Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
FACT FILE
• According to the results of a (controversial) census taken in 2014, Myanmar has
a
population
of 51.4 million. Yangon is the largest city (5.2 million), followed by
the national capital Naypyitaw (1.6 million) and Mandalay (1 million).
• At 676,000 square kilometres, Myanmar is slightly smaller than Turkey, and
slightly larger than France.
• Buddhism isthe main
religion
(around90percent ofthe population), thoughthere
are also sizeable populations of Christians, Muslims and Hindus.
• The country was formerly named Burma after its majority
ethnic group
- the
Bamar, who are thought to represent around 68 percent of the population. Other
major groups include the Shan (9 percent), Kayin (7 percent), Rakhine (4 percent)
and Mon (2 percent).
• Three major
linguisticfamilies
are represented in Myanmar: Sino-Tibetan (which
includes Burmese), Tai-Kadai (which includes the Shan languages) and Austro-
Asiatic tongues such as those of the Mon, Palaung and Wa tribes.
•
GeorgeOrwell
livedinBurmafrom1922untilreturningtoEnglandaftercatching
denguefeverin1927;his
Burmese Days
remainsoneofthemost-readbooksabout
the country.
Rudyard Kipling
had also popped by in 1889; though this gave rise
to his vaunted poem “Mandalay”, he never actually visited the city.
Where to go
Though no longer the capital,
Yangon
remains Myanmar's commercial heart and the core of
itsspirituallife.ItsgloriousShwedagonPagodaisaMyanmarmust-see,whilethedowntown
area is a magnificent showpiece of colonial architecture, with streets full of memorably de-
caying Raj-era buildings. Whether you get lost in the city's animated markets, seek out beer
and barbecue in Chinatown, visit Hindu temples or take an eye-opening ride on a commuter
train, Yangon provides a vibrant and engaging introduction to the country.
The fertile
Deltaregion
south and west ofYangon was devastated in 2008byCyclone Nar-
gis, after which the military regime closed the area off to foreign travellers; it's now open
again, with most hurrying straight to the beaches at
ChaungTha
and
NgweSaung
.Heading
north along the west coast, you reach the long and thin stretch of Rakhine State; the most
touted destination here is
Ngapali Beach
, though rising hotel prices have squeezed out any-
one on a strict budget, and many travellers prefer to make for
Mrauk U
, capital of Rakhine
when it was a separate kingdom.
Easily overlooked by tourists in the rush to head north from Yangon,
southeastern My-
anmar
more than justifies a diversion, and is far more accessible now that border crossings
with Thailand have opened to foreigners. A wealth of golden stupas and some giant Buddha
