Monywa
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| Monywa | |
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  Monywa
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| Coordinates: 22°6′30″N 95°8′30″E / 22.10833°N 95.14167°ECoordinates: 22°6′30″N 95°8′30″E / 22.10833°N 95.14167°E | |
| Country |  Burma |
|---|---|
| Admin. division | Sagaing Division |
| District | |
| Township | Monywa Township |
| Population (2005) | |
| - Religions | Buddhism |
| Area code(s) | 71[1] |
Monywa (Burmese: မုံရြာၿမိဳ႕; MLCTS: mum hrwa mrui.) is a city in Sagaing Division, Myanmar, located 136 km northwest of Mandalay on the eastern bank of the River Chindwin.
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[edit] Transport
It is served by the Mandalay-Budalin branch railway line, but is best reached by bus as the road from Mandalay is in reasonably good shape. Monywa is now linked by road to Budalin, Dabayin, Ye-U and Kin-U, and by rail to Sagaing and the Mandalay - Myitkyina line.[2] River transport on the Chindwin has always been important as it is navigable for 640 km (400 miles) up to Hkamti during the monsoon season, and most of the year to Homalin.[3][4]
[edit] Economy
Monywa is a major centre for trade and commerce and for agricultural produce from the surrounding Chindwin valley, especially beans, orange, pulses and jaggery (palm sugar). In addition, the local industry includes mills for the production of cotton, flour, noodles, and edible oils. Sausages from Alon called wet udaunk are quite popular, and Budalin longyi (sarong) is known for the strength of the fabric and its checked patterns. Monywa's rough cotton blankets are famous throughout Myanmar, and some can even be found sewn up into knapsacks sold to unsuspecting tourists in Bangkok. Other regional crafts include bamboo and reed products, bullock carts and agricultural implements. The village of Kyaukka is well known for its lacquerware utensils for everyday use.
Black market goods from India, especially saris and bicycle parts, pass through Monywa on their way to other parts of Myanmar.
The major tourist attraction in Monywa (although very few tourists make it there, and facilities are very limited) is Mohnyin Thambuddhei Paya, a Buddhist temple with a huge stupa resembling Indonesia's Borobudur. It dates from 1303, although it was reconstructed in 1939. It is said to contain over 500,000 images of Buddha.
[edit] Education
The city is home to:
- Monywa University
- Monywa Education College
- Monywa Institute of Economics
- Technological University, Monywa[5] and
- Computer University, Monywa [6]
[edit] Politics
The insurgent Burmese Communist Party (BCP) was centred in the Monywa area (west of the Chindwin River) for many years. Although the BCP is no longer active, the Myanmar military presence in Monywa remains heavy.
[edit] Gallery
 Giant reclining Buddha at Bodhi Tahtaung |
 Giant standing Buddha (under construction in the first picture) |
 Shwezigon-Paya |
 Aung Setkya Paya |
[edit] Notes
- ^ "Myanmar Area Codes". http://en.18dao.net/Area_Code/Myanmar. Retrieved on 2009-04-10.
- ^ "Sr Gen Than Shwe urges officials to collectively strive for turning Sagaing Division into granary of Upper Myanmar Assistance assured to upgrade Monywa-Budalin-Dabayin-YeU-KhinU Road". The New Light of Myanmar, December 3, 2002. http://www.myanmargeneva.org/02nlm/n021202.htm#Senior_General_Than_Shwe_urges_officials. Retrieved on 2008-10-12.
- ^ "Chindwin River". Encyclopaedia Britannica online. http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/112284/Chindwin-River. Retrieved on 2008-10-12.
- ^ "CHINDWIN". Online Encyclopaedia. http://encyclopedia.jrank.org/CHA_CHR/CHINDWIN.html. Retrieved on 2008-10-12.
- ^ "Ministy of Science and Technology". MOST, February 2009. http://www.most.gov.mm/monywatu. Retrieved on 2009-04-14.
- ^ "Ministy of Science and Technology". MOST, February 2009. http://www.ucsy.edu.mm/monywacu. Retrieved on 2009-04-14.
[edit] External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Monywa |
- City of Monywa
- Burman photograph album 1897 Old photos of Monywa
- Chindwin River - lifeblood of upper Sagaing Myanmar Times, January 16–22, 2006
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