24/08/2020
⛰ 🏞 Kayah State ⛰🏞
💠Places***
Whether you enjoy visiting established, cultural sites; or heading “off the beaten track” to explore market towns and villages, rubbing shoulders with local folk; Kayah’s colour and diversity will keep you interested. The joy of Kayah is its simplicity, authenticity and rich ethnicity. Village tribes delight in sharing their traditions with visitors. The capital of Kayah state, Loikaw (named by the Shan people) describes the dividing point between two mountains: Shwe Taung and Thiri Mingalar Taung. Loi means mountain and Kaw means separate. The town’s most iconic site is Taung Kwe Pagoda, also known as Broken Mountain, which offers stunning panoramic views of the urban area and surrounding mountains.
💠Villages***
Exploring local communities is, for most visitors, the highlight of their trip to the state of Kayah. The villages of Daw Ta Ma Gyi, Hta Nee La Leh, Htay Kho and Pan Pet offer vibrant contrasts of customs, costume, languages and local dishes. Each provides amazing insights into tribal ethnic cultures, Daw Ta Ma Gyi and Hta Nee La Leh into the Kayah way of life, Pan Pet into Kayan and Htay Kho, Kayaw.
💠Nature***
Kayah’s landscape is a tapestry of fields, rolling hills and lush forests. Visitors can now enjoy soft adventure trekking, accompanied by local guides. Their deep knowledge of wild foods, natural dyes, herbal medicines, and local legends helps to bring the relationships between nature and local people alive, adding insight to adventure. Additionally there are scenic lakes, waterfalls and caves to visit many of which remain very rural and untouched. There a number of natural and embellished caves worth visiting around Kayah State.
💠People***
Kayah state is home to nine distinct ethnic groups, which diversified and evolved from Karen culture. The biggest groups are the Kayah, Kayan, Bre, Lahta, and Yinbaw. Many tribes still practice their indigenous customs, handed down for centuries and dress in their traditional costumes. The Kayah are well known for their bright, red attire. The Kayan are one of Southeast Asia’s most recognisable ethnic groups, due to the practice of wearing bright, brass neck rings. This practice continues to this day but is becoming a rarer occurrence. Traditionally animists, the people of Kayah paid their respects to spirits, through various rituals and sophisticated ceremonies known in Kayah as “Kayhtoboe”. In return for protection, and to appease these spirits in the event of misfortune, villagers would offer animals and food. Today, it is more common for families to follow other faiths like Baptism, Buddhism, Catholicism and Christianity. This religious diversity means tourists can observe local festivities, like Christmas, Easter, Buddhist New Year and Lent as well as Animist harvest festivals.
💠Traditions***
For travellers seeking a deeper connection, Kayah’s charm is experienced in the warmth, friendly curiosity and passion of the people who are proud to share their fascinating traditions and way of life including local crafts, artistry, music and tribal costumes. There is a rich heritage of beliefs known as “Kayhtoboe” and legendary forest skills around which activities revolve...
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