GEOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION Location: The mere mention of Myanmar brings to mind the land with its ancient palace, city walls, terraces, glittering golden pagodas and teeming whitewashed stupas. Occupying the largest area on the Southeast Asian peninsula, it has an area of about 680,000 square kilometers - roughly equal to France and United Kingdom put together. Inhabited by a population of over 47 million people belonging to 135 | |||||||||||||
Physical Features: The coastal region is known as Lower Myanmar, while the interior region is known as Upper Myanmar. A horseshoe-shaped mountain complex and the valley of the Irrawaddy River system are the country's dominant topographical features. The mountains of the northern margin rise to 5,881 m (19,295 ft) atop Hkakabo Razi, the highest peak in Southeast Asia. The two other mountain systems have northern to southern axes. The Arakan Yoma range, with peaks mostly between 915 m (3,000 ft) and 1,525 m (5,000 ft), forms a barrier between Myanmar and the subcontinent of India. The Bilauktaung Range, the southern extension of the Shan Plateau, lies along the boundary between southwestern Thailand and southeastern Lower Myanmar. The Shan Plateau, originating in China, has an average elevation of about 1,215 m (about 3,986 ft).
Generally narrow and elongated in the interior, the central lowlands attain a width of about 320 km (about 200 mi) across the Irrawaddy-Sittang delta. The deltaic plains, extremely fertile and economically the most important section of the country, cover an area of about 47,000 sq km (about 18,000 sq mi). Both the Arakan (in the northwest) and the Tenasserim (in the southwest) coasts of Myanmar are rocky and fringed with islands. The country has a number of excellent natural harbors.
Climate: The climate of Myanmar is roughly divided into three seasons: Summer, with highest temperature during March and April in Central Myanmar up to above 110 ° F (43.3 ° C) while in Northern Myanmar it is about 97 ° F (36.1 ° C) and on the Shan Plateau between 85 ° F (29.4 ° C) and 95 ° F (35 ° C). Rainy season, from mid-May to end of October, with annual rain fall of less than 10 inches in Central Myanmar while the coastal regions of Rakhine and Tanintharyi get about 200 inches. Winter, which starts from November to end of February with temperature in hilly areas with an elevation of over 3000 feet drops below 32 ° F (0 ° C). As a whole, the location and topography of the country generate a diversity of climate conditions. Seasonal changes in the monsoon wind directions crate summer, rainy and winter seasons. Extremes of temperature are rare. The direction of winds and depression bring rains, and in some years severe storms occur causing damage in Rakhine region. In Rakhine and Tarintharyi regions, rainfall varies from year to year though it is always heavy and creates no hardships.
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Flora and fauna: As about half the total area of Myanmar is covered by forests and Myanmar has been able to conserve the natural environment, with its beauty rendered by rivers, creeks and streams, waterfalls and its fauna and flora, it will not be wrong to call Myanmar a country of rare unspoilt natural beauty. Myanmar's evergreen forests yield-valuable teak and other hardwoods. Just as Myanmar teak is world-famous, so also are other woods such as Pyinkado, in Kanyin. Finished products are being exported to other countries. Parallel with timber extraction from the forests, reforestation is being kept up systematically.
HISTORY Archaeological findings reveal that parts of Myanmar were inhabited some five thousand years ago. The ancestors of present-day Myanmars, the Pyus and the Mons established several kingdoms throughout the country from the 1st century A.D. to the 10th century A.D. From that early beginning, there are today a fascinating 135 nationalities that call Myanmar home. |
Myanmar history dates back to the early 11th Century when King Anawrahta unified the country and founded the First Myanmar Empire in Bagan more than 20 years before the Norman Conquest of England in 1066(i.e. 1044 A.D.). The Bagan Empire encompassed the areas of the present day Myanmar and the entire Menam Valley in Thailand and lasted two centuries.
King Bayinnaung (1551-1581) founded the Second Myanmar Empire in the mid 16th Century. King Alaungpaya founded the last Myanmar Dynasty in 1752 and it was during the zenith of this Empire that the British moved into Myanmar. Like India, Myanmar became a British colony but only after three Anglo-Myanmar Wars in 1825, 1852, and 1885.
During the Second World War, Myanmar was occupied by the Japanese from 1942 till the return of the Allied Forces in 1945. Myanmar has become a sovereign independent state since 4th January 1948 after more than 100 years under the colonial administration.
PEOPLE
About 75% of the Burmese people live in farm villages consisting of about 50 to 100 bamboo houses with thatch roofs. The houses are constructed on stills for protection against flood and wild animals. In most communities, the local Buddhist monastery is the social, cultural, and political center of village life. For preservation of traditional culture, Myanma traditional singing, dancing, song-composing and instrument-playing competitions, equestrian festivals and regatta festivals are held to hand over traditional culture to the new generations.
ART & CRAFT
Secular art is rare in Myanmar; most sculpture and painting is confined to a Buddhist context. Kings and rich people seeking to earn religious merit constructed many large pagodas. These pagodas consist of a massive central spire decorated with plant and animal designs and lesser shrines around the base; they are often topped by a jewel-encrusted hti, or umbrella. There are thousands of ancient pagodas in the old capital at Pagan, others in the area of the former capital at Mandalay, and the grand, gold-encased Shwedagon Pagoda atop the central hill in today's capital, Yangon. Architecture, as well as other art forms, display a dominant Indian influence. Artisans are known for their woven silks and lacquer ware (boxes and bowls made of woven bamboo frames and covered with a hard resin).
FAIRS & FESTIVALS
Since Buddhism influences all aspects of Burmese life, these beliefs play important roles in many Burmese festivals. However, the festivities are also characterized by an abundance of music, drama, color, and fun. All of Burma's festivals, many of which celebrate seasonal changes, are playful as well as religious. Two of Burma's most significant festivals are the Water Festival and the Festival of Light.
The Water Festival: The Water Festival, called Thingyan, is Burma's most popular festival. Thingyan is held for three days before the Buddhist New Year begins, usually in April during the hot, dry season. Throughout the three days of the festival, water flows from buckets, water mains, and fire hydrants. Children and adults parade through the streets, inviting others to drench them, and people dump water on one another in a rowdy celebration that leaves everyone soaked. In addition to the merrymaking, this New Year festival gives everyone an opportunity to gain merit. Thagyamin, the king of the nats, is believed to visit earth for the three days of the festival and record the names of those who gain or lose merit - and good behavior at Thingyan may earn forgiveness for past misdeeds. Adults are encouraged to accumulate merit by providing food for the monks, their neighbors, and the poor, or by washing images of Buddha, or by meditating. Children can earn merit by good behavior.
The Festival of Light: The Festival of Light is also a religious holi-day, but the traditions followed in this celebration contrast sharply with the laughter and fun of the Water Festival. The Festival of Light takes place in October and ushers in Burma's cool season. However, it also celebrate Buddha's spiritual return to earth after his death when, according to Buddhist belief, the gods strewed Buddha's path from heaven to earth with lights so that the way would be clear. To celebrate this event, buildings, street, plants and trees in every village and town are lit up for three nights with countless colored lanterns and candles. During this time, everyone enjoys the beautiful lights and plentiful food and drink, as well as music and open-air-the-water.
POLITY
Myanmar was governed according to the provisions of the constitution of 1948 until the coup d'état of 1962, after which the existing form of government was eradicated. In 1974 a new constitution was adopted. This document served as the basis of governmental organization until its suspension after the military coup of September 1988.
The military set up a State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC) to rule Myanmar until elections could be held. When the SLORC lost overwhelmingly in elections held in 1990, it delayed turning over government to civilian control until it could write a new constitution. Many winners of that election were arrested; others were invited to join with other delegates selected by the SLORC in a constitutional convention. The convention first met in January 1993 but was adjourned in March 1996 without producing a constitution.
ECONOMY
Since late 1988, Myanmar has replaced the centrally planned economy to a more liberalized economic policy based on market-oriented system. In moving towards a more market oriented economy, Myanmar has liberalized domestic and external trade, promoting the role of private sector and opening up to foreign investment. Foreign Investment Law, new Central Bank of Myanmar Law, Financial Institutions of Myanmar Law and Myanmar Tourism Law have been enacted and Chambers of Commerce have been reactivated.
Myanmar is richly endowed with renewable and non-renewable energy resources that are being exploited by the state sector with the participation of local and foreign investors. Agriculture remains the main sector of the economy and measures have been taken to increase productivity, diversification of crop patterns, and revitalization of agriculture exports.
VISITING BURMA
Myanmar offers all the traditional delights of Asia in one fascinating country. It offers virgin jungles, snow-capped mountains and pristine beaches, combined with a rich and glorious heritage spanning more than two thousand years. Spectacular monuments and ancient cities attest to a vibrant culture that is still home to 135 different ethnic groups.
The country's tourism infrastructure boasts five star properties, intimate boutique hotels and family guesthouses in all the major centers, as well as stunning mountain and beach resorts. Myanmar also boasts one of the lowest tourist crime records in the world, so visitors can rest assured their holiday will be carefree from start to finish.
Wherever you go in Myanmar, whether it be cruising down the mighty Ayeyarwaddy River in style, drifting over the ancient city of Bagan by hot air balloon, or searching for that elusive tiger on the back of an elephant, there is always a feeling of adventure. With two modern internal airlines upgrading and expanding their networks, new and exciting destinations off the beaten track are gradually being opened. From mountain trekking and rafting in the far north to world class diving in the Mergui Archipelago, its all there in Myanmar.
