myanmar (burma)
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Experience some of the most beautiful Buddhist temples in the world and experience the warmth of the people in this newly opened tourist destination. Explore local villages, craft markets and workshops and spend time on the fascinating water ways of Inle Lake, the streets of Yangon and Mandalay.
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Myanmar at a glance...
Population: 55 million
People: 8 major ethnic groups are Bamar, Mon, Kachin, Kayin, kayah, Chin, Rakhine and Shan.
Capital: Yangon
Language: Burmese
Climate: Nov - Feb Dry and cool; Mar-May Hot & dry; Hot & Wet: Jun - Oct
Religion:89 % Theravada Buddhism
Currency: Kyat
Time: GMT +6.30
Geography
Myanmar is a diamond-shaped country reaching 925 kilometres or 575 miles from the east to the west and 2,100 kilometres or 1,300 miles from the north to the south. Thailand, Laos and China border it in the east while Bangladesh and India in the north and the Indian Ocean in the west and the south. The Irrawaddy River flows through central Myanmar and forms a delta on the south coast; Yangon stands next to one of its many mouths. North of the delta sits the Irrawaddy basin and central Myanmar, which is guarded by a horseshoe of mountains ascending to over 3,000 metres or 10,000 feet, creating profound climatic results. To the west are the Arakan, Naga and Chin mountains and the Patkai Hills; the Kachin Hills sit to the north; to the east lies the Shan Plateau, extending to the Tenasserim coastal ranges. Intensive irrigated farming is practiced all over central Myanmar, and fruit, citrus crops and vegetables thrive on the Shan Plateau; however, subtropical forest covers much of the land and mountains.
Population: 55 million
People: 8 major ethnic groups are Bamar, Mon, Kachin, Kayin, kayah, Chin, Rakhine and Shan.
Capital: Yangon
Language: Burmese
Climate: Nov - Feb Dry and cool; Mar-May Hot & dry; Hot & Wet: Jun - Oct
Religion:89 % Theravada Buddhism
Currency: Kyat
Time: GMT +6.30
Geography
Myanmar is a diamond-shaped country reaching 925 kilometres or 575 miles from the east to the west and 2,100 kilometres or 1,300 miles from the north to the south. Thailand, Laos and China border it in the east while Bangladesh and India in the north and the Indian Ocean in the west and the south. The Irrawaddy River flows through central Myanmar and forms a delta on the south coast; Yangon stands next to one of its many mouths. North of the delta sits the Irrawaddy basin and central Myanmar, which is guarded by a horseshoe of mountains ascending to over 3,000 metres or 10,000 feet, creating profound climatic results. To the west are the Arakan, Naga and Chin mountains and the Patkai Hills; the Kachin Hills sit to the north; to the east lies the Shan Plateau, extending to the Tenasserim coastal ranges. Intensive irrigated farming is practiced all over central Myanmar, and fruit, citrus crops and vegetables thrive on the Shan Plateau; however, subtropical forest covers much of the land and mountains.
Language
The main language spoken in Myanmar is the Burmese language, a member of the Tibeto-Burman language family, which is in turn a sub-group of Sino-Tibetan. While eighty percent of Myanmar's population speaks this language, there are more than 100 distinct languages and dialects spoken in different parts of the country. The great variation in cultural histories of the ethnic groups can be seen in their languages.
The main language spoken in Myanmar is the Burmese language, a member of the Tibeto-Burman language family, which is in turn a sub-group of Sino-Tibetan. While eighty percent of Myanmar's population speaks this language, there are more than 100 distinct languages and dialects spoken in different parts of the country. The great variation in cultural histories of the ethnic groups can be seen in their languages.
Religion
89% of population are followers of Buddhism; Christianity: 4%, Islam: 2%, Hinduism: 2% and others 1%. You will see the Buddhist temples and pagodas, Hindu Temples, Church, Mosques and monasteries in the cities. Of course there are large number of Buddhist temples and pagodas everywhere in Myanmar. The people are deeply pious and religion plays a vital role in a typical Myanmar life. Every Buddhist young boy or man is expected to be a temporarily monk or novice life at least once in his lifetime. And a few Buddhist girls or women enter to the nun life order too. There are about 400 000 monks in Myanmar.
Customs
Most festivals are held on the full moon day annually. Festival events can last from 2 days to 3 weeks.
Dec-Jan: Ananda Pagoda festival (Bagan): It is held in the tenth month of Myanmar calendar and one of the most popular pagoda festivals in Myanmar.
Jan: Ma Naw festival: It is a reunion of all Kachin tribes. The festival is held in Myitkyina on 10 Jan, national day of Kachin State. Each group dress up in their traditional costumes and show gratitude to their ancestral spirits for brighter future.
Naga New Year festival (Leshi, north-west of Myanmar): Naga is one of official ethnic groups in Myanmar. The Naga is celebrated in the second week of Jan and lasts two days.
March: Shwedagon Pagoda festival (Yangon): Is always held in the last month of Myanmar calendar
April: Thingyan festival or Myanmar New Year festival or Water-throwing festival (nation-wide): Thingyan festival is known as water festival and it is held through out the country and last three or four days.
July: The Waso festival (nation-wide): It is held on the full moon day of the 4th of Myanmar month,Waso and it is the first day of Buddhist Lent.
August: Taung Pyone Spirit festival (Mandalay): It is the biggest Nat festival in Myanmar.
October: Shwe Zi Gon pagoda festival (Bagan): The most venerate Pagoda in Bagan and festival is held annually held in Oct and lasts 23 days.
Light festival (nation-wide): It is one of the religious festivals and celebrated on full moon day of 7th month of Myanmar calendar. During the festival, people celebrate the night various kinds of lights. Homes, Buildings and streets are illuminated.
Nov: Hot air balloon festival (Taung Gyi, Shan State): It is held on full moon day of 8th Myanmar month.
Historical Overview
From an independent kingdom led by Bamar King Anawrahta in the 11th century, Myanmar was captured by Kublai Khan during the Mongol invasions in 1287. However by mid 18th century, a new dynasty under King Alaungpaya was established. Myanmar was annexed by the British Empire to the colony of India in 1886. During World War II, Myanmar was invaded and occupied by the Japanese Empire but was liberated once the war ended. In 1948, it became sovereign as the independent Union of Burma. Democratic rule ended in 1962 with a military coup led by General Ne Win, bringing in harsh Marxist reform in his 26 years rule whereby he nationalised everything, including retail shops and thus crippling the country's economy and in 1974, it took the name of Socialist Republic of the Union of Burma.
In 1988, after years of mismanagement by the then Burma Socialist Programme Party, finally brought on a popular uprising led by students and monks who packed the streets. Brutual suppressions of the demonstrations brought the political upheaval to a halt. After the loss of thousands of lives, the government concluded that some political concessions ware necessary. The stunned government quickly formed the State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC) and declared martial law. and promised democratic elections. SLORC then changed the country's name from Union of Burma to the Union of Myanmar. In 1990 free elections were held whereby the oppositions movements campaigned under the banner of the National League for Democracy (NLD) with its charismatic leader Aung San Suu Kyi winning the elections with almost 80% of the seats in the National Assembly. However, the election was voided by the military which refused to step down and subsequently put Aung San Suu Kyi under house arrest. In 1991, Aung San Suu Kyi was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize and was released from house arrest in 1995. She was rearrested again and released and then rearrested again. She is currently free from house arrest and campaigning in the upcoming elections.
Myanmar was finally admitted as a member of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) in 1997 thus gaining an appreciable measure of international legitimacy. Troubled by their image abroad and the economic sanctions that have been imposed on them, military leaders are finally making signs of moving towards more internationally acceptable governance.
