For many travelers, Meiktila (also spelt Meiktilar) is simply a crossing point between Yangon, Mandalay, Bagan and Inle Lake (buses from Yangon to Bagan sometimes take a rest stop here). There is not a lot to do in the town itself, but it does have an attractive lakeside setting.

Like Kandawgyi Lake in Yangon, Lake Meiktila is an artificial reservoir with a Karaweik (mythical golden bird) as a permanently moored barge on the lake; this one has a temple on it, called the Phaung Daw U Pagoda.

Meiktila is a significant trade centre and you may see large numbers of military personnel here, with several large bases nearby. There are Visa- and Mastercard-ready KBZ and CB bank ATMs on the main Yangon to Mandalay road (near the centre of town).