| Myanmar, formerly called Burma, is a diamond-shaped
country extending 925km (575 miles) from east to west and 2100km
(1300 miles) from north to south. The largest country in mainland
Southeast Asia, it is bounded by China, Laos and Thailand in
the east, by Bangladesh and India in the north and by the Indian
Ocean in the west and south.
With a coastline of 2,000 kilometres, Burma was added by the
Britain into the British India after conquering the country
over a period of 62 years. The country became independent from
the Commonwealth in 1948. It was ruled by a military junta led
by General Ne Win from 1962 to 1988. Burma is still ruled by
the military dictatorship.
Chinese, Indian, and Thai influences make their presence felt
in the culture of Burma. This is reflected in its language,
cuisine, and music. Theravada Buddhism is an integral part of
Burma’s history and literature. However, today one can
see western influence in the life of the country.
Travel Overview
Once a hidden jewel Burma is now opening up to the world, revealing
stunning natural beauty and an unmatched cultural heritage.
The country boasts a civilisation of 2,500 years old, magnificent
temple architecture and timeless landscapes.
Added to this spirit and hospitality of Burma makes your visit
to the country a memorable one. Tourists attractions of Burma
include the world heritage site of Bagan, a former centre of
Buddhist spirituality and learning, Bhamo, a famous trading
post, Lake Inlè in Shan state , Sagaing Hill, national
park at Mount Popa and Mandalay.
The capital cit is Yangon that is surrounded on three sides
by water. Shwedagon Pagoda at the heart of Yangon attracts visitors
in a large number. One of the most splendid monuments in the
world, the stupa dates back to the 11th century. Plated with
more than 8,000 solid gold slabs, the stupa’s tip is set
with diamonds, rubies, sapphires and topaz.
Capital: Rangoon (Yangon)
Location: Southeastern Asia, bordering the Andaman Sea and the
Bay of Bengal, between Bangladesh and Thailand
Climate: tropical monsoon; cloudy, rainy, hot, humid summers
Total Area: 678,500 sq km
Total Population: 47,373,958
Population Growth Rate: 0.815%
Sex Ratio: 0.98 male(s)/female
Literacy: 85.3%
Ethnic Groups: Burman, Shan, Karen , Rakhine, Chinese , Indian
, Mon
Irrigated land: 18,700 sq km
Languages: Burmese, minority ethnic groups have their own languages
Time Zone: UTC+6.5
Currency: kyat
Neighbouring countries: Bangladesh, China, India , Laos , Thailand
Type of govt.: military junta
Head of Govt.: Prime Minister, Gen Soe Win
Major Political Parties: National League for Democracy or NLD,
National Unity Party or NUP, Shan Nationalities League for Democracy
or SNLD
Participation in International Organizations: APT, ARF, AsDB,
ASEAN, BIMSTEC, CP, EAS, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM,
IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO
(correspondent), ITU, NAM, OPCW (signatory), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Major Agricultural Products: rice, pulses, beans, sesame, groundnuts,
sugarcane; hardwood; fish and fish products
Natural Resources & Minerals: petroleum, timber, tin, antimony,
zinc, copper, tungsten, lead, coal, some marble, limestone,
precious stones, natural gas, hydropower
Industry & Transport: agricultural processing; wood and
wood products; copper, tin, tungsten, iron; cement, construction
materials; pharmaceuticals; fertilizer; natural gas; garments,
jade and gems
Airports: 85
Railways: 3,955 km
Roadways:
27,000 km
Waterways: 12,800 km
Major Trade Partners: Thailand, India, China, Japan, Singapore,
Malaysia
Exports: $3.56 billion
Imports: $1.98 billion
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