KACHIN STATE:
Extreme N Myanmar. It is a mountainous region bounded
on the NW by India and on the N and E by China and
traversed by tributaries of the Ayeyarwady River.
Myitkyina, the capital, and Bhamo are the chief towns.
Rice and sugarcane are grown, jade and amber mined, and
timber and bamboo cut. The state is sparsely populated;
Jinghpaw-speaking Kachins constitute the largest group.
They maintain tribal forms of organization under chiefs,
practice shifting cultivation, and are mostly animists
or Christians. The territory was never subject to the
Burman kings, and after the establishment of British
rule it was governed directly, not as part of British
Burma. The territory was invaded (1945—47) by the
Chinese, but a border agreement was signed between
Myanmar and China in 1960. Antigovernment insurgents,
active in Kachin State since Myanmar achieved
independence in 1948, signed a cease-fire agreement with
the government in 1993.
How To get there:
You can fly from Yangon and Mandalay to Myitkyina, there
are also daily trains via Kathar to Myitkyina (appr. 24
hours), or you can take a boot the Ayeyarwaddy River up
to Bhamo, or you can also travel by car from Mandalay
via Lasio and Muse to Bhamo (2 days with an overnight
stop at Muse. |
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What to see
Myitkyina:
Myitkyina is the capital and centrally located in the
Kachin State. It is the northern most railway terminal,
919 miles from Yangon and 487 miles from Mandalay.
Visitors can tour the Myit Sone, the confluence of
Maikha and Malikha Streams. Ayeyarwady, the most useful
river in Myanmar has its source from this confluence and
flows 1325 miles to the mouth of the river. The water
over here is crystal clear. The panoramic view of the
scenario at Myit Sone with the unspoiled beauty of
nature is beyond the expression of words and will
definitely be a fine attraction to tourists. Myitkyina
can be reached by road, rail, river and air. Different
tribes of national races live in harmony with their own
cultures, customs, dialects, dances and lifestyles. The
glittering costumes with silver trinkets of the charming
Kachin belles would be an enchanting sight. For souvenir
the Kachin woollen bag with silver trinkets would be a
memorable gift. The overland trade route to India and
China and World War II supply line to China along the
Ledo Road pass through Myitkyina.
At the edge of the town, by the banks of the
Ayeyarwaddy, gold-painting and mining goes on
relentlessly day and night. Abotu 25 miles to the north
of the town, is some of Myanmar's most beautiful and
important natural beauty spots, in the cradle of the
Ayeyarwaddy, where Maykha and Malikha rivers meet,
usually called the Myit-son.
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Kachin Girl |
Indawgyi Lake:
2 ½ hours south of Myitkyina, is the largest inland
lake of Southeast Asia. The lake is 8 miles east to
west, and 15 miles north to south. There are over 20
villages around the lake. The predominant ethnic groups
living in the surroundings of the lake are the Shan and
the Kachin, whom mainly practise agriculture. Indawgyi
Lake is within the confines of Indawgyi Lake Wildlife
Sanctuary, which was established in 1999 by the Ministry
of Ecotourism. The sanctuary, which is 300 square miles,
contains a variety of animal species, including rare
mammals and birds.
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Indawgyi Lake |
Putao:
Situated in the north of Myitkyina, the capital city of
Kachin state, can reach only by air route from Yangon,
Mandalay and Myitkyina. The city surrounded with snow
peaked mountains and the weather is cold around the
year. Flora and Fauna can be seen in the forest around
Putao. There are also many different ethnic minority
tribes in Kachin state. It is the nearest town to the
base camp for Climbing Mt. Khakhaborazi (5889 metres),
which is the highest mountain in Myanmar and in
Southeast Asia. Putao is the starting point for
Myanmar's most adventurous trekking adventures.Flowing streams and rivulets, straw-roofed houses and
fences of pebbles and creek stones provide a pleasant,
pastoral contrast to the scenes and sights of modern
cities. The suspension bridges are the typical river
crossing in this region. People of the Rawan, Lisu,
Khamti-Shan, Jingphaw and Kachin are represented in the
region. This area is famous for its Nature of originated
Flora, especially there are many various kinds of
orchids and even the world rarest Black orchids can be
found in this area. And for fauna, one of the rarest
animal species, Takin (Budorcas Taxicolor), Red Panda (Ailurus
Fulgens), Black Bears, Black Deer, are all endemic to
this region. Other terrestrial species of Monkeys,
Boars, Mountain Goats can also seen on this region. Various
kinds of Butterflies can be seen in this area on the month
of January. The Butterflies including such as an endangered
species can be found, among them are Kaiser, Apollo, Bhutan,
Glory and Birdwings.The trees such as different colors of
Rhododendrons, Maple trees and various kinds of Bamboos are
also seen in this area. The month of January and April is
the best month to see the butterflies, flowers and orchids
in the icy forest.
Bhamo:
Is located 186 km south from the capital of Myitkyina.
It is on the Ayeyarwady River, and is the nearest river
port to the Chinese border. The population is a mix of
Chinese and Shan, with Kachin peoples in the hills
around the town. Bhamo was once called Sampanago, and
was the capital of a now-extinct Shan kingdom of Manmaw.
The ruins of the old city walls still exist, some 5 km
from the modern town. |
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