Mount Zwegabin

Zwegabin (Burmese) Kwekabaw (S'gaw Karen) KweKaBaung (Phlon)
ဇွဲကပင် တောင် ကွဲၢ်ကဘီ ခွဲါက္ၜင်
The Buddha Statues Garden is located near the starting point of the stairs to the top of the mountain. Buildings in the top of the mountain belong to the Mount Zwegabin Monastery.
Highest point
Elevation	722 m (2,369 ft)
Coordinates	16°49′31″N 97°40′08″E / 16.8254°N 97.6690°E / 16.8254; 97.6690
Geography
Zwegabin (Burmese) Kwekabaw (S'gaw Karen) KweKaBaung (Phlon) Location in Myanmar
Location	Kayin State, Myanmar
Parent range	Tenasserim Hills

Mount Zwegabin (Burmese: ဇွဲကပင် တောင်; S'gaw Karen: ကွဲၢ်ကဘီကစၢၢ်; Phlone: ခွဲါက္ၜင်) is a mountain in Myanmar. It is located in Kayin State, in the southern part of the country, around 450 km south of the capital Naypyidaw.^[1] The summit of Zwegabin is 722 metres (2,369 ft) above sea level.

The terrain around Mount Zwegabin is flat to the northwest, but hilly to the southeast. Mount Zwegabin is the highest point in the region. The area surrounding the mountain is quite densely populated, with approximately 155 inhabitants per square kilometer. The closest major city is Hpa-an, located 8.2 kilometres (5.1 mi) northwest of Mount Zwegabin. The landscape around the mountains consists of a mosaic of agricultural land and natural vegetation.

History

Mount Zwegabin is deeply rooted in Karen folklore. According to legend, a Karen brother and sister who suffered hardship under their stepfather were granted spiritual powers for their devotion and became guardians of the mountain.^[2] Their story symbolizes purity, endurance, and protection, giving the site a lasting reputation as a sacred place for both Buddhists and local communities. The tale continues to be told across generations, keeping the mountain alive in Karen oral tradition and cultural identity.

Geology

Mount Zwegabin is part of a local limestone-karst upland north of Hpa-an, in Kayin State. Geological studies refer to the “Zwekabin Range” as a series of isolated limestone hills, where the underlying rock includes the Paungnyo (Taungnyo) Formation (Carboniferous–Permian) overlain by Moulmein Limestone. ^[3] The karst landscape is characterized by steep cliffs, caves, sinkholes and rugged outcrops that rise from the surrounding plains, formed through long-term erosion of former shallow marine limestone deposits and subsequent tectonic uplift.

The limestone nature of the mountain gives rise to its dramatic twin peaks, steep escarpments and its distinctive karst features that dominate the landscape around Hpa-an.

Wildlife

The forests surrounding Mount Zwegabin are rich in biodiversity and home to several endemic species. Botanists have identified a new flowering plant, Globba zwegabinensis, named after the mountain where it was first discovered.^[4] The area also supports a wide variety of native birds, butterflies, and small mammals, reflecting the ecological importance of Kayin State’s limestone habitats. Conservationists have urged stronger protection to prevent habitat loss from tourism-related development and deforestation.

Conservation

Mount Zwegabin and the surrounding landscape are currently being reviewed by the Environmental Conservation Department (ECD) for possible inclusion in Myanmar’s protected landscape program. Local and international organizations, including Fauna & Flora International, have supported community-based conservation efforts aimed at protecting native species and maintaining ecological balance. These initiatives highlight the need to balance tourism growth with environmental responsibility.

Tourism

For centuries, Mount Zwegabin has been a major Buddhist pilgrimage site. Pilgrims climb to the summit pagoda, which is said to enshrine a sacred relic of the Buddha.^[5] The trail to the top, lined with hundreds of statues of meditating monks, offers one of the most scenic hikes in the region. Since Myanmar’s political opening in 2010, the mountain has become increasingly popular with both local and international tourists seeking a blend of natural beauty and spiritual experience.

Community-based tourism projects now aim to preserve the environment while supporting local livelihoods. Many travelers also visit nearby Kyaiktiyo Pagoda (“Golden Rock”), often combining both sites as part of a wider pilgrimage route through Kayin and Mon States.

Climate

The best time to visit Mount Zwegabin is from November to February, during the cool and dry season. Clear skies and comfortable temperatures make hiking more enjoyable. However, as this is also the busiest time for visitors, early morning climbs are recommended to avoid crowds and midday heat. The monsoon months from May to October can make the trails slippery, though the surrounding forest is at its greenest during this time.

Development

Tourism-related development around Mount Zwegabin has grown in recent years. The Myanmar Native Land Public Company has announced plans to invest approximately $12–15 million to build bungalows, a shopping area, and visitor facilities following the completion of a cable car project. ^[6]Eco-friendly restrooms and rest shelters have also been introduced near the summit to improve accessibility while minimizing environmental damage. Environmental assessments by NGOs emphasize that all future projects should preserve the fragile limestone ecosystem and local biodiversity.

Religious significance

The Zwegabin Mountain Hair Relic Pagoda is believed to date back to the same era as other major Buddhist pilgrimage sites such as Kyaiktiyo Pagoda, Zin Kyaik Mountain Pagoda, and Mulae Pagoda.^[7] Every year, thousands of pilgrims visit during religious festivals to pay homage, meditate, and offer prayers. The sacred relics, combined with the mountain’s folklore, reaffirm its place as a center of faith, devotion, and cultural pride among the Karen people.

See also

• Saddan Cave
• List of mountains in Myanmar

References

1. "GeoNames.org". www.geonames.org. Retrieved 14 October 2017.
2. Ministry of Hotels and Tourism (2024). "mon-kayin-booklet-2024" (PDF). toursism.com.mm.
3. "JOURNAL OF THE MYANMAR ACADEMY OF ARTS AND SCIENCE" (PDF). Journal of the Myanmar Academy of Arts and Science.
4. Hsu, Saw (15 January 2025). "A new flower species Globba zwegabinensis discovered in Zwegabin mountain". NP News.
5. "Mount Zwegabin Tourism".
6. ဘိုဘိုမြင့် (မော်လမြိုင်) (30 January 2022). "ဇွဲကပင်တောင်ခရီး". Eleven News.
7. "Myanmar National Portal". Myanmar National Portal.

External links

• "Viewfinder Panoramas Digital elevation Model" (2015-6-21).
• "Zwekabin Taung" said "Geonames.org (cc-by)" Geonames.org]; mail updated 2016-06-01; database download downloaded 2016-10-22
• "NASA Earth Observations: Population Density NASA/SEDAO
• "NASA Earth Observations: Land Cover Classification" NASA/MODES
• Peel, M. C.; Finlayson, B. L.; McMahon, T. A. (2007). "Updated world map of the Köppen-Geiger climate classification" (PDF). Hydrology and Earth System Sciences. 11 (5): 1633–1644. Bibcode:2007HESS...11.1633P. doi:10.5194/hess-11-1633-2007. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2019-12-02. Retrieved 2025-11-07.
• "NASA Earth Observations Data set Index NASA
• "NASA Earth Observations: Rainfall (1 month-TRMM) NASA/Tropical Rainfall Monitoring Mission