TANINTHARYI DIVISION OVERVIEW |
| Geography |
Demographics |
Telephone |
Capital: Dawei
Location: Southern
Area: 43,328 km2
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Population: 1,327,400
Density: 30/ km2
Ethnicities: Bamar,Rakhine,Mon,Shan
Burmese-Thai,Kayin,Salone,Malay
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Calling code |
| Town and Districts |
| Amherst, Mergui, Tavoy,Thaton, Toungoo |
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| General Information
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The Tanintharyi Division, better known by the old name Tenasserim , is a division of Myanmar, covering the long narrow southern part of the country on the Kra Isthmus. It borders the Andaman Sea to the west and Thailand to the east. To the north is the Mon State. The capital of the division is Dawei (Tavoy). The other main city is Mergui.
The Tanintharyi Division is home to sea traders, miners, fishers, farmers, rubber planters of diversed ethnic origins. There are Thais, Bamars, Mons, Kayins, sea Gypsies and Salons, just to name a few. On the coastal strip on the west are rice fields, and farms growing maize, suger cane, ground nut, chillies, onions, rubber and palm trees, durian, mangosteen, rambutan, and so on.
The land is mountainous on the eastern border with Thailand. Indeed much of this hill ranges do not possess any good roads. There are a couple of border check points with Thailand, which are only for the local people. On the western shore with Andaman sea there are many beaches still unknown to outsiders, bays, rocks, cliffs, fishing and trade ports and hundreds of islands.
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History
Historically the area belonged to the Thai kingdoms of Sukhothai and Ayutthaya but was in the possession of the Burmese kingdom at the start of the 1800s. At the end of the First Burmese War in 1826 Tenasserim became part of the territory controlled by the British East India company with the Treaty of Yandaboo. It was then part of Lower Burma. The British had taken the territory as a bargaining chip for future negotiations with either Burma or Thailand. The territory was unprofitably run for a number of years and the British considered giving it up to either Burma or Thailand in the 1830s.
Long after the independence of Burma the northeastern part of Tenasserim became Karen State (now Kayin State). In 1974 Mon State was created, taking the northwestern part of Tenasserim. As the previous capital Moulmein is in the Mon state, the capital of Tenasserim was moved to Tavoy. In 1989 the division was officially renamed to Tanintharyi. |
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TANINTHARYI DIVISION PEOPLE |
| In Tanintharyi Devision, the Mons, Salons, Myanmars, Karens, Paos, Tavoyans, and Pashus (Malaya) live in the ten Townships and 317 wards and village tracts. |
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GETTING IN - OUT
TANINTHARYI DIVISION |
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GETTING AROUND
TANINTHARYI DIVISION |
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TANINTHARYI DIVISION RESOURCES |
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The Tanintharyi Division is rich in natural resources. Famous mines are Heinda, Hamyingyi, Kanbauk, Yawa, Kyaukmetaung, Nanthida and Yadanabon which produce a lot of metals. Pearls cultured at the Pearl Island earn a great amount of foreign currency at the Myanma Gems Emporia. Arrangements are being made for the sea fishing industry along Tanintharyi coast to supply not only for domestic consumption but also for export. Birds' nest is also being gathered from offshore islands. This part of the country is the main fishery product market of Myanmar. |
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TRAVEL TIPS |
Climate
The Southern Myanmar has longer rainy season, and shorter dry months compared to the rest of the country. The weather pattern here is similar to that of southern Thailand. It receives rain for almost 9 or 10 months with dry period from December to April.M
Travel Route
The motor road and rail road connect Mawlamyaing (Mon state) with places as far south as Dawe, but it is considered not safe and foreigners are thus not allowed to take the land route. Other options are by flight and boat. However boat travel from Yangon or Mawlamyaing to Dawei, Myeik or Kaw Thaung are inconvenient as there is no reliable schedule of boats run by Myanmar Five Star Lines. The tickets can only be purchased by short notice. No advance booking is possible at the moment (up until 2004).
There are however speed ferry shuttle boat service between Kaw Thaung, Myeik and Dawei, which runs three or four times per week. Kaw Thaung to Myeik takes about half day, and to Dawei is nearly full day. Please check with local people when you arrive Kaw Thaung.
There are a few diving operators based in Phuket, which obtained licences from Myanmar government to arrange diving trips to the Myeik archipelago. A couple of companies based in Myanmar also offer similar services.
Thailand - Myanmar
The southern-most town of Kaw Thoung, is where the border check point with Thailand. Foreign travellers can enter Kaw Thaung with border pass for up to 3 days, paying US$ 5 per person. It allows you to travel around Kaw Thaung and up to about 20km to the north where there is a waterfall.
From Ranong (Thailand side), visitors can take a boat to the Myanmar immigration on a small island (20 minutes), pay the fee and get the pass. Then, another 5 minutes boat ride will take you to Kaw Thaung or Victroria point as it was called in the British time. Chances are you can find a boat that can take you around to the sea to visit the islands.
If you have valid Myanmar visa you can proceed to travel to Mawlamyaing, Yangon... The basic accommodations are available in Kaw Thaung, Myeik and Dawei. Telephone calls are difficult. So let a travel agent in Myanmar arrange for you, or do it yourselves when you arrive there.
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TANINTHARYI DIVISION ECONOMY |
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In agricultural, the main crops are paddy, betel nut, coconut, rubber and dhani. Tapioca, rambutan, durian and mangos teen are also grown on a large scale. Oil producing oil palm is being grown under a special project. |
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