Kyaukse is a town and the capital of the Kyaukse District, located in the Mandalay Region of Myanmar. Situated on the Zawgyi River, it lies approximately 25 miles (40 km) south of Mandalay and is served by the Mandalay-Yangon railway.
The area has a long history, with early settlements dating back to around 800 CE. Local inscriptions from the 12th and 13th centuries refer to Kyaukse as "the first home," and the region contains various remains of old cities and pagodas. A notable historical site in the town is the Shwethalyaung Pagoda, which was built by King Anawrahta.