BAGO REGION

Bago Region is located between Mandalay Region and Magwe Region in the north, Rakhine State and Ayeyarwaddy Region in the west, Yangon Region in the south, Kayin State and Mon State on the east. Its area is 15,214 square miles and its Capital is Bago City.

Area & population

Kayins, Myanmars, and Mons live in the in the 28 Townships and 1,624 Wards and Village-Tracts of Bago Region. The population is about 3,800,240. Bago Region is the major rice producing area in Myanmar. Its main occupation is agriculture, growing paddy, sesame, groundnut, pulses, jute, rubber, tobacco and sugarcane.

Resources

Bago Region's forests produce valuable woods such as teak, pyinkado, ingyin and the plywood mill in Swa produces high standard plywoods.

Zeyawaddy Sugar Mill, No. 3 Heavy Industries Corporation Mill at Sinde of Ministry of Industry (2), Textile Mill at Shwe Daung, Jute Baling Mills at Taungoo, Pyay and Tharyarwaddy, Ceramics Factory at Tharyarwaddy are well known factories. The North Nawin Dam on Nawin Chaung in Pyay Township is the biggest dam in Myanmar.

Nearby attractions

Bago Region is an economically strategic region with a network of motor roads and railways. Bago Shwemawdaw Pagoda is one of the most famous reclining Buddha image in Myanmar. The Kanbawza Thardi Royal Palace of Bago Dynasty is not far from Yangon to visit. It has been built as the old royal palace of the ancient times. There are Bago forest camp in the Bago forest. Pyay and Taungoo are nearby places to visit in Bago State. Ruins of the ancient Pyu kingdom is found around 8 km to the east of Pyay in the village of Hmaw Za. The ancient site is known as Thayekhittaya or Sri Ksetra. Ruins can be seen scattering in the area, and there is a small museum.

A Myanmar Couple

MANDALAY REGION

Mandalay Region falls in the Dry Zone of Central Mandalay bordering Bago Region on the south, Magway Region on the west, Sagaing Region on the north and Shan State on the east. Its area is 14,295 square miles and its capital is Mandalay City.

Area & population

Myanmars, Karens, Kayahs, Chins, Paos, Mons and Shans inhabit the 29 Townships and 1,796 Wards and Village-Tracts of the Region. The population is about 4,580,923.

Resources

The principal economy of the Region is agriculture, main crops grown being paddy, wheat, maize, groundnut, sesame, cotton, pulses, chili, onion, Myanmar tobacco, Virginia tobacco, Mahuya sunflower and toddy palm. Mondaing Dam, Kyetmauktaung Dam, Pyaungpya Dam, Yenichaung Dam, Thitson Dam, and Yezin Dam are reliable sources of water for irrigated agriculture. There are also the Sedawgyi Reservoir and Chaungmagyi Embankment, with work in progress on Kinda Dam for completion by 1985-86. Click here for a larger viewProminent industries are Mandalay Brewery and Distillery, Meiktila Textile Mill, Canning Factory, Myitnge Loco Workshop, Paleik Textile Mill and Pyinmana Sugar Mill. In handicrafts, the Weaving School and silk weaving in Amarapura, braziers, stone carving, wood carving and gold-leaf manufacturing industries are famous.

Nearby attractions

Mandalay has the Maha Myat Muni Pagoda which is a special tourist attraction. Mandalay was the capital city during the time of feudalism and the pagoda and temples of Bagan are the nation's cultural heritage.In the heart of Mandalay city, resides the Mandalay Royal Palace of the last monarch of Myanmar. The Royal Palace has been renovated. The second International Airport in Myanmar has been opened in Mandalay which leads the country to become a better route for visiting. Mandalay is also well-known for the silk weaving industry of Acheik or the Traditional Myanmar Longyis, that are still in fashion for today's Myanmar life style. Visiting the U-Bein bridge which is made of teak pillars, crossing the Taung-ta-man Lake in Amarapura, will give an enchanting experience.

A Myanmar Couple

YANGON REGION

Yangon Region has the main port Yangon. The City lies where 16^o 19'N latitude intersects 96^o 52'E longitude. Yangon Region is located at the eastern extremity of the Ayeyarwaddy Delta area with Andaman Sea on the south-east, Bago Region on the north and Ayeyarwaddy Region on the west.

Area & population

The area of Yangon Region is 3,927 square miles; population, which is cosmopolitan, is about 3,973,782. It is organized in 39 Townships and 1,144 Wards and Village-Tracts.

Agriculture

Yangon Region is one of the major paddy production areas. Main crops are paddy, groundnut, jute, pulses, rubber and sugar cane. The whole Region is engaged in implementing the special high-yield paddy cultivation project.

Resources

For regional development, 272 State-owned factories have been built and four are under construction. The Myanmar pharmaceutical industry, steel mill, tarpaulin factory, aluminium works, tile factory, soap factory, glass factory, rubber ball factory, shuttle-cock factory, umbrella factory, and footwear factory are located in Yangon Region.

Development

Yangon Region is economically developed as it is at a strategic spot in the communications network. Motor roads, rail roads, waterways and airway connect Yangon City with the whole country. Yangon's ports are always busy with international sea and air traffic.

Yangon Port is the main gateway to the country for all imports and out of the country for all exports. It is handling 85 percent of the nation's overseas trade.

Communication

There are microwave stations with automatic telephone exchange for inland communications. A twenty-four hour overseas telephone and telex services connect Myanmar with 114 world nations via a satellite ground station. The national TV stations and Radio stations are in Yangon.

Tourism

Yangon is the main port by air and sea. All other places can be visited from Yangon. The main landmark of Yangon is the Shwedagon Pagoda, one of the wonders of the world. Other famous pagodas are Sule, Kabaraye, Ko Htat Gyi, Chauk Htat Gyi and so on. The Bogyoke Aung San Market is the main tourist destination market. It is a market as well as a colonial building. There are over 40 colonial buildings in Yangon.

Nearby attractions

Nearby places such as Thanlyin, Dalla, Twante, Bago can be accessed easily from Yangon.

A Myanmar Couple

SHAN STATE

Shan State is located in the Middle Eastern part of Myanmar between 19^o 17'N and 24^o 13'N latitudes and 96^o 10'E and 101^o 11'E longitudes. It is bounded on the northeast by the People's Republic of China, on the southeast and south by Laos and Thailand, on the north by Kachin State, Sagaing and Karen State on the south.

Area & population

Shan as well as Paos, Palaungs, Dhanu, Was, Kaws, Lahus, Inthas, Myaungzi, Lishaws, Taungpyoes, Maingthas and many other more ethnic groups inhabit in this state. The population is about 3,718,706. The area is 60,155 square miles and the Capital is Taunggyi. Taunggyi Hot-air Balloon Festival is a popular festival among the locals.
The State is organized into 52 Townships and 1932 Wards. The State Day is 7th February.

Agriculture

Agriculture is the main economic activity of Shan State, principal crops being paddy, wheat, chili, cotton, potatoes, groundnut, sesame, pulses, tea and Virginia tobacco. Shan State's cold climate also allows cultivation of oranges, peaches, pears, damsons, apples, grapes, onions, pineapples, vegetables and Thanatphet Trees.
In order to further develop agriculture in Shan State, Heho Valley Irrigation Canal, Banyin Irrigation Canal, and many more irrigation systems.

Resources

Natural resources such as gold, silver, lead, zinc, copper, iron, tin, antimony, coal, tungsten and precious stones.

Nearby attractions

The cottage weaving industry of the Inle area in the southern Shan State is famous for the lotus robes. The famous Inle Lake is located in this part and it is a tourist attraction. The Inle Phaungdawoo Pagoda Festival is famous and there are boat race competitions of the one-legged rowers. Kakku Pagodas are ancient places of the Shan State. Pindaya limestone caves consists of thousands of Buddha images.

A Shan Couple

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