Myitkyina is the capital of the Kachin State home to a colourful ethnic race and their festivals. Myanmar's highest snow-capped mountain Khakabo Razi (5881 m) lies in the Putao town, a half hour's flight from Myitkyina. The confluence to two small tributaries, N'mai Kha and Mali Kha, which grows into Ayeyawady as it flows southwards, is also a beautiful place to visit. The State is also home to the best jade mines in the world coveted mostly by the Chinese as they believe jade brings peace and good fortune.

Hkakabo Razi

         Mount Kinabalu in Malaysia is often depicted as the highest mountain in Southeast Asia, especially by locally based promoters of ecotourism. Actually Kinabalu, a mere 4,101 metres tall, is dwarfed by Myanmar's Mount Hkakabo or Hkakaborazi, which towers 5,881 metres or 19,269 feet above sea level.

         Furthermore Kinabalu is relatively easy to climb, as attested by the many mountaineering teams that have successfully scaled its heights, where as Hkakaborazi was conquered only as recently as 1996 September 15 by takes by Takeshi Ozaki of Japan and Nama Johnson of Myanmar. For that matter Kinabalu is not even the second tallest mountain in Southeast Asia, that honour rightfully belonging to Indonesia's Mount Puncak Jaya, which stands a little over 5,000 metres high.

         Mount Hkakabo is located in Naung Mon Township in Putao District of the Kachin State. It is situated in the extreme North of Myanmar and is perenially snow-capped, being part of the Eastern Himalayan Region. Hkakaborazi lies in the Hkakaborazi Protected Area which covers 3812 Square kilometers and the head waters of the great Ayeyawadi River, Myanmar's main artery for commerce and navigation, are to be found here.

         Communications are difficult in the Hakaborazi forests and mountain slopes. Streams have to be crossed on precarious rattan bridges slung across the gorges sometimes hundreds of feet above the rushing torrents and rocky stream-beds. For the most part, journeys are made on foot along footpaths that hug the mountain sides and wind through dense jungle undergrowth. Every few miles you may come across small encampments of road maintenance workers where you may take shelter for the night without any payment other than for firewood.

Where to stay in Myitkyina!

Sumpra Hotel
10, Thida Aye Quarter, Shatapril, Myitkyina, Myanmar.
Ph: 22298

Hpakant

          148 km west, and outside the limit, of Myintkyina. The first 80 km to Kamaing is via a sealed road; the rest is an unsealed dry-weather road.