Kaw Kathaung Cave

Though perhaps not as spectacular as other sites in the region, it’s one of the most prestigious and popular for local tourists, so it can get rather crowded on a busy day.

Kaw Kathaung is another usual stop off in any Zwegabin day tour. Various religious buildings and statues lie outside the entrance to the shallow cave temple at the foot of the limestone cliff, including an unusual maze on the right just before the gate to the main compound. Follow the rough track along the base of the cliff and you’ll see several other shrines and small caves before arriving at a sacred spring spouting from the rock face. This supplies a clear pool at the foot of the rocks which is popular with bathing locals. Around the pool are numerous cafes on bamboo stilts although sadly the stilts seem to serve to raise the seating areas above the mounds of rubbish as much as anything else. The cafes serve some decent Thai and local food as well as drinks but they do have a serious refuse problem.

If you take the dirt track heading straight on instead of turning right to the cave entrance you’ll reach Lat Ka Na Bridge, a low concrete walkway leading across paddy to a nearby Karen village of the same name. We’ve seen more picturesque in Burma but the bridge and scenic village are again popular with local tourists, photographers and apparently karaoke video makers.