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Visitors' Guide
Brief Information |
What to see |
Yangon
| Mandalay |
Bagan |
Inle & Tounggyi |
Other |
Myanmar Food |
Festival in Myanmar
Brief Information
The Land
Myanmar is the name which has long been used by its
people to describe their homeland which the British
called
Burma. Also known as the Golden Land for its rich land
and the wealth of its agriculture and minerals. Myanmar,
with a total
area of 676, 577 square kilometres, is the largest
mainland in South-East Asia. It shares a total of 5858
km (3640 miles) of
international borders with Bangladesh and India on the
North-West, China on the North-East, Laos on the East
and Thailand
on the South-East. It has a total length of 2832 km
(1760 miles) of coastlines. The country stretches 2090
km (1299 miles)
from North to South and 925 km (575 miles) from East to
West at its widest points. The official name is Union of
Myanmar.
Climate
Myanmar enjoys a tropical climate with three general
seasons: The rainy season from mid-May to mid-October;
the cold season
from mid-October to mid-February and the hot season
(summer) from mid-February to mid-May before the rains
begin. The best time
to visit Myanmar is from mid-October to mid-May during
open season. However Upper Myanmar is good to travel
round the year.
Historical Background
Early history of Myanmar began with the founding of the
first capital of the Myanmar Kings at Tagaung, 100 miles
upriver
from Mandalay, reputed to have been thriving during the
5th Century B.C. The Pyu Civilization which followed
flourished
in the Ayeyawady valley from Tagaung to Pyay (former
Prome) in the 1st Century B.C., and reached a high level
of economic,
social and cultural development. Myanmar's greatness in
history dates back to 11th Century. There were three
golden periods
in Myanmar history, King Anawrahta consolidated the
whole country into the First Myanmar Empire in Bagan
(1044 A.D-
1077 A.D). The Bagan Empire encompassed the area of the
present-day Myanmar and the entire Menam Valley in
Thailand
and lasted two centuries. The Bagan Dynasty collapsed
with the invasion of the Mongols under Kublai Khan in
the 13th
Century. The Second Myanmar Empire of the Toungoo Period
(1551 A.D-1581 A.D) was founded by King Bayint Naung;
and
King Alaungpaya founded the Third Myanmar Empire in
1752. It was during the zenith of the Konbaung Dynasty
that the
British moved into Myanmar. Myanmar became a British
colony after three Anglo-Myanmar Wars in 1825, 1852 and
1885.
During the World War II, Myanmar was occupied by
Japanese from 1942 till the return of the Allied Forces
in 1945.
Myanmar regained the status of a "Sovereign Independent
State" on 4th January, 1948, after 123 years of British
colonial administration.
Religion
The first imperial capital of Myanmar, Bagan, became a
world centre of the Theravada Buddhism by the start of
the
12th Century A.D. Successive kings and their subjects
choose to glorify their faith through the lavish and
ambitious construction of monuments and Buddhist
culture.
Theravada Buddhism is the predominant religion with
about 89.4 percent of the people embracing it. The said
Buddhist percentage of the population-mainly
are Bamars, Shans, Mons, Rakhines and some Kayins. There
are also Christians, Muslims, Hindus and some animists.
The Christian population is composed
mainly of Kayins, Kachins and Chins. Islam and Hinduism
are practised mainly by people of Indian origin.
The People
Myanmar's population, spread over 7 States and 7
Divisions, is over 56 million in 2007. It is a Union of
nationalities as many as 135 groups, with their own
languages and dialects. The term Myanmar embraces all
nationalities: Bamar, Chin, Kachin, Kayah, Kayin, Mon,
Rakhine and Shan. The Bamars make up about
69 percent of the total population. The population
growth rate is about 1.5 percent.
Culture
Myanmar lies in a meeting place of two of the world's
great civilizations—China and India—but its culture is
neither that of India nor China exclusively, but
a blend of both interspersed with Myanmar native traits
and characteristics. Buddhism has great influence on
daily life of Myanmars.
Myanmar people have preserved the traditions of close
family ties, respect for the elders, reverence for
Buddhism and simple native dress. Myanmar people
are fun loving; and festivals form the centre of Myanmar
social life; and each month has its own festive
occasion. Myanmars are known for their simplicity,
honesty,
generosity, hospitality and friendliness.
Economy
Since late 1988, Myanmar has replaced the centrally
planned economy with 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. The Union of Myanmar Foreign Investment
Commission has been set up. Foreign Investment Law, New
Central Bank Of Myanmar Law, Financial Institutions
of Myanmar Law and Myanmar Tourism Law and other
necessary Laws have been enacted; and "Chamber of
Commerce and Industry" has been reactivated. Myanmar
is richly endowed with renewable and non-renewable
energy resources which 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.
Dress
Myanmars used to wear light casual dress almost all year
round except in mountainous areas. Thin cotton is the
best in summer and open season. A
cardigan or light sweater needs for the cold season
especially when visiting Upper Myanmar, like Mandalay,
Bagan and hilly region. Generally, a warm sweater or
light jacket may be necessary in the cold season
(winter). An umbrella will be useful during the rainy
season and summer. Sandals or slippers are convenient.
Visitors are advised not to wear short pants, and short
skirts and uncivilized dresses when visiting pagodas and
monasteries. All foot-wears must be taken
off when entering the precincts of pagodas, monasteries,
religious buildings and homes.
Currency
Myanmar currency is Kyat which comprises 100 Pyas.
Notes : Kyats 1000, Kyats 500, Kyats 200, Kyats 100,
Kyats 90, Kyats 50, Kyats 20, Kyats 15, Kyats 10, Kyats
5, Kyat 1
and 50 Pyas.
Coins : Kyat 1, 50 Pyas, 25 Pyas, 10 Pyas, 5 Pyas and 1
Pya.
Passport and Visa
 A valid passport with a Myanmar Visa is required for all
visitors. Visa applications may be made at Myanmar
Embassies and Consulate offices abroad.
For the types of Tourist Visa and Business Visa, you
will obtain the entry stay permit the length of 28 days
which is started to count from the day you enter into
Myanmar and the day you leave the country. The Tourist
Visa costs US$ 20 per application and it can be extended
up to 14 days with additional visa fees. The Business
Visa allows a stay of 28 days and it can be extended up
to 10 weeks accordingly.
Visas on arrival are issued to those traveling on Croise
Liners or Chartered Flights and to the tour groups from
the countries with no Myanmar diplomatic mission.
Applying for Visa on Arrival, the applications may need
to be made through licensed tour agencies which are
officially registered in Myanmar and two months before
arrival to Myanmar.
Once you can apply Myanmar Visa direct from a web-based
to the official Visa Authorities. Online Visa is
applicable at
www.visa.gov.mm.
Customs
All foreign currencies above US$ 2000, jewellery,
electrical goods and cameras must be declared to the
Customs at the airport. Exports of antiques and
archaeologically valuable items are prohibited. Only
gems, jewellery and silverware purchased at the
authorized shops are allowed to be taken out.
Duty-Free
For visitors' convenience, there are Duty-Free Shops in
the airport arrival and departure lounges. Allowance is
2 Bottle of liquor, 2 cartons of cigarettes, 100 cigars
and 1/2 litre of perfumes.
Airport Departure Tax
US $ 10. It is advisable to reconfirm int’l flights
before going out country.
Tourist Information Service
Tourist Information Service counters are located at the
airports, the railway stations, the hotels and the main
office downtown for information and assistance you may
need.
Foreign Exchange
Foreign currencies must be changed only at authorized
money changers at airport, hotels, banks and Myanmar
travels and tours offices. For their convenience, the
central bank of Myanmar has issued Foreign Exchange
Certificates (FECs) in Dollar units.
Visitors may bring in any amount of foreign currency but
it must be declared to the customs if it exceeds US$
2,000.
Foreign Exchange Certificates (FECs) are issued in four
denominations of S20, $10, $5 and $1 and FECs can be
purchased with US Dollar, or Pound Starling. FECs are
accepted by Pagodas and Museums as a payment of
admission fees.
Media (Radio & TV)
There are Myanma Radio, City FM and Five channels in
Television such as Myanmar Television (MRTV), Myawaddy
TV (Armed Forces), MRTV-3, MRTV-4 and Movie-5.
Newspapers
There are five Newspapers in Myanmar: "The Myanma Alin",
"The Kyemon" (The Mirror), "The New Light of Myanmar"
which is the only newspaper in English, "The Myodaw"
(City News evening tabloid) and "The Yadanabon" which is
being published in Mandalay.
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