MON STATE

Mon State is located between 14^o 52'N and 17^o 44'N latitudes and 96^o 53'E and 98^o 13'E longitudes bounded on the north by Bago Division, on the east Kayin State, on the south by Tanintharyi Division and on the west by the Gulf of Martaban.

Area & population

Mons, Myanmars, Paos, Daweis and Shans inhabit the State whose capital is Mawlamyaing and the are is 4,748 square miles. The State is organized in ten Townships, 443 Wards and Village Tracts. The population is about 1,682,041. Mon State Day falls on 19th March.

Resources

Principal crops of the State are paddy, groundnut, pulses, rubber, sugar-cane, coconut, betel nut, dhani, durian, rambutan and mangos teen. The State is the top producer of rubber. Tin, antimony and white clay are some of its natural products. As manufacturing establishments, there are the Sittang Pulp and Paper Mill, Billin Sugar Mill, Thanbyuzayat Rubber Factory, Mudon Textile Mill and Mupon Ceramics Factory.

Tobacco pipes, hot water bottles, rubber balloons, plaster figurines, feather-brooms, coconut-shell handicrafts are successful in Ywalut village of Belugyun. Zeebyuthaung is Myanmar's first sea-fishing cooperative village. Salt making is another reliable economic activity.

Nearby attractions

Kyaikhtiyo Pagoda or the Golden Rock is located in the state, and lots of visitors from all over the country and tourists, visit this place during the festival time. The festival is usually in December. 

A Mon Couple

KAYAH STATE

Mateku Falls and Lawpita Falls on Balu Chaung are scenic beauties of Kayah State, which has a generally hilly topography. It is located between 18^o 29'N and 19^o 58'N latitudes, 96^o 50'E and 97^o 52'E longitudes, bordering Thailand on the east, Shan State on the north, and Karen State on the west and south. The Lawpita Hydroelectric Power Plant is the main power supply station throughout the country.

Area & population

Kayah State has an area of 4,530 square miles with a population of 168,355 in six Township and 106 Wards and Village-Tracts. The State, whose capital is Loikaw, celebrates its State Day on 15th January. It is inhabited by Kayahs, Gekos, Gebas, Padaungs (or) Kayans, Bres, Manu-Manaus, Yindales, Yinbaws, Bwe, Paku, Shans and Paos.

Agriculture

The principal agricultural crop is paddy, though ground-nut, maize, cotton, soya bean, sugar-cane, wheat and butter bean are also grown. The mainstays of agricultural are the Ngwedaung Dam and Mobye Dam.

Resources

The Forest Reserves of Kayah State produce such valuable woods as teak, pyinkado, ingyin, padauk, thitkado, thitya, pyinma, pine and yingat.

Antimony, pure silver, tin, tungsten and wolfram are found in Kayah State. Well known industries are Mawchi Mines, Lawpita Hydro-electric Power Station and Marbel Works. The State also boasts of beautiful natural sceneries, idyllic lakes and wonderful natural carves.

A Kayah Couple

KACHIN STATE

Kachin State is the land of mountain ranges where the May Hka and the Mali Hka rivers are born. It is located in the north and north-east of Myanmar between 23^o 38'N and 28^o 31'N latitudes and 95^o 48'E and 98^o 47'E longitudes.

Area & population

The Kachin State has common boundaries with the People's Republic of China in the east and north-east and India on the west. It adjoins Sagaing Division on the west and Shan State on the south. Its area is 34,379 square miles and its population is 903,982, comprising 18 Townships, 699 Wards and Village-Tracts, inhabited by Kachins, Shans, Myanmars, Jingphaws, Lisus, Atsis, Lashis, Rawans, Marus, Kadus and Kanans.

Capital

The State capital is Myitkyina and the 10th January is the State day. The Kachin Manaw Festival is also another interesting culture of the ethnic groups of Myanmar. The festival is usually held during January together with the State Day.

Resources

Tropical deciduous forests and evergreen forests grow in the Kachin State producing teak, pyinkado (Inga Xylocarpa) and other valuable woods.

The principal occupation of Kachin State is agriculture: paddy, sugar cane and groundnut are grown in river valleys and paddy and sugar cane are grown on the plains. Kachin State has three dams: the Paungnet-chaung Dam, Putao Dam and Washawng Dam. Washawng Dam , situated near Washawng village in Waingmaw Township, supplies water to 17,450 acres of agricultural land.

Natural resources of Kachin State include gold, silver, copper, iron, lead, amber, jade, crystal and coal. Namma gold mines and Hpakant jade mines are well-known. Sahmaw State sugar mill and Namti State sugar mill supply sugar for home consumption. Famous and rare Myanmar orchids are found in Kachin State.

Mountain ranges

The highest mountain of Myanmar, Hkakaborazi lies in this state. There are also other mountains such as Hpone Kan Razi for trekking tours. Theses mountains are descendents of the Himalaya Mountain ranges.

Ecotourism

Khakaborazi national park is located in Naungmung township of Kachin state, the northernmost state of Myanmar. The park occupies an area of 1,472 square miles. The year of establishment is 1996. The objective of the part is to conserve natural forests and wildlife in the northern part of Myanmar. To established and maintain a national park of high-quality and up to the standard of modern environmental conservation policies.

A Kachin Couple

Map of Kachin State

KAYIN STATE

Kayin State lies between 15^o 12'N and 19^o 28'N latitudes and 96^o 23'E and 98^o 56'E longitudes on the east of Myanmar. It has common borders with Mandalay Division and Shan State on the north, Kayah State and Thailand on the east, Mon State and Bago Division on the west. Its area is 11,731 square miles.

Area & population

Together with Sagaw Kayins, Po Kayins, Bwe Kayins and Pako Kayins, Shans, Paos, Myanmarns, and Mons also live in Kayin State, comprising seven Townships and 410 Wards and Village-Tracts. Its population is about 1,057,505. The State Day falls on 7th November and the Capital is Hpa An.

Resources

Principal crops cultivated are paddy, groundnut, sesame, tobacco, betel nut, sugar-cane and rubber. Its natural resources include iron, lead, copper, tin, antimony and tungsten. Over half the area of the State is covered with evergreen forests that produce valuable teak and pyinkado and other woods.

The State has 13 State enterprises and is easily accessible from Mon State via the well-Known Donthami river bridge. Thandaung is also a hill station of this state. There are several streams and waterfalls in this area, for studying the nature.

Now, the Thanlwin Bridge crossing the mighty Thanlwin river has been constructed and accessibility became more convenient to the state. Mount Zwegabin is the landmark of Kayin State.

A Kayin Couple

• MANDALAY

  Mandalay is a favourite visitor spot among tourists to Myanmar, better known as Burma. The charming religious and economic epicenter of the country’s north has a wealth of Mandalay hotels in Mandalay town centre, many of which are within walking distance of the Royal Palace. Budget backpackers are as well catered for here as travelers looking to splurge on high end hotels in Mandalay.
  Lying between 84th and 81st streets is 25th street, a hub of cheap Mandalay hotels. Mid range accommodation options are also plentiful, with most Mandalay hotels in this price bracket being housed in multi storey buildings in convenient locations. There are only a limited number of luxury hotels in Mandalay town centre, and the modern, clean rooms and quick access to the city’s main tourist attractions at these hotels justify their price tags. As visitors arrive in Mandalay in steady streams year round, booking Mandalay hotels online in advance is advised. 

• YANGON

  Welcome to Yangon, one of Myanmar most iconic travel destinations and home to an amazing array of sights, activities and events. Even first time visitors to Yangon will quickly be enthralled by how fun and fascinating Yangon really can be. For those looking a glimpse of the real Myanmar, or just a fun night out, Yangon mixes old world charm with a modern and vibrant night life.
  
  
  
  
  Yangon, at one time called Rangoon, is the capital of Myanmar and the main point of entry to the country. Located in southern Myanmar, the important port city of Yangon boasts many spectacular pagodas, lakes, shady parks and fine examples of colonial period architecture.
  Dominating this Buddhist capital is the Shewdagon Pagoda, sitting high on a hill in the centre with its golden stupa visible from many points in the city. It is said that this important religious site enshrines a hair of the Lord Buddha. In the streets around this pagoda, and throughout the city, visitors will find numerous historical sites, art galleries, museums and markets to explore.
  
  
  Today tourists will find a range of accommodation options to meet their needs, from mid-range hotels to the luxurious resorts found outside the city proper. There’s no problem in finding diverse dining options either. In addition to traditional Burmese cuisine, Chinese, French, Italian, Korean and Thai restaurants are featured in Yangon.
  
  
  Shopping opportunities abound with good choice at regional markets and shops in the city centre. For those looking for nightlife, there are rooftop bars, nightclubs, traditional music, dance venues and performances at the National Theatre.
  
  
  Getting to Yangon is straightforward by air - the only reasonable option for reaching the capital city. Yangon International Airport is serviced by flights from several countries in Asia, and is undergoing significant renovation.
  
  

  BAGO 

   

  Bago Division is the second biggest producer of paddy after Ayeyarwaddy division. It is bordered by Magway Division and Mandalay Division to the north; Kayin State, Mon State and the Gulf of Martaban to the east; Yangon Division to the south and Ayeyawardy Division and Rakhine State to the west. Highlights are Bago, Taungoo and the ruins of the ancient Pyu kingdom near Pyay. Bago and Pyay are easily accessible by rail or by car. It is only a 2 hours drive from Yangon to Bago and a 5 hours drive on a very good road to Pyay.
  
  
  Bago:
  Used to be the ancient capital of the Mon Kings from the 14th through the 16th century and that of the Second Myanmar Empire founded by King Bayinnaung. Bago is situated only 80 km north-east of Yangon.
   What to see:
  The Shwe-Maw-Daw Pagoda: Was originally built by the Mon to a height to 23 meters in the 8th century and was rebuilt higher several times until it finally reached its present 114 meter stature in 1954. Visitors can see in the Pagoda Museum a number of ancient Buddha images of stone and bronze found in the damaged top part of the pagoda after the earthquakes.
  
  
  Shwe-Tha-Lyaung: Is the large reclining image of the Buddha, 180 feet in length and 52.5 feet in height. This is one of the largest reclining Buddha images in the world. Traditionally believed to have been built by King Migadipa in AD 944. It was restored by Ramadhipatiraja (1472-1492) but later 'lost'. Rediscovered 1880 and restored again several times to bring it to this condition.
  Hinthakone Pagoda: Tradition has it that Hinthakone is the hill where the two sacred mythical ducks called nintha (Hamsa) alighted, when only the very top of the hill was above the ocean. The name Hantha-wadi or Hamsavati by which Bago and her kingdom were known, originated from this name. It has good views over Bago from the hilltop.
  Pyay: Once was called Prome after the British occupied Myanmar is located 285 km north-west of Yangon. Pyay is easily accessible by road or rail and a gateway city to Rakhine State, across the Ayeyawaddy River. It is a major trading zone where all the products from Rakhine State and middle part of the country trade in and exchange with those come from the lower part of the country. Today Pyay is a sleepy town with a small river harbour which serves as a transshipment point for cargo moving between Upper and Lower Myanmar along the Ayeyarwaddy River.

   

   

              Myanmar Religious Places To Visit

 

Myanmar (also known as Burma) is the most religious country in the world in terms of large amount of Buddha Images, Buddha Statues and Buddha true relics, large proportion of Monks (SaYaTaw) and Myanmar people who faith in HtayYaWarDa (ေထရ၀ါဒ).

It is an attractive place to visit for tourists according to the ancient cities with ancient pagodas, the ethnic groups, culture and traditions. It is also an interesting country in political environment because of Aung San Su Kyi, daughter of General Aung San who is father of  Independence of Myanmar, who leads and walk a long way for true Democracy from 1988 till now for Myanmar people . Myanmar is now a Democracy and the government changes political plan towards for growth and development of the nation.

It is also a country with full natural resources such as timber, petroleum, natural gas, hydropower, mines of Ruby and precious stones.

According to the geographical location such as mountain ranges, rivers, forests, lowlands and highlands, the weather is cloudy, rainy, hot and humid in some area and cool, cold, heavy snow and bad weather in some area.

There are many places to visit around Myanmar country, the following religious places are recommended for the foreigners/tourists and visitors to make a visit.

1) Shwedagon Pagoda (ေရႊတိဂံုေစတီေတာ္)

Shwedagon Pagoda, located in Yangon, is the oldest historical pagoda in Myanmar(Burma) and around the world according to more than 2500 existing years. The relics of four Buddha: the water filter of Kakusandha, the robe of Konagamana, the staff of Kassapa and the hairs of Gotama, had been enshrined. The current height is 326 feet above the platform and the perimeter of the base of Pagoda is 1420 feet, the surface is covered with solid gold plates of 8688 at the base part and 13153 at the upper part of Pagoda, the crown or umbrella is tipped with over 5448 diamonds and over 2317 rubies, sapphires and other gems and the diamond bud at the very top is a single-76-caret-diamond.

The most significant religious festivals of Shwedagon Pagoda are :

• Tabaung Festival : On the Full Moon day of Myanmar month Tabaung ( between February-March)
• Myanmar New Year Festival : Known as Thingyan Festival or Water Festival (in April)
• Buddha Day Festival : Known as Kasone Festival on Full Moon day of Myanmar month Kasone(between April-May)
• Waso Festival : At the beginning day of Buddhist Lent of month Waso(in July)
• Thadingyut Festival : At the last day of Buddhist Lent of month Thadingyut(in October)
• Tazaungdaing Festival : Race of Weaving robe for Buddha and Lighting festival(in November)

2) Mahamuni Buddha Images (မဟာျမတ္မုနိဘုရား)

Mahamuni Images, located in Mandalay, is one of the five likenesses of Buddha during his life time. The size of statue is 12.5 ft height, 6.0 ft shoulders and 9.5 ft waist and 5.9 in thick gold coated.

3) Kyite Hte Yoe Pagoda (Golden Rock) (က်ိဳက္ထီး႐ိုးဆံေတာ္ရွင္ေစတီေတာ္)

Kyite Hte Yoe Pagoda is a well known landmark for Mon State and located on the top of KyiteHteyoe hill at the town named Kyite Hto. It is 24 ft height pagoda built on the gold leaves covered rock, 3553 ft above sea level, clinging to the top of the mountain. Buddha’s hair relic is enshrined into it. The most pilgrimage season is from November to December and officially prohibited to visit during raining season.

4) Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda (ေဖာင္ေတာ္ဦးဘုရား)

The pagoda Phaung Daw Oo is located in Inlay lake at the township of Nyaungshwe in southern shan state and five small gilded images of Buddha, which have been covered in gold leaf, are housed in it.

Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda Festival : is one of the famous pagoda festivals in Myanmar. It is 18 days festival starting from 14 days before to 3 days after Full Moon day of Thadingyut according to Myanmar calendar(roughly in between October and November). During this festival the four Buddha images housed in royal barge are ceremonially trip to all villages around the Inlay lake. There are many dance shows  and the attractive one for visitors especially for foreigners is boat race with only one leg rowing.

5) Kyite Kha Mee Pagoda (က်ိဳကၡမီေရလယ္ဘုရား)

Kyite Kha Mee Pagoda is located in the township Kyitekhamee of Mon state. It is situated in water over the sea and two-level walk way is connected to it the upper level is usted during the high tide. According to this pagoda history, the Buddha image on the raft floating from Siri Lanka supposedly attached here in ancient times.

Thank You & Warmly Welcome To Myanmar!

Myanmar Handicrafts

Travelling throughout Myanmar one often sees artisans carefully crafting their pieces. In Mandalay, the centre of Bamar arts and crafts there is to be seen many of the ancient crafts of Myanmar. Shwe Chi Doe tapestries are made here with their colourful threads, sequins and beads - these are also known as kalagas which literally means "curtains". Shwe Chi Doe is a name for the style of the tapestry and so the name is also used for the marionettes which are made with similar decoration; there are many commercial marionettes made in Mandalay today and it is difficult to find a workshop which produces the traditional Dancing Puppet which is about 24 inches high and very colourful so that the audience are able to see the puppets from a distance. The wood used is a light wood and not teak which unfortunately you do find in the tourist shops - teakwood is supposed to add glamour to the puppet but just imagine a poor puppeteer having to work with something so heavy - especially when Zawgyi is performing!!

Mandalay artisans also produce wonderful wood and marble carvings and bronze castings. Some of the marble Buddha images are very tall indeed!

In Sagaing beautiful silk longyis (pronounced "lonjees") are made on the loom using up to one hundred shuttles! More information about the manufacture of these "Lun Yakyaw Cheik" - sometimes called "Lun Taya Acheik" - can be found in our Members Area: click on the link at the left to join our mailing list which will give you access to the Members Area.

Near to Mandalay is Amarapura where traditional cotton garments are produced.

In Pathein one finds the traditional Myanmar Parasol ("Pathein Hti"): brightly coloured parasols with designs of flowers or scenes painted with either oil or water colours. Some of the handles are made from carved silver.

Silverware is another famous Myanmar handicraft and many fine examples of Shan silverware may be found in the Inle Lake area. The silverware industry of Myanmar is centuries old and in fact dates back to the Pyu period of the 2nd century. The traditional centre of Bamar silverware crafts is Ywahtaung Village in Sagaing across the Ayeyawady River from Mandalay. Sterling Silver is used in the manufacture which comprises 92.5% Silver and 7.5% copper and this alloy is the ideal for silverware crafting.

Intricate lacquerware is produced mainly in Bagan and it takes up to 6 months to make one piece! Don't be fooled by cheaper pieces - one knock and the lacquer is chipped! Of course, should you visit Myanmar these cheaper pieces are OK as souvenirs to remind you of your holiday.

There are many other cottage industry crafts made in Myanmar by fine craftspeople especially items relating to Buddhism, which is the religion of about 90 percent of the population.