Farther away, the old British hill station of Kalaw is a great place to escape the heat and take leisurely walks among the pine trees and bamboo groves. More ambitious travellers can trek or mountain bike through stunning mountain scenery to visit Palaung, Pa-O and Danu villages.
The region’s most spectacular event of the year is undoubtedly the fire balloon competition held every November in Taunggyi. Here thousands of people congregate to watch giant paper animals being inflated and sent floating off into the skies above the town. South of Taunggyi is a 16th century pagoda complex called Kekku, consisting of more than 2000 stupas clustered in a small valley. In March, thousands of Pa-O converge on this usually deserted site to camp out for three days and celebrate the Kekku Pagoda Festival by chanting prayers, offering fruit and flowers, and lighting candles.