Set on the Sittang River estuary, where the Southeast Asian land divides between two sections of the Andaman coast, Kyaikto is known for its only major attraction, the Kyaiktiyo rock. The town is one of the favoured base points (the other being nearby Kinpun) for visiting this unforgettable Buddhist pilgrimage destination that is today one of the country’s most famous religious sites. Devotees come in hordes to pay homage to the gravity-defying Golden Rock, said to be suspended on its perch more than 1,000 meters up by a strand of Buddha’s hair. Here, against the backdrop of shrines alive with incense and chanting monks, Kyaikto tour guides reveal the mythic tales of the great Buddha, the hermit Taik Tha and the famous Kyaukthanban Pagoda (which can also been seen here). Many a believer walk barefoot up, scaling the altitudinous, hair-raising walkways to add their offering of gold leaf to the legendary boulder (only men can touch it though!) before making the roller coaster like truck journey back down the hills.