The hill town was established during the British rule as their summer retreat, and hence, has the remains of the colonial architecture.

Surrounded by beautiful mountains, rich forests and flora, it inspired many British authors including Jan-Philipp Sendker, who chose Kalaw as his central location for his novel The Art of Hearing Heartbeats. Today, it is popular among backpackers for hiking and its natural beauty. 

The weather is very refreshing in Kalaw for being a hill station almost throughout the year, unlike the rest of the country which has the effects of a humid tropical climate.

Inle Lake

Inle Lake is a freshwater lake located in Nyaungshwe town in Myanmar. It is the second-largest lake in the country and is a significant source of livelihood for more than 80,000 locals. It is also one of the most visited destinations with about a million tourists traveling to Inle every year.

The depth of Inle varies between 5 to 12 meters deep.  The people of the lake are called Intha, an ethnic community unique to Nyaungshwe. Fishing is their primary occupation, and the traditional fisheries involve fishers rowing on one leg and casting the net, which is a famous attraction for tourists. Cigar making, bamboo products, hand-made silk scarves, and silversmithing are other occupations of people inhabiting the villages surrounding Inle Lake. You can take boat trips to visit these factories and to witness life amidst Inle.

Between August to October, there are many festivals held in the lake, which attracts thousands of locals from nearby villages as well as tourists. The most famous are Phaung Daw U Festival, which is celebrated for 18 days, and Thadingyut, the festival of lights.

Kalaw Railway Station

The Kalaw Railway Station is located close to the city centre in Kalaw in Myanmar, and it is one of the heritage sites in the town. The station was built during the British colonial rule and had some of the oldest tracks and locomotive engines that are available for tourists at the display. It is worth visiting to get a glimpse of the town’s past.

Shwe Oo Min Paya

Shwe Oo Min Paya, popularly called Buddha Cave, is a Buddhist cave complex located close to the city of Kalaw in Myanmar. It is the most sacred place in the town for the locals, and also a famous attraction for tourists for the limestone caves consisting of several images of the Buddha. The interiors of the cave and the roofs contain rare paintings from the 10th century depicting Jataka stories.

Aung Chan Tha Zedi

Aung Chan Tha Zedi is an ancient Buddhist temple located in the city of Kalaw in Myanmar. It is a beautiful pagoda famous for the golden and silver mosaic tiles adorning the roof, which glows during the sunset and sunrise, drawing many tourists to Aung Chan Tha.

According to holidify.com