Kandawgyi Palace Hotel, Luxury hotel near Kandawgyi Lake, Myanmar
The Kandawgyi Palace Hotel was a five-story timber structure incorporating traditional Burmese design features, located on the eastern side of Kandawgyi Lake. The building contained 96 rooms positioned to offer views of the lake and the Shwedagon Pagoda.
The building was originally constructed in 1934 as the Rangoon Rowing Club and was repurposed as a Japanese welfare facility during World War II. After 1948, it was converted into a biological museum before eventually operating as a luxury hotel.
The building combined traditional Burmese design with hospitality spaces, showcasing craftsmanship that had been passed down through generations in the region. Visitors could see this heritage expressed through woodwork and decorative details throughout the rooms.
The timber structure required careful maintenance given the hot and humid climate and its vulnerability to fire in such conditions. The lakeside location offered scenic views but also meant the building was exposed to moisture-related challenges year-round.
The hotel fell victim to a devastating fire in October 2017, with flames spreading rapidly through its wooden framework. Despite the rapid response of dozens of fire crews, the blaze consumed the entire structure.
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