Myanmar

Southeast Asia

Southeastern Asia, bordering the Andaman Sea and the Bay of Bengal, between Bangladesh and Thailand.

22 00 N, 98 00 E

Prime Minister Thein Sein

Capital
Yangon (Rangoon)

Government
Military Dictatorship

Religion
Buddhist 89%, Christian 4% (Baptist 3%, Roman Catholic 1%), Muslim 4%, animist 1%, other 2%.

Population
53,414,374

Ethnic group
Burman 68%, Shan 9%, Karen 7%, Rakhine 4%, Chinese 3%, Indian 2%, Mon 2%, other 5%.


National Language                   
Burmese
          
National Day
4 January 1948 (from the UK)

Anthem
Kaba Ma Kyei

Currency
kyat (K) (mmK)

Attractions
Bagan Temples & Pagodas,  Inle Lake,  Mandalay Palace,  Monywa,  Mergui Archipelago,  Shwe Nandaw Monastery,  Shwedagon Stupa 

Website 

Art & Cultural

The ICON

The Shwedagon Pagoda The Shwedagon Pagoda , also known as the Golden Pagoda, is a 98 metres (322 ft) gilded pagoda and stupa located in Yangon, Burma. The pagoda lies to the west of Kandawgyi Lake, on Singuttara Hill, thus dominating the skyline of the city. It is the most sacred Buddhist pagoda for the Burmese with relics of the past four Buddhas enshrined within, namely the staff of Kakusandha, the water filter of Konāgamana, a piece of the robe of Kassapa and eight hairs of Gautama, the historical Buddha.

The Shwedagon Pagoda