Famous landmarks in Myanmar (Burma)

Myanmar, also known as Burma, is a country in Southeast Asia on the Bay of Bengal and the Andaman Sea, bordered by Bangladesh, India, China, Laos and Thailand. Its capital is Naypyidaw, and its largest city is Yangon. Myanmar is known for its thousands of Buddhist pagodas and temples, the plain of Bagan, golden stupas, the long Irrawaddy River and the fishermen of Inle Lake who row with one leg.

On My Earth Toy you can visit Bagan, with its plain full of ancient temples, the gold-covered Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon, and Laykyun Sekkya, one of the tallest statues in the world, a standing Buddha about 116 metres tall. Look for the lar gibbon, a long-armed ape that swings through the forest.

Geography and nature

Mountains curve around Myanmar's north, west and east, and the Irrawaddy River flows down the middle of the country to a huge delta on the sea. In the far north, near the Himalayas, Hkakabo Razi and Gamlang Razi rise to about 5,870 metres, the highest peaks in Southeast Asia. The south stretches down a narrow strip beside Thailand, with the Mergui Archipelago of hundreds of islands offshore. Monsoon rains fall from June to September, and the forests are home to elephants, tigers and gibbons.

People, languages and culture

Burmese is the official language, spoken by the Bamar majority and many others, and Myanmar is home to many ethnic groups, such as the Shan, Karen, Rakhine, Mon, Chin and Kachin, with their own languages. Most people are Theravada Buddhists, and young boys often spend time as novice monks. Many people paint their faces with thanaka, a pale paste made from tree bark, to protect their skin from the sun. Mohinga, a fish noodle soup, is a favourite breakfast. In April, the Thingyan water festival welcomes the new year.

History in a nutshell

The Pyu built some of the region's first cities more than 1,500 years ago. In the 11th century King Anawrahta united the land from Bagan, and thousands of temples were built there. Later the Toungoo and Konbaung dynasties ruled powerful kingdoms. After three wars in the 19th century, Britain took control and made Burma a province of British India. Japan occupied the country in the Second World War. Burma became independent on 4 January 1948, and it has spent long periods under military rule since 1962.