Myanmar sits at the crossroads of Asia's great civilisations
of India and China, and looks out onto the vast Indian Ocean
next to Thailand. One of Southeast Asia's largest and most
diverse countries, Myanmar stretches from the sparkling
islands of the Andaman Sea in the south right up into the
Eastern Himalayan mountain range.
To this day Myanmar remains one of the most mysterious and undiscovered destinations
in the world. A land of breathtaking beauty and charm yet only recently emerging
into the modern world.
Myanmar offers all the traditional delights of Asia in one fascinating country.
Virgin jungles, snow-capped mountains and pristine beaches, combined with a
rich and glorious heritage spanning more than two thousand years. Spectacular
monuments and ancient cities attest to a vibrant culture that is still home
to 135 different ethnic groups.
The country's tourism infrastructure boasts five star properties, intimate
boutique hotels and family houses in all the major centres,
as well as stunning mountain and beach resorts. Myanmar
also boasts one of the lowest tourist crime records in the
world. So, visitors can rest assured their holiday will
be carefree from start to finish.
Currency
Kyat (pronounced like the English word "Chat")
= 100 Pyas.
Exchange Rates
Kyats per US dollar - official rate -
6.8581 (January 2002),
6.7489 (2001), 6.5167 (2000),
6.2858 (1999), 6.3432 (1998),
6.2418 (1997)
Industries
Agricultural processing, knit and woven apparel, wood
and wood products, copper, tin, tungsten, iron, construction
materials, pharmaceuticals, fertilizer
Flag Description
Red with a blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side
corner bearing, all in white, 14 five-pointed stars
encircling a cogwheel containing a stalk of rice;
the 14 stars represent the 14 administrative divisions
Basic
Information
Area
676, 577 sq kms
Capital
Yangon
Population
48.08 million
Government Type
Military regime
Independence
4 January 1948 (from UK)
Ethnic Groups
Burman 68%, Shan 9%,
Karen 7%, Rakhine 4%,
Chinese 3%, Indian 2%, Mon 2%, Others 5%
Religions
Buddhist 89%, Christian
4% (Baptist 3%, Roman Catholic 1%), Muslim 4%, Animist
1%,
Others 2%
Languages
Myanmar of Burmese,
minority ethnic groups have their own languages
Climate
Myanmar has three seasons
:-
May - Oct
Monsoon or rainy season
Nov - Feb
Cool season
Mar - May
Hot season
Average temperature
32°C in central and lower areas
21°C in northern highlands
GDP - Composition By
Sector
Agriculture
42%
Industry
17%
Services
41%
Labour Force -
By Occupation
Agriculture
65%
Industry
10%
Services
25%
Business Hours
9.30am
- 4.30pm
Government
Offices,
Post Office (closed on Saturday and Sunday)