ABOUT MYANMAR
LOCATION (THE LAND)
 The
Union of Myanmar formed by 7 states and 7
divisions is situated in Southeast Asia sharing
borders with China on the north, Laos and
Thailand on the east and India and Bangladesh on
the west. Total area of Myanmar is 676577 sq-km
and it is the largest mainland in Southeast
Asia. It is twice the size of Vietnam.
The country stretches over 2090 km from north to
south and over 925 km east to west. It has a
2832 km long coastline on the Indian Ocean. Over
50 percent of the total land area is covered
with forests.It has four large rivers, the
Ayeyarwaddy, the Chindwin, the Thanlwin and the
Sittaung which flow from the north down to the
south where they end in the Andaman Sea. Among
them, the mighty Ayeyarwaddy, the confluence of
Maykha and Malikha rivers in the north, serves
as an artery of traffic.
HISTORY (BRIEF IN HISTORICAL BACKGROND)
Early civilization in Myanmar dates back to
the 1st century with archaeological evidence
of the Pyu kingdoms of Beikthano. Hanlin and
Thayekhittaya in central Myanmar. A group
known as the Pyu, possibly hailing from the
Pibeto-Berman plateau or from India created
city-states in central Myanmar. The art and
architecture they left behind indicate that
they practiced Theravada and Mahayana
Buddhism mixed with Hinduism. They had their
own alphabet. In 10th century, the Pyu were
dispersed by Yunnanese invaders.
Around 6th century: the Mon who may have
originated in eastern India, settled a
kingdom at Suvanabhumi. According to the
inscriptions they left behind, the Mon
capital. Suvanabhumi, was around Thaton in
present day Myanmar, but outside scholars
argue that Suvanabhumi was centered Nakhon
Pathom in Thailand. Around 8 or 9 century,
the Burma or Barmans entered into Myanmar
from somewhere in the eastern Himalayas.
Once the Pyu were conquered by Yunnanse, the
Bamars superseded the Pyu in central
Myanmar. After they took over the central
region, the Bamar came to conflict with the
Mon for control of the whole country.
Bamar king Anawrahta ascended the throne in
1044. He consolidated the whole country and
founded the first Myanmar Empire with its
capital in Bagan. Bagan reached its golden
period in the 11th century. Unfortunately,
Anawrahta was killed by a wild buffalo in
1077. None of his successors had his vision
or energy so Bagan power declined slowly and
ended with the invasion of Kublai Khan from
Yunnan in China in 1287. The Mon once again
established its own kingdom at Mottama and
soon it was shifted to Bago as the kingdom
of Hanthawady. The Shan took over upper
Myanmar and founded the kingdom of Inwa and
a weaker Bamar kingdom was established at
Taunggu near Pyay.
A series of Taunggu kings extended their
power and the capital was shifted to Bago.
In 1550, Bayintnaung came to the throne and
reunified all of Myanmar by defeating
neighboring regions. He is well known as the
founder of the Second Myanmar Empire.
Myanmar became powerful and prosperous
country under the control of Bayintnaung.
But after the death of king Bayintnuang in
1581, the kingdom went into decline and in
1636, the capital was shifted from Bago to
Inwa. The worst was in 18 century:
The Mon again established their kingdom in
Bago, the hill-tribes raid into central
Myanmar and the Mon conquered Inwa in 1752.
But, in the same year Alaungpaya came to
power in Shwebo. He reunified the country
again and founded the third and the last
Myanmar Empire. In 19 century, during
Konbaung dynasty, the British, Dutch and
France were vying for power in the east. The
British gradually moved and annexed the
whole country after three Anglo-Myanmar wars
in 1825, 1852 and 1885.
Myanmar became a British colony for over 100
years. During WWII, in 1942, Myanmar was
occupied by the Japanese. The Japanese
granted Myanmar nominal independence in
1943. So, in 1945, under the leadership of
Bogyoke Aung San, Myanmar people drove the
Japanese away with the assistance of Allied
Forces. Then, Bogyoke Aung San went into
politics. He signed historic Aung San-Attlee
Agreement in London and Pinlon Agreement in
Shan State. We gained our independence on 4
Jan 1948.
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CLIMATE
Myanmar enjoys a tropical climate with three
general seasons. The rainy season from mid
May to mid October, the cool season (winter)
from mid October to mid February and the hot
season (summer) from mid February to mid May. The best time to
visit Myanmar is from mid October to mid
May.
THE PEOPLE
Myanmar is a union of over 100 nationalities
with their own languages and dialects. The
major ethnic groups are the Bamar, the Chin,
the Kachin, the Shan, the Kayah, the Kayin,
the Mon and the Rakhine. The name Myanmar
embraces all the nationalities. The Bamar is
the largest group forming 70% of the total
population of 54 millions. Second largest majority
is the Shan, 9 % and the third is Kayin 6 %.
There are 64 Districts, 324 Townships, 2470
Wards and 1374, village tracts in
Myanmar.Yangon is the capital.
RELIGION
Predominantly a Buddhist country with more
than 80 percent of the people embracing
Theravada Buddhism. There are also
Christians, Muslims, Hindus and some
animists. Most of tribal groups still follow
their own traditional customs, cultures,
costumes, dialects and life-styles. The firm
grounding of Buddhism in Myanmar culture
contributed over the years to the building
of many pagodas, which stand proudly to
prove the grandeur role of Myanmar culture.
CULTURE
Myanmar lies between two great
civilizations, India and China, but it has
developed its own distinctive culture.
Buddhism has a great influence on the daily
lives of the Myanmar people. The people have
preserved the traditions of close family
ties, respect for elders and simple native
dress. While tolerance and contentment are
the characteristics of the people, Myanmar's
hospitality is legendary.
LANGUAGE
The official language is Myanmar. English is
widely spoken and understood. Most of the
linguistic groups of Myanmar are
monosyllabic and polytonal, similar to those
of Tibet and China. The official Myanmar
language is spoken by the majority of the
population, including many of the ethnic
minorities.
CUSTOMS
Jewelleries, electrical goods and cameras
must be declared at the airport. Antiques
and archaeologically valuable items are not
allowed to be taken out.
CURRENCY
Myanmar currency is the Kyat, made up of 100
pyas. Currency notes come in the following
denominations; K 1000, K 500, K 200, K 100,
K 50, K 20, K 15, K 10, K 5, K 1. Visitors
are not allowed to bring in or take out
Kyats.
ECONOMY
Myanmar economy is based on agriculture, and
major exports are teak, fish, prawn and
beans. Major trading partners are Japan,
Singapore, Thailand and Malaysia.
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Division and State
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