Another popular day tour stop
Published/Last edited or updated: 20th June, 2016
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.
Reviewed by
Mark Ord
Based in Chiang Mai, Mark Ord has been travelling Southeast Asia for over two decades and first crossed paths with Travelfish on Ko Lipe in the early 1990s.
Our top 10 other sights and activities in and around Hpa-an
Some of Burma's most stunning landscapes
Simply gorgeous
Bustling and busy
A bit of an adventure
Beautiful views
Picturesque
Spectacular park, stunning setting
Beautiful
Attractive cave temple, pesky monkeys
A well-kept secret