Hsipaw Palace, also known as the Hsipaw Haw ( my, သီပေါဟော်) or East Haw, is the former residence of the ruler of Hsipaw State, a principality in Burma (now Myanmar). Built in the style of an English country villa on a 5-acre compound, the palace is best known for being the residence of Sao Kya Seng and his consort Inge Sargent, and is the sole remaining palace in Hsipaw today.

History

Hsipaw Palace was built by Sao Ohn Kya in 1924. It was the third of three palaces or (''haw'' in Shan) constructed in Hsipaw, the others built by Sao Khun Sai in 1888, and Sakhantha Palace, built by Sao Khe in 1922. Sakhantha Palace ( :my:စခန်းသာဟော်), located in the village of Sakhantha, was used as a summer retreat by the ruling family and is built in the neoclassical style. The palace's left wing was burned down during World War II, while the rest of the building remains intact. Following the

1962 Burmese coup d'état The 1962 Burmese coup d'état on 2 March 1962 marked the beginning of one-party rule and the political dominance of the army in Burma (now Myanmar) which spanned the course of 26 years. In the coup, the military replaced the civilian AFPFL-g ...

, Sao Kya Seng was detained by authorities. His family vacated the palace premises in 1963, after 11 months of house arrest. In 1972, Sao Kya Seng's nephew Sao Oo Kya moved into the former palace, which was open to the public in 1996.

References

{{Royal palaces in Myanmar Buildings and structures in Shan State Palaces in Myanmar 1924 establishments in Burma Buildings and structures completed in 1924