Mawlamyine

State

Mawlamyaing ( Burmese: မော်လမြိုင်မြို့, pronunciation: [ mɔləmjàiN MJO ] ), also Mawlamyine written, formerly Moulmein is the third largest city in Burma (Myanmar ) and is located about 300 km south east of Yangon and 70 km south of Thaton, at the mouth of the Salween - ( Thanlwin ) river. At the time of British rule, the city was known as Moulmein.

With 300,000 inhabitants Mawlamyaing is the largest city in Mon State and the most important commercial and trade hub in south-eastern Burma.

History

The name Mawlamyaing means " ruined eye." The legend goes that a prince of the Mon has here lost an eye.

Mawlamyaing was 1826-1852, the first capital of British Burma after the coast of Tenasserim ( Tanintharyi Division today ) had been together with Arakan (now Rakhine State ) conquered and annexed by the Treaty of Yandabo the British Empire. Here was a greater number of British citizens who were mostly engaged in the production and trading of natural rubber. Most families have returned in recent times to the UK or gone to Australia. During his years in Burma about George Orwell served here as a police officer.

Religion

Mawlamyaing is the seat of the diocese Mawlamyaing.

Landscape

In Mawlamyaing the rivers Gyaing, Attayan open into the Salween River, which forms a delta here and is protected by the Bilugyun Island before it empties into the Gulf of Martaban and the Andaman Sea. The city is flanked on the west and east by hills, on which there are ancient pagodas.

Economy

Mawlamyaing is famous for its tropical fruits and for its cuisine. This is reflected in the Burmese saying, " Mandalay for the speaking, Yangon for the bragging and Mawlamyaing for food " expressed. The city has many sawmills and rice mills, because rice and teak are brought down the Salween.

Previously here was an important shipbuilding and space is still a great port space.

Traffic

Mawlamyaing provides the main access to the southeastern Burma. The most important attraction of the area and at the same time the longest road and rail bridge in the country is the Thanlwin bridge between Mawlamyaing and Mottama ( Martaban ) in the north. It extends over more than 3 km above the Salween River, connecting the south of the country with Rangoon.

The airport of Mawlamyaing offers frequent flights to Yangon.