Myanmar

Geography
Myanmar is Asia at its best. More than any other Asian country, Myanmar, formerly known as Burma, has preserved its cultures and traditions. Myanmar is a deeply religious Buddhist country and is well known by travelers for its abundance of sights and sounds, in-teresting cultures, diversity of nature and most of all for its charming and friendly people. A kind of magic shrouds the whole land with its tropical plains, the Himalayan Highlands, teak-filled jungle and the Ayeyarwady River.

With an area of 671.000 square kilometers, Myanmar is almost twice as big as Germany or the state of Arizona. It is sandwiched between India and Bangladesh on one side and China, Laos and Thailand on the other. To the south is the Andaman Sea with beautiful unspoiled beaches. The Himalayas rise in the north, where the Hkakabo Razi, right on the border between Myanmar and Tibet, is the highest mountain in South-East Asia at 19,290 ft./5881m.

Agriculture
An estimated 30 percent of the land is arable but only half of this is under cultivation. Nevertheless, agriculture is the most important sector of the economy in Myanmar - two-thirds of the employed population works in agriculture. Agricultural products are rice, maize, wheat, pulses, peanuts, sesame, sugar-cane, jute, tobacco and cotton.

Forestry
More than half the country is covered with nearly impenetrable forests but illegal fire clearances are reducing and destroying this invaluable natural resource rapidly. Myanmar is one of the most important exporters of teak wood and hardwoods and it is estimated that more than three-quarters of the world's reserves of teak wood are located in the forests of Myanmar. Smuggling of teak, and hardwoods, especially to Thailand's borders is a serious problem.

History
The tribal communities of the Karen, Mon and different Tibeto-Burmese tribes, the most famous being the Pyu (who came from eastern Tibet) were probably the first inhabitants of the area which is now Myanmar.
In the 8th century the Pyu built a town named Pyay, which was said to be the biggest in the country. The ruins of Pyay are still visible today. After the decline of Pyay the capital shifted to Bagan. From the 11th to 13th centuries about 13,000 temples and pagodas were built. King Anawratha, the first Burmese king, ruled in Bagan from 1044 to 1077 and succeeded in establishing a strong and powerful kingdom. After defeating the Mon, he took Mon prisoners back to his capital and used their architectural abilities for further development of the city. He also adopted Theravada Buddhism from them and began to spread it in his kingdom.

During the reign of King Narasihapati in the 13th century, the Mongols attacked Myanmar. The Mongols finally won the war, and in 1287 Bagan was destroyed. From the 13th to 18th centuries five independent kingdoms existed, sometimes concurrently: In-Wa, Toungoo, Rakhine, Bago and Pyu.

Alaungpaya, who came to be one of the national heroes of Myanmar, established the new Burmese kingdom in 1753. He drove the Mon out of northern Myanmar and made Shwebo his capital. Finally, in 1755, he conquered Pyay and Dagon, changing its name to ‘Yangon’ (‘end of conflict’).

In 1824, the first British-Burmese war started. In 1886, Myanmar finally lost its independence and became a province of British-India. It was centrally governed, and traditional Burmese culture was suppressed in many ways.

In the 20th century, opposition to the British occupying forces and the Karen, who supported them, grew. In 1936, after many years of opposition, elections were held and in 1937 Myanmar achieved self-government within the British Empire.

After the Second World War, the British left Myanmar, which had been proclaimed independent by the Japanese in 1943. In 1947, a new constitution was ratified and in 1948 the ‘Union of Burma’ was established.

Cultural Information

Religion
The religious life of Myanmar is dominated by the omnipresent Theravada Buddhism. The history of Buddhism in Myanmar began in 638 AD, when the Mahayana creed started spreading there. During the 11th century, the people of Bagan turned to the Theravada Buddhist School. Today, about 88 percent of the population call themselves Theravadas, the remaining 12 percent of the Burmese are Christians (7 percent), Muslims (3 percent) and Hindus (0.5 percent). Over 100,000 Buddhist monks live in monasteries throughout the country.

People
Myanmar is an ethnically diverse society. There are many ethnicitiese that can be roughly divided into four groups: Tibeto-Burmese, Mon-Khmer, Karen and Thai-Chinese. The first group includes the main Burmese people and more than 30 smaller tribes. The other three groups are less diverse, but certainly not homogeneous. For a long time the ethnic variety of Myanmar has been the cause of many conflicts, which has also hindered economic development.

Approximately 2-3 million Karen live in Myanmar today, forming the third biggest ethnic group in the country. The Karen are mainly farmers and most of them live in the south-west, near the border with Thailand, and in the east of Myanmar, near the Indian border.

The women of the Padaung tribe, which is a subgroup of the Karen, are known for wearing heavy rings of brass around their necks and are called ‘giraffe women’ since the heavy rings push down the shoulders and elongate the neck.

The Shan consist of various tribes and their history in Myanmar dates back to the 3rd century BC. They are found today in the border regions of the north, north-west, east, and on the borders with Laos and Thailand. Most of them are Buddhists, although animism still plays a significant role in everyday life.

The Mon, today found mainly in the regions around Mawlamyine and Bago, had a big impact on arts and culture. They are Buddhists and have their own language. Today, approximately 1.3 million Mon live in Myanmar.
The Kachin live in the remotest northern state. They include about 62 different tribes, some Christians and some animists. They have a unique way of constructing their wooden houses.

Arts and Architecture
Burmese arts and craftsmanship find their full flowering in the religious architecture. At times it seems that every river bend or hilltop boasts a temple spire, due to the Burmese penchant for balancing their structures on cliffs or towering rocks.

Literally meaning "holy one," paya is the general term referring to religious structures. Payas can be divided into two categories: the solid, bell-shaped zedi, and the square or rectangular pahto. A zedi, or stupa, typically houses holy relics such as a hair or footprint of a Buddha. Early zedis were built in the form of a hemisphere, later evolving into more graceful styles. Style is not a reliable indicator of age, however; due to earthquakes, many of the buildings were rebuilt time and time again, changing style each time. Decorative metal umbrellas, called hti, adorn the tips of most zedis, and their chiming contributes to the tranquil ambience.

Pahtos function as shrines rather than temples, as often there are no monks present. The Mon-style pahto is shaped as a large cube, with small windows and passageways, sometimes leading to outdoor passageways. Both variations usually contain finely ornamented religious reliefs or frescoes for the visitor to contemplate.
Because monasteries and secular buildings were traditionally built of wood, unlike the more permanent religious structures, we have very few surviving examples of these elaborately carved structures.

Manners
The usual Asian rules of conduct apply in Myanmar, plus a few specific Burmese ones. It is unseemly to show too much emotion; losing your temper over problems and delays gets you nowhere. It is better to stay calm at all times just as the Burmese do.

Courtesy and respect for tradition and religion are expected. You should always take your shoes off when entering a pagoda or temple and when you visit private houses, and you should wear appropriate clothing. For men and women it is advisable to cover your shoulders and wear knee-long skirts or trousers. Wearing bathing suits or trunks should be limited to the beach or hotel pool. The head is regarded as a particularly holy part of the body. You should never touch anybody's head intentionally, and offer an excuse if you do so by chance.

Accordingly, the feet are literally the lowest part of the body - do not point your feet at anybody.
Tipping commonly amounts to five or ten percent on hotel and restaurant bills. It is not customary to tip taxi drivers.

Dance and Theatre
Classical dance-drama is currently enjoying a revival in Myanmar and is occasionally performed at the National Theatre in Yangon. The most Burmese of the dances feature solo performances by female dancers who wear dresses with long white trains that they kick into the air with their heels during the foot movements. Yokthei pwe or Burmese marionette theatre presents colorful puppets up to a meter high in a spectacle that many aesthetes consider the most expressive of all the Burmese arts. The Burmese have great respect for an expert puppeteer. A dozen or more strings may manipulate some marionettes; certain nets may sport up to 60 strings, including one for each eyebrow. The marionette master’s standard repertoire requires a troupe of 28 puppets. These figures bring together the talents of singers, puppeteers, musicians, woodcarvers, embroiderers and set designers.

Places to Visit

In Myanmar, there is more magic and mystery in the air than in any other Asian country. The world's largest and most impressive Buddhist pagoda - the Shwedagon Pagoda - is as much one of the sights of Asia as the more than 5000 pagodas and temples in the archaeological zone of Bagan and the famous Kuthodaw Pagoda in Mandalay. There is a whole lot more to be discovered in Myanmar: the mighty Ayeyarwady (Irrawaddy) River, the Inle Lake in the Shan State with its peculiar fishermen, the extensive coastline with stretches of white beaches, and the snow-capped mountains of the Himalayas in the north of the country, perfect for some breathtaking trekking tours up to an altitude of almost 20,000ft/6,000m. Traveling in Myanmar is a journey to the past, discovering the strong influences of the Indo-Chinese civilization.

Yangon
Myanmar's capital has a very special charm. The many shady parks and beautiful lakes have earned it a reputation as the garden city of the East. Its unmistakably colonial style buildings, open markets and wide tree-lined avenues endow it with a strange mix of old world charm and modern vitality. The highlight of the cityscape is the famous Shwedagon, with its Pagoda - especially near sunset.

It towers above the Yangon landscape with serenity so unique that it is often considered as one of the wonders of the world. According to legend, this glistening, gold-covered pagoda was built over two and a half thousand years ago as a place of Buddhist worship.

Other sights of Yangon are the 2200-year-old Sule Pagoda (containing one of Buddha's hairs), the Botataung Pagoda and the Kyauk Htat Gyi Pagoda with the 233 ft/71m long Reclining Buddha. After Mandalay, Yangon became the capital of Burma in 1755.

Kengtung
Kengtung (Chiang Tung) has recently opened to foreigners and the Burmese Government has officially sanctioned the border crossing to Tachilek. The town is a treasure trove of traditional architecture with old-style houses with the intricately designed wooden balconies that are so characteristic of Shan architecture.

Bagan
The birthplace of Myanmar civilization, this is a city beyond description: more than 5000 pagodas (although some of them were damaged by several earthquakes) make for an overwhelming view. Bagan is the largest archaeological site in Asia: most of the red and white pagodas were built in the 11th and 12th centuries. In modern Bagan, bullock carts dictate the pace of the day and the master tradesmen produce Myanmar's finest lacquerwave with painstaking patience.

Mount Popa
A day trip from Bagan, set amid lovely hill and forest scenery, Mount Popa is a steep sided volcanic peak dedicated to the legendary nat spirits of Myanmar. A shrine to these feared and respected traditional characters lies at the top of over 700 steps.

Mandalay
Mandalay was Burma's capital for only 28 years but still it appears more distinguished and self-confident than other cities in Myanmar. Perhaps this is due to Mandalay Hill, which boasts marvelous view of the city and the Ayeyarwady River, and is where the temple that allegedly enshrines three of Buddha's bones is located. Or perhaps it is because of the ‘largest book in the world’, the Kuthodaw Pagoda. Mandalay provides a unique mixture of old and new, and is a spiritual centre boasting numerous old wooden monasteries and unique pagodas that date back to life as it was under the reign of Myanmar's last King.

Bago
Thamala and Wimala, two Mon brothers of noble birth in 573 AD, founded Bago. According to legend, the Buddha rested on a small hillock and two Hintha birds came before him in obeisance. He prophesied that 1,660 years after his death, a city would be established on that spot which would be a capital but it was destroyed in 1757 by King Alaungpaya (the founder of the Third Burmese Empire).

Inle Lake
The center of Myanmar will captivate you very quickly: once you get used to the sight of the fishermen's peculiar ‘leg-rowing-technique’, you can enjoy the ‘floating flower beds’ and the pile dwellings on the shore. A boat trip on the lake is recommended. Here, villages are built on stilts over the lake and boats are the sole means of transport.

Pindaya
Situated on the shore of a picturesque little lake, Pindaya is famous for its caves, where you can see about 6000 Buddha statues of various sizes and materials. This small town in Central Myanmar is ideal for an excursion on the way from Bagan/Mandalay to Taunggyi/Inle Lake.

Ngapali
Ngapali Beach is one of the most beautiful beaches in Myanmar. Here you find peace and quiet, with isolated beaches for relaxing, or you go on trips to islands and fishing villages. Ngapali is easily and quickly accessible by plane to Thandwe and then a car transfer of about 30 minutes.

Taunggyi
The capital of the Shan minority is always worth an excursion. The marketplace with its colorfully dressed ethnic groups is a walking museum of the glory that was Shan. It is home to some of Myanmar's finest cheroot factories and boasts an impressive local market.

Kalaw
This once popular British hill station provided welcome relief during hot summers. Its cool climate, colorful markets, charming churches, and natural surrounds have preserved its appeal to this day.

Pyin Oo Lwin/Maymyo
A cool hill station, over 3047-ft./1,000 m above sea level, founded during colonial times and a worthwhile 2-hour trip from Mandalay. You can enjoy beautiful scenery, a cool climate, and an atmosphere of former days with its old buildings and botanical gardens.

Kyaiktiyo
The Golden Rock (Kyaiktiyo) Pagoda is in a spectacular location, perched on a huge, seemingly precarious boulder on the edge of a cliff. A hair of the Buddha is enshrined in the pagoda, which was supposed to have been given to a hermit monk who kept it in his topknot.

His last request was that the hair should be enshrined in a pagoda built on a rock, resembling his head. There is a popular belief that those who reach the top will grow rich, and the views are magnificent. Kyaiktiyo is only accessible in the dry season (Oct-Apr).

Climate

Myanmar has three quite distinct seasons, although the effects of the monsoon vary in different parts of the country. The best time to visit Myanmar is the ‘cool winter’ season from November to February. At this time of year the weather is very pleasant - not too hot in the day and not too cool at night. In the hills it can get quite chilly in the evenings. During March, April and May the temperatures rise and will often topping 100°F/40°C and it can be unpleasantly hot. The rainy season starts in May with almost daily monsoon rainfalls, mainly in the afternoons and evenings, until the rain tapers off in October.

Visa Information

Who Needs a Visa. All nationalities require a visa to enter Myanmar.

Types of Tourist Visa

• Single-Entry Visa. This visa is for tourists valid for 28 days and must be used within 3 months of being issued. This type of visa is not extendable.
• Multiple-Entry Visa. This visa is valid for 10 weeks and must be used within 3 months of being issued.

Method for Applying for a Visa.The most reliable method of obtaining a visa for Myanmar is by applying through an Embassy of Myanmar.

Visa Extensions and Overstay Fines. A two-week extension is available in country. Applicants need to obtain a recommendation letter from Myanmar Travel and Tours (MTT), then submit the letter, passport, 2 passport photos and a fee of USD 36 to the Immigrations department. The overstay fine is USD 3/day.

International Entry Points

International Airports

1. Yangon International Airport*
2. Mandalay International Airport*
3. Bagan International Airport

Overland Border Crossings

1. Tachilek – Mae Sai, Thailand
2. Kawthaung – Ranong, Thailand
3. Muse – Shwe Li, China

* indicates that visa-on-arrival facilities are available.

Applying for a Visa From The Embassy of Myanmar

Requirements:

1. Passport (must be valid for at least six months, and have one full page for the visa stamp)
2. Two recent passport photos
3. Visa application fee (please contact embassy for current fees)
4. Visa application form
5. Arrival form

Procedure and Processing Time for Obtaining a Visa
Please contact your nearest Myanmar Embassy for the exact procedures and processing times, as they may vary. Click here for a list of Embassies of Myanmar worldwide.

Procedure and Processing Time on Arrival in Myanmar
Processing time varies depending on the point of entry, but is on average about 30 minutes.

All visa information subject to change.