Mount Popa

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Mount Popa
Mount Popa
Elevation	1,518 metres (4,980 feet)
Location	Myanmar
Prominence	1150 m
Coordinates	20°52′0″N, 95°14′00″E
Type	Stratovolcano
Last eruption	442 BCE
Easiest route	hike

Mount Popa (Burmese: ပုပ္ပားတောင္‌; MLCTS: puppa: taung; IPA: [pòʊpá tàʊn]) or Popa Hill is a volcano, said to be extinct, located in central Myanmar (Burma). It can be seen from 60 km (40 mi) away in good weather.

Southwest of Mount Popa is the Taung Kalat, a 737 metre (2,417 feet) volcano peak, which is also sometimes called Mount Popa. On top of it is a buddhist monastery.

From the top of Mount Popa, there are four different views in four directions. One can see the ancient city of Bagan; behind it, a solitary peak rises like Mount Fuji in Japan. There is a big canyon, 610 metres (2000 feet) wide and 914 metres (3000 feet) in depth.

Mt. Popa is considered the abode of Burma's most powerful nats and as such is the most important nat worship center. Many Burmese pilgrims visit Mt. Popa every year, especially at Festival season on the full moon of Nayon (May/June) and the full moon of Nadaw (November/December). This festival is known as Taunghyon (near Mandalay). Before King Anawrahta's time, thousands of animals were sacrificed to the nats during festivals. Burmese superstition says that on Mt. Popa, one should not wear red or black or bring meat, especially pork, as it could offend the resident nats.

Mt. Popa is an oasis in the desert of central Myanmar. The surrounding areas are arid, but the Mt. Popa area has over 200 water streams. Plenty of trees, flowering plants and herbs grow due to the fertile volcanic ash.

At one time, the Buddhist hermit U Khandi maintained the stairway of Mt. Popa.