lodges in Yenanchaung welcome the guests. But I could not stay there. Yenanchaung shows its beauties as a poem. In fact, Yenanchaung is always bearing lovely scenes in three seasons. It is sure that the travellers who visited Yenanchaung once would have a thought to pay visit to it once more because of its specific ground situation among other towns in the central Myanmar.

Have a nice trip!

Thiha Lu Lin (Thiha, the Traveller)

Photo :: Thiha Lu Lin, Min Hsann

Camera :: SONY Alpha 7II with 16 - 35mm & 85mm Lens, DJI Spark & Canon 6D

Photos are modified in Lightroom by Thiha Lu Lin

Translated by Than Tun Aung.