Myitkyina is the capital of Kachin State and is Myanmar’s northern most railway terminal, some 919 miles from Yangon and 487 miles from Mandalay. That said most visitors arrive by air and many often set off immediately for Bhamo to start a cruise downstream on the Irrawaddy River. For those who have time to stay in Myitkyina places of note are the Ayeyarwaddy Hsu Taung Pye Pagoda, Andawshin Pagoda and the Museum of the Kachin State. A stay here is also a good opportunity to visit Myitsone which is a picturesque spot, at the confluence of the Mayhka and Malihka rivers, and where the mighty Irrawaddy River starts to form. In the area surrounding Myitkyina there are a number of interesting Kachin villages and it is worth noting that Myitkyina formed part of the ‘Burma Road’ – a supply line that brought goods from India to China during World War II.