Magway Region: Wildlife Sanctuary, Pagodas and Festivals

Wildlife sanctuary and wildlife

The Shwesettaw Wildlife Sanctuary offers a concrete insight into nature conservation in Magway Region. The protected area covers 213.4 square miles in Minbu (Sagu) Township and was established in 1940 to protect the catchment areas of the Mone and Mann streams, as well as tropical forests. A catchment area is the region from which water flows into a stream; the sanctuary’s purpose therefore links forest protection with water management. Those interested in landscape conservation will find a focus here that brings both together.

The Eld’s deer is considered rare and endemic, meaning it is native to only a limited area. During the Mann Shwe Settaw Pagoda Festival, visitors can observe and learn more about star tortoises and Eld’s deer in the wildlife sanctuary. This connects the wildlife with a seasonal occasion. If wildlife observation is one of your interests, this festival period is an important point of reference for planning.

Pagoda festivals and their dates

The Mann Shwe Settaw Pagoda Festival lasts eleven days and begins on the fifth waxing day of the month of Tabodwe. The corresponding Gregorian dates vary. Therefore, check the dates for your travel year if you would like to plan around the festival. The traditional calendar determines when the festival begins, making its date an important part of travel preparations.

The Pakokku Thiho Shin Pagoda Festival also takes place annually. Traditional music, dance and devotional rituals are part of the experience there. In addition, several festivals honoring pagodas are held in Magway Region. The two specific examples offer different points of reference for your interests: the duration and lunar calendar help you plan for the Mann Shwe Settaw Festival, while music, dance and rituals take center stage in Pakokku. Check the dates for the relevant travel year.

Places and sightseeing interests

Minbu in Magway Region lies on the banks of the Ayeyawady River. This riverside location provides another geographical point of reference alongside the Mone and Mann catchment areas in the Shwesettaw Wildlife Sanctuary. The landscape therefore encompasses both water and forest conservation and Minbu’s location on the Ayeyawady.

A 2023 tourism report names Myathalun Pagoda in the city of Magway, as well as Setkeinte Pagoda and Nagabwat Hill in Minbu Township, as tourist destinations. The same report names the Bogyoke Museum in Natmauk as another destination. These place names help distinguish between different sightseeing interests: pagodas in Magway and Minbu, a hill destination in Minbu and a museum in Natmauk.

In the wider destination of Myanmar, Buddhist pilgrims from across the region continue to venerate the shrines at the religious monuments of the Pyu Ancient Cities. This ongoing practice broadens the focus from the pagoda festivals of Magway Region to religious sites in Myanmar.

Discover more destinations: Pakokku, Payagon, Magway, Yenangyaung, Kachin State, Myaungmya, Naypyitaw Union Territory, Ayeyarwady.

Return to the main travel overview: Myanmar.