Four hills surround Mogok, and their names correspond to the cardinal directions. Viewpoints at pagodas and Mogok Lake add different perspectives to the landscape; two pagodas also hold annual festivals. When planning your trip, you can therefore choose between landscape views and the cultural calendar: which view interests you, and would you like a festival to be the main focus of your visit?

Hills and Views in Mogok

The four hills are Kyayni Hill to the east, at 6,733 feet; Pintku Hill to the west, at 5,345 feet; Htinshu Hill to the north, at 5,606 feet; and Taungme Hill to the south, at 7,544 feet. Of the four, Taungme is the highest and Pintku the lowest. In order of elevation, Taungme is followed by Kyayni, Htinshu and Pintku; the figures thus complement the geographic division by cardinal direction with a clear comparison. The elevation difference between the highest and lowest of the four hills is 2,199 feet.

Daw Nang Kyi Hill, at 5,277 feet, is also located west of Mogok. The elevation difference between it and nearby Pintku Hill, also to the west, at 5,345 feet, is 68 feet. This makes it possible to compare the two western hills by name and by their closely spaced elevation figures.

The hill of Chan Thar Gyi Pagoda in the Shan Taw quarter is one of the viewpoints overlooking Mogok. From Shwezigon Pagoda, the panorama extends across Mogok and the mountains. Mogok Lake can be seen up close and is considered a good place to watch the sunset. The different viewpoints therefore offer different highlights: a view of the town, a panorama of the town and mountains, or the evening sun by the lake.

Pagodas and Annual Festivals

Chan Thar Gyi Pagoda was built in 1538 by King Min Khaung. Its annual pagoda festival takes place in February. The construction year and festival month provide two different points of reference: the year belongs to the history of the building, while February indicates the recurring festival period.

Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda has been located in the Htin Shu Chan quarter of Mogok since 1946. Its festival lasts five days each year, from the 11th to the 15th day of the Burmese calendar month of Thabaung. Thabaung is a month in the Burmese calendar that corresponds to March.

The dates are presented differently: February is given for Chan Thar Gyi, while for Phaung Daw Oo the five-day duration and the days in the Burmese calendar are also specified. If you are planning your trip around one of the festivals, check the exact dates for the year in question.

Discover more destinations: Popaywa, Yandabo, Kyaukse, Nyaung U, Pyin Oo Lwin, Mandalay

For the broader travel overview: Mandalay Division.