Kayah State

Kayah State — also known as Karenni State — is Myanmar's smallest state and one of its most ethnically rich, home to over a dozen distinct groups including the Kayah, Kayan, Kayaw, Bwe, Geba, and Manumanaw. The region was largely closed to foreign visitors until 1992 and remains one of the least-toured parts of Myanmar, which has preserved a quality of authentic encounter difficult to find elsewhere in the country.

The Kayan (Padaung) people are internationally recognised for the tradition of brass neck rings worn by women from early childhood. The rings elongate the appearance of the neck and are a deeply held mark of cultural identity and beauty within the Kayan tradition. The practice is not universal across the state and is specific to certain Kayan sub-groups. Encounters with Kayan families near Loikaw are best approached with curiosity and respect, guided by local context rather than photography ambitions.

The landscape around Loikaw centres on a series of lakes, bamboo forests, and ridge-top villages. The Kayah Danu crater lake and the stilted villages on Mobye Reservoir are among the most tranquil scenes in eastern Myanmar. The Kachin Manaw festival in January and Kayah traditional harvest celebrations draw communities together in elaborate hand-woven dress, with music and dance lasting multiple days. Timing a visit to coincide with a local festival offers the most vivid introduction to this remarkable region.