Mogok lies in the Shan State approximately one hundred and twenty five miles north east of Mandalay.

There are reported to be over 1000 gem mining operations in Mogok, some legal and some illegal.

Dotted around Mogok and Kyatpyin are several open-air markets where gems are openly traded.

Mogok is populated by a diverse collection of ethnic groups, many of whom migrated to Mogok during the British colonial times.

There is a feast of Buddhist temples in Mogok, some with stunning views over the Mogok Valley.

Mandalay has a charm missed by some but admired by those who take the time to visit some of the historic parts of the city.

Thirty-two miles north of Mandalay on the road to Mogok, if you turn off the highway, you come across the village of Sagyin.