Scenic Kan Thar Yar Lake lies just on the south side of Hpa-an and aside from making a convenient waypoint for a stroll around town it’s a worthwhile destination in its own right.
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The northwestern edge of the lake abuts BEHS (School) Road and affords fine views across the tree-lined eastern section of the lake, beyond which some limestone outcrops create a photogenic backdrop. Also at this end of the lake is a picturesque wooden footbridge with a roofed seating area in the middle. Locals will sell bags of bread at the end of the bridge if you want to feed the already well-fed resident catfish population.
Continuing south around the lakeside takes you to the pedal boats for hire. It’s 500 kyat per person or 1,000 per boat for a 40-minute paddle in a fibreglass duck. The boat hire guys also run a very welcome lakeshore cafe with strategically placed tables and chairs, cold beers and rather good and cheap Thai food dishes. They close up after sunset around 19:00-ish and the boss, having worked for more than a decade on Bangkok’s Khao San Road, speaks fluent Thai and good English.
A pleasant stroll around town could take you from the central market past the clock-tower before winding up on School Road to the lake. Heading west from the lake then takes you down to the riverside, where a right turn leads you back to Shweyinhmyaw Pagoda and the town centre.
What next?
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Read up on where to eat on Hpa-an.
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