Although Kayah State lies in the tropical zone, it is not as hot as it stands on the plateau, with Loikaw as capital city. The surface of Kayah State is undulating with mountain ranges of Loi Ho Hta (5,522′) Si-Hso (5,129′) and Hso-Kli Hso (5,150′). The Taung-Kwe stupa, built on the peak of Mt. Taung-Kwe, is worth visiting for tourists. The Thanlwin River flows through it from north to south. Kayah State abounds with fascinating tourist destinations, idyllic sceneries, waterfalls and rapids, interestingly; there is a large natural tunnel, 19 km east of Loikaw. It is so long that nobody can imagine where it ends. The visitors go into it with the help of bamboo torches or powerful bull’s eye lanterns. This tunnel in supposed to be a big salt cave.

There are many lakes in Kayah State. A legend has it that they are the places where the Seven Princess of the king of Ngwe-Taung played. It is about 19km to the east of Loikaw. There is well-known Lawpita waterfall on Mt.Lawpita, where there is a hydro-electric power station. A visitor should not miss to visit Nagwe-taung Dam. The main produce of Kayah State is wood, especially teak and some other hardwoods like Ingyin, Padauk, Pyinkdo, Thikado, Pyinma, Thitya and Yinkhat, among others. Frog Drum is the symbol of Kayah State.

The Kayahs are of Mongoloid stock, according to the anthropologists. Till May 5, 1951, Kayah were called Kayinnis. There are many national races in Kayah State, namely the Kayahs, the Yinbaws, the Yintales, the Manumanaws, the Payes, the Gekobs, the Gehas and the Kayans (formerly the Padaungs who, are long-necked tribes). They speak different dialects and practice different culture of each own.