MYANMAR IN BRIEF

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

Early civilization in Myanmar dates back to the 1st century with archaeological evidences of the Pyu Kingdoms of Thaekhittaya (Sri Ksetra), Beithano (Visnu) and Hanlin.

The First Myanmar Empire was founded in early 11th century by King Anawrahta who unified the country through his strong leadership and intellect. The Empire with its capital at Bagan latest Into; the end of 13th century with the invasion of the Mongols This was more than 20 years before the Norman Conquest of England in 1066. The Second Myanmar Empire with its capital in Bago (Pegu) was founded in mid - 16th century by King Bayinnayng. The Third and last Myanmar empire was founded by King Alaungpaya in 1752. In the 19th Century, during the peak period of colonialism Myanmar was annexed in three stages by the British after three Anglo - Myanmar Wars in 1825, 1852 and 1885. During the Second World War, Myanmar was occupied by the Japanese for nearly three years until the Allied Forces' reoccupation in 1945. Myanmar became a sovereign independent state of January 4, 1948.

GEOGRAPHICAL BACKGROUND

Myanmar is situated in Southeast Asia and is bordered on the north and northeast by China, on the east and southeast by Laos and Thailand, on the south by the Andaman Sea and the Bay of Bengal and on the west by Bangladesh and India. The country covers an area of 676,577 square kilometres (261,228 square miles). It stretches, 936 kilometres (582 miles) from east to west and 2,051 kilometres (1,275 miles) from north to south.

It is a land of hills and valleys and is rimmed in the north, east and west by mountain ranges forming a giant horseshoe. Enclosed within the mountain barrier are the flat lands of Ayeyarwady, Chindwin and Sittaung Rivers valleys where most of the country's agricultural land and population is concentrated.

The Myanmar Standard Time, taken as on East Longitude 97 ° 30', is 6 hours 30 minutes ahead of Greenwich meantime.

The length of contiguous frontier is 3,828 miles (6,159 km) and the coastline from the mouth of Naaf River to Kawthaung is 1,385 miles (2,228 km).

The total length of boundary:

• Myanmar-China 1,370 miles
• Myanmar-Thailand 1,310 miles
• Myanmar-India 832 miles
• Myanmar-Laos 148 miles
• Myanmar-Bangladesh 168.7 miles

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).

MONTHLY AVERAGE TEMPERATURE IN YANGON

LANGUAGE

Burmese is the predominant language although substantial tribal minorities speak Karen, Chin, Shan and various Kachin dialects. English is also quite widely spoken although, as in other Asian countries.

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.

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 hospitality is legendary.

STATES AND DIVISIONS

The State is organized into the following seven States and seven Divisions:

STATES DIVISIONS

NATION'S CAPITAL YANGON

In 1755, King Alaungpaya (the founder of Kon-Baung Dynasty) accomplished his military campaign to reunite the whole of Myanmar, following his conquest of Dagon. At that time, Dagon was no more than a village or a small town. The king realized that the conquest of Dagon implied a total victory over Lower Myanmar because of its strategic location. Accordingly, he renamed the town Yangon which literally means end of strife. Afterwards, the town went by the name of Yangon for nearly a century. In 1851, however, the British annexation of Yangon resulted in getting the town refounded. And the name also was changed to Rangoon. Since then, the city has been designated as the capital of Myanmar and known to the world as Rangoon. The new city was modelled and constructed by Lieutenant Fraser, a British Officer of the Engineering Corps who, it was believed, also designed and constructed Singapore. The city was laid out on a chess-board pattern with wide roads running North to South and East to West.

CLIMATE

As Myanmar is situated in the tropical zone, Yangon has a very fertile alluvial soil. A year is divided into 3 distinct seasons in the region: namely, hot season, rainy season, and cool season. Temperatures often reach 33 degrees Centigrade in hot season. The city usually receives a high annual rainfall. In Yangon, the period from October to February is most enjoyable: the city blooms under the azure cloudless sky and the weather is pleasantly cool and dry with the fresh northerly winds.
Population : Nearly 5 million
Area : 223.217 sq.miles
Township : 31 townships
Density : 13,880 per sq.mile (1991)