Situated five miles from NyaungU Township on the NyaungU-Pakokku-Myingyan road along the Ayeyawady River bank, the Palinkanthaya elephant resort was established by the My­anma Timber Enterprise, operat­ing under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation. It serves as a rec­reational spot where pilgrims visiting the Bagan-NyaungU an­cient cultural zone often make a stopover.

An official from the Myanma Timber Enterprise said, “Both domestic and international vis­itors to Bagan also frequent the Palinkanthaya elephant resort, as both sites are tourist attractions. With an increasing number of tourists visiting Bagan during the Thingyan Festival, we are prepar­ing the elephant resort for visitors to partake in water-throwing ac­tivities during the festival.” Within the compound of the elephant re­sort, there is a playground and a small garden for children to enjoy. The elephant museum exhibits African and Asian elephants, as well as details on how the staff of the Myanma Timber Enterprise care for the elephants, their living conditions, and feeding arrange­ments. — ASH/TMT