If you’re going to be taking a Burma River Cruise, one place that you should definitely consider incorporating into your journey is Thanbyuzayat. This is a town in the Mon State of south-eastern Myanmar. It is a place that has so much to offer in terms of attractions and history, and so you will certainly enjoy stopping here while taking a river cruise. With that being said, below we are going to take a look at some of the different reasons why Thanbyuzayat has become one of the most popular spots for people on river cruises. The best way to experience Thanbyuzayat is on our Undiscovered Burma South cruise extension, where you can experience the Thanbyuzayat Cemetery, where over 3000 allied servicemen are buried. You can also see the western terminus of the Thailand-Burma Railway linking up with the pre-war coastal railway between Ye and Yangon.
Thanphyu Zayat
The History of Thanbyuzayat
The town’s name comes from a white tin zayat, which is situated in the centre of the town. A zayat is simply a Burmese building, which can be found in virtually all Burmese villages. Primarily, it acts as a shelter for travelers. It can also be a meeting place for villagers to discuss plans and village needs, as well as being a gathering place for religious occasions. This specific tin zayat is located at an interjunction, which was a rest place for travelers. It was built by Mi Gee Yut, a Mon lady, back in 1874.
Thanbyuzayat and WW2
You may know Thanbyuzayat because of the role it played in the Second World War. It was the western terminus of the notorious Siam-Burma Railway, which was known as the Death Railway. This area was also a Japanese Prisoner of war camp, which was for prisoners who worked on the construction of the railway. There are more than 3,000 Allied servicemen, mostly British and Australian, buried at the Thanbyuzayat War Cemetery.
Thanbyuzayat War Cemetery
Notable attractions at Thanbyuzayat
When you consider the sheer history of the area, you probably won’t be surprised to learn that there are a number of places of interest in Thanbyuzayat. This not only includes the Death Railway Museum and Thanbyuzayat War Cemetery but it also includes Kyeik Ne' Pagoda Welgalaung Village, Kyaikkhami resort town, hot springs (originally built for WWII Japanese officers), Kyaik Kohgrain Pagoda, Pa-nga Ngapi production village, Pa-nga salt farms, Setse Agar jelly production farms, and Setse beach. One thing is for sure; you will certainly enjoy exploring this part of Myanmar and everything that it has to offer.
You won’t regret visiting Thanbyuzayat
As you can see, Thanbyuzayat is a place with a lot of history, emotion, and many stories behind it. If you are taking a river cruise, this is definitely one of the places you should consider making a stop at in order to make the most of your experience. The town has a lot of history, and it is certainly fun to take the time to explore it and learn about it.
