Hpa-an

File:Shwe Yin Myaw.jpg

Legend has it that Hpa-An was created by the dragon king and the frog king. King Mandu (မဏ္ဍုဖားမင်းကြီး), a giant frog lived the top of the Mount Hpan Pu. One day, while out searching for food, he saw a large magic ruby with an emerald club placed on the throne in the foot cave of Mount Hpan Pu, and the frog king thought the ruby was his food and swallowed it. He gained powers by swallowing the magic ruby and was able to resist his enemy, the dragon king. The place where the dragon king vomited the frog king is called Hpa-An (lit. 'vomit frog').{{cite news |title=ဖားပုတောင်ပေါ်မှ လှပသောမြင်ကွင်းတစ်ခွင် |url=https://mrtv.gov.mm/en/news-147365 |work=Myanma Radio and Television |date=22 April 2022 |language=en}} The impressive statues of these figures can be seen in the Shwe Yin Myaw Pagoda's compound.

Hpa-An has an extreme tropical monsoon climate (Köppen Am). Temperatures are hot throughout the year, although maximum temperatures are somewhat depressed in the monsoon season due to heavy cloud and rain. There is a winter dry season (November–April) and a summer wet season (May–October). Torrential rain falls from June to September, with over {{convert|1100|mm|in}} per month in July and August.

{{Weather box

|location = Hpa-An (1991–2020)

|metric first = Y

|single line = Y

|width = auto

|Jan high C = 34.0

|Feb high C = 35.9

|Mar high C = 37.3

|Apr high C = 37.9

|May high C = 33.9

|Jun high C = 30.2

|Jul high C = 29.2

|Aug high C = 28.9

|Sep high C = 31.0

|Oct high C = 34.0

|Nov high C = 34.6

|Dec high C = 33.6

|year high C = 33.4

|Jan mean C = 26.0

|Feb mean C = 27.5

|Mar mean C = 29.6

|Apr mean C = 31.1

|May mean C = 29.1

|Jun mean C = 26.9

|Jul mean C = 26.3

|Aug mean C = 26.2

|Sep mean C = 27.3

|Oct mean C = 28.9

|Nov mean C = 28.3

|Dec mean C = 26.3

| year mean C = 27.8

|Jan low C = 18.0

|Feb low C = 19.0

|Mar low C = 21.9

|Apr low C = 24.4

|May low C = 24.3

|Jun low C = 23.7

|Jul low C = 23.4

|Aug low C = 23.4

|Sep low C = 23.7

|Oct low C = 23.8

|Nov low C = 22.0

|Dec low C = 19.0

| year low C = 22.2

|rain colour = green

|Jan rain mm = 8.5

|Feb rain mm = 3.0

|Mar rain mm = 17.2

|Apr rain mm = 43.5

|May rain mm = 380.4

|Jun rain mm = 845.8

|Jul rain mm = 1126.6

|Aug rain mm = 1120.2

|Sep rain mm = 614.1

|Oct rain mm = 189.1

|Nov rain mm = 27.8

|Dec rain mm = 15.3

|year rain mm = 4391.3

|unit rain days = 1.0 mm

|Jan rain days = 0.5

|Feb rain days = 0.3

|Mar rain days = 1.4

|Apr rain days = 3.9

|May rain days = 18.1

|Jun rain days = 26.8

|Jul rain days = 28.5

|Aug rain days = 28.8

|Sep rain days = 23.8

|Oct rain days = 12.1

|Nov rain days = 2.2

|Dec rain days = 0.9

|year rain days = 147.3

|source 1 = World Meteorological Organization{{cite web

| url = https://www.nodc.noaa.gov/archive/arc0216/0253808/1.1/data/0-data/Region-2-WMO-Normals-9120/Myanmar/CSV/Hpaan_48099.csv

| title = World Meteorological Organization Climate Normals for 1991–2020

| publisher = World Meteorological Organization

| access-date = 16 October 2023}}

}}

Air

Hpa-An was linked to Yangon, Mawlamyine and Hpapun by air but the airport ceased operations.

Buses

There are express buses from Hpa-An to Yangon, Mawlamyine, the border crossing at Myawaddy and other towns.

• 1953: 4,100
• 1983: 41,500
• 2014: 421,525

• Computer University, Hpa-An
• Hpa-An Education College
• Hpa-An Nursing Training School
• Hpa-An University
• Technological University, Hpa-An

File:Zwegabin Monastery pagoda.jpg

The majority of residents are Theravada Buddhists, followed by Baptist, Anglican and Roman Catholics.

File:Saddan Cave-20.jpg]]

File:Kyauk Ka Lat-3.jpg

File:Thanlwin Bridge seen from Bat Cave.jpg

File:Hpa An 07.jpg]]

Kayin State Cultural Museum is located in Hpa-An. Mount Zwegabin and Mount Taung Wine are attractive places for visitors, as well as Kyauk Ka Lat Pagoda in which the sacred hair relic of Buddha is enshrined. Hpa An is famous for many limestone caves, like

• Bayin Nyi Naung Cave,
• Yathae Byan Cave,
• Kawgon Cave (or Kawgoon Cave),
• Kaw-ka-thaung Cave and
• Saddan Cave
• Linno Cave

Such caves are well worth visiting because of their incredibly beautiful landscapes and ancient Buddha images and other cultural items in them which were once less known due to regional instability.

The Shwe Yin Myaw Pagoda and Thit Hta Man Aung Pagoda are in the center of Hpa-an. Enjoying the beauty of Than Lwin River from the platform of the pagoda is an opportunity that should not be missed. Other interesting places are Kyone Htaw Waterfall which is 2 hours driving from Hpa-an, and the Saddan Cave (mentioned above) which is the biggest and longest cave in Kayin State.{{cite web |url=http://myanmarcaves.wikidot.com/saddan-hai-sin-caves-hpa-an |title = Saddan & Hai Sin caves (Hpa An) - Caves of Myanmar}} The beautiful Kan Thar Yar Lake and its bridge are the heart of Kayin State.

• Hpa-An General Hospital
• Taung Kalay Military Hospital

Zwegabin United FC founded in 2010, is based in Hpa-An. The club is competing in Myanmar National League.

File:Mount Zwegabin 7.jpg towards Hpa An.]]

Mount Zwegabin is around 8.5 km south of Hpa An. It is visited by tourists for its views and natural environment.{{Cite news|url=http://www.globemad.com/adventure-guide-blog-on-trekking-mt-zwegabin-myanmar/|title=The Ultimate Backpacking Experience|date=2016-08-21|access-date=2018-05-30|language=en-GB}}

At Bayint Nyi cave (literally: "King's Younger Brother cave"), a climbing site developed with support from The Technical Climbing Club of Myanmar (TCCM) and a number of expats in Yangon who belong to Myanmar Rock Community (MRC), is an ongoing project having started in 2015. The club is now beginning to attract interest from local people which is helping fuel a growing interest in the sport of rock climbing around Myanmar.https://www.facebook.com/climbmyanmar/?ref=ts&fref=ts {{User-generated source|certain=yes|date=March 2022}}{{cite web |url=https://www.mountainproject.com/v/hpa-an/110521642 |title = Rock Climbing in Hpa-An Area, Hpa-An Area}}

{{Reflist}}

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• {{Wikivoyage-inline|Hpa-an}}

{{Kayin State}}

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Category:Township capitals of Myanmar

Category:Populated places in Kayin State