On 30 March 2011, President Thein Sein appointed Thein Nyunt as chairman of the Naypyidaw Council, along with 9 chair members: Than Htay, Colonel Myint Aung Than, Kan Chun, PaingSoe, Saw Hla, MyintSwe, MyintShwe and MyoNyunt.

Nay Pyi Taw (pronounced ‘Naypiddaw’, meaning ‘Abode of Kings’, and sometimes abbreviated to NPT) has been the capital of Myanmar since 2005. A massive and bizarrely empty place, it is a gaudy, multi-lane highway strewn testament to the power of the generals who ruled (and to some extent, continue to rule) this country.

Nay Pyi Taw has recently held a number of large-scale events, including the Southeast Asian Games and World Economic Forum, so there has been a big drive for accommodation infrastructure and as a result you will find a large selection of business-standard hotels at reasonable prices (unlike in Yangon, where prices are high).

Most conferences and events in Nay Pyi Taw are held at one of the huge Myanmar International Convention Centres (MICC 1 or 2), which are close to the main hotel zones; they both have quick, free wifi. Unlike the rest of Myanmar, most of Nay Pyi Taw has round-the-clock electricity and most hotels have good internet speeds.

Although the primary focus of Nay Pyi Taw is the business of government, there are a variety of things for visitors and tourists to keep themselves occupied:

• The Water Fountain parkis well worth a visit and is best seen at sunset; the main attraction is a fountain show, where the fountains dance in time with music. There's also a big play area, and a tower you can climb up with good views of the city.
• The huge Uppatasanti Pagoda, a replica of Yangon's Shwedagon Pagodabuilt in 2009, is impressive - and has the added attraction of being able to walk inside its domed interior. It was built just 30cm shorter than the Shwedagon in order to not upstage its historically revered counterpart. Outside the pagoda are six white elephants, intended to be auspicious but in reality a rather depressing sight.
• The National Museumis home to a range of artifacts reflecting Myanmar's past, from fossils up to 20th century political history. Like many museums in Myanmar, it is poorly curated but does offer some points of interest. K5,000 entry fee.
• The Pyidaungsu Hluttaw, Myanmar's vast 31-building parliament, is a sight to behold and also gives a chance to see the Nay Pyi Taw's widest highway, with 12 lanes of empty road in each direction. Normally the Hluttaw can only be viewed from a distance, but you can get a guided tour of the buildings with a pre-arranged permit
• The towering statues of three old kings, presumably designed to reflect the power of the generals, feature on postcards in Myanmar (often accompanied by military parades) – but are in fact off-limits to visitors.

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