Pyay or Prome

Pyay or former Prome was the center of Myanmar long time ago

in terms of culture and history this is one of the oldest part in the country together with Mon State and Bagan , it is also known as Thayekhetaya or Srikshetra. To travel there from from Yangon is no big deal because the road is quite good and runs partly along the Irrawaddy river.

Pyay was formerly known as Prome and is only about 160km northwest of Yangon. The area around is one with a very high historical record. Today it’s a drive through paddy fields through the delta, beside of the road train travel is possible too. 

The train from Yangon passes the city and moves on to Bagan, this was the first railway line built in Myanmar under the British in 1877. Situated on the eastern bank of the Irrawaddy or Ayeyarwady River and some interesting pagodas, Pyu archaeological sites and a small museum at Srikshetra  and  make it an ideal day trip. Wana stay longer? No problem there is a pretty functioning hotel there.

Pyay or Prome shrine from the 15th Century

At the Srikshetra Museum

The kings urne at the museum

When sightseeing around Srikshetra  better take a guide with you, there are an awful lot of poisonous snakes in the area and it is important to watch out where to walk.

Pyay or Prome old pagoda from the 15th Century

Present day this is a sleepy town with a small river harbor.

The founding of the early Pyu kingdoms are legends related to a king called Duttabaung there are some more extensive archaeological information. It indicates that they are a ethnicity of Tibet who appear to have settled in the Irrawaddy valley about the same time as the Mon but much further north. 

Three major sites are known until today which are Srikshetra, Beik-thano near Taung'dwin-gyi further to the north, and Halin in the Shwebo district north of Mandalay. Continues excavation and archaeological research uncovered bricks, pottery, coins and jewellery at Hmaing-maw south of Kyauk-hse, Bhindaka near Pyaw-bwe, Chun Hla north of Shwebo, Mataya north of Mandalay, and at Kyaikatha near the delta of the Sittang River. All this indicate that Pyu culture was much more widespread and more closely related to earlier Neolithic cultures as previously thought, it reveal that the Pyu had an imposing civilization.

Pyay or Prome countryside