Travel Guide Pakokku

Located north of Bagan, across the Ayeyarwady, the small town of Pakokku was the scene of major political protests by monks in 2007. Beyond its political-social past, it is also a rather pleasant little country with some interesting monasteries. But Pakokku is known for its bridge, often nicknamed the Pakokku Bridge. A veritable mastodon of scrap metal, the bridge spans the Ayeyarwady. Inaugurated in 2012, a few years ago now, it remains one of the longest bridges in Myanmar. It is about four kilometres long. The bridge is used for road transport, but also for rail transport, allowing buses to connect Pakokku and Nyaung Oo, which is only about 20 kilometres away. From Pakokku, one can also take a boat down the Ayeyarwady to Nyaung Oo, provided that the bottom is not too sandy during the dry season.