Map of the Pilgrimage to Kyaiktiyo

In 1982 the pilgrimage to Kyaiktiyo was very infrequently undertaken by non-Burmese. It was a 12km trek from the village of Kinpun to the shrine itself. There was no “road” with trucks to take you to a 45 minute walk from the top. While one of the most important pilgrimages in Burma, it was practically unknown amongst travelers. If a Westerner asked you where you'd been and you said “Kyaiktiyo”, they'd look at you with a blank stare. But if you said that to the Burmese they'd look at you with big eyes and say, “You?! You went to Kyaiktiyo?!”

Photo circa 1982.