Kalaymyo
Encyclopedia
Kalaymyo also known as Karlaymyo, is a town in the Sagaing Division
of Burma
. It is located upstream from Mandalay
and Monywa
on the Myittha River
, a tributary of the Chindwin River
. The town is the district headquarters of the Kalay District. It has gained importance with trans border movement enabled between Burma and India
following the 165 kilometres (102.5 mi) Tamu–Kalayamyo road built by the Border Roads Organization of India.
.
.
During the Second World War
, Kalaymyo was an important regrouping point for the British
during their retreat from Burma
in 1942 because of the relatively easier access to India along the Manipur River
(the alternative was to march through malarial forests from Kalewa
to Tamu).
A votive tablet was unearthed in Kalaymyo in 1983, with a Mon language
inscription referring to the Aniruddha
.
On September 19, 2007, 200 monks marched through the streets of Kalaymyo as a part of the 2007 Burmese anti-government protests
. Over the next few days, the monks were joined by thousands of people of the Chin ethnic group. On September 24, students marched from Kalay University with posters and protested, demanding the release of Aung San Suu Kyi
and two other political prisoners.
Kalaymyo has several notable prisons, to which people from all across the region are transported.
passes through it. This point has been marked by the milepost 55/56 near KyanSitKone village. Set in terrain that has an average elevation of450 feet (137.2 m) above mean sea level, the town has a picturesque backdrop of the LayThar Hill in the east and the Chin Hill in the west.
The city is drained by the Myitthar River that flows in a south–north direction, the Nayyinzayar River that flows in a north–south direction, and the MaNePuRã River (also called the NunKaThel River) from across the international border with India; the last-named river has its origin in Manipur state of the Northeast India.
climate dominates the town. Temperature variations are significant, with summer months from March to May recording 100–112 °F (37.8–44.4 C) and the winter months in the range of 50–70 °F (10–21.1 C). The average annual temperature is reported to be 79 °F (26.1 °C). The average annual rainfall is of the order of 67.77 inches (172.1 cm).
and 10% other nationalities and foreigners. The valley town, with its tranquil atmosphere, is inhabited in equal numbers by the Chin community (95% Christians) and Bamar
s. The Chin people also refer to the town as ‘Zomi’ and there is lively discussion as to who were the original settlers here, the Chin or the Bamar.
Kale Township is unable to meet its own food requirements, although it exports food to neighbouring towns and cities. It has 80000 acres (32,374.9 ha) under paddy, 10000 acres (4,046.9 ha) under peas
, and 40000 acres (16,187.4 ha) under cooking oil crops. The irrigation dam in RāZāJo village will provide water to grow more crops under irrigated conditions.
Kale Township has teak
, ironwood
(Pterocarpus indicus), the large timber tree Shorea obtusa
, Shorea robusta and many other species of tree.
(mainly Baptist) and the remaining 5 percent follow other religious practices. The district has 116 Buddhist monasteries, 508 churches, a mosque
, two Hindu temples, two Buddhist seminaries for nuns, five Buddhist nunneries and a joss house
(Chinese
communal temple).
, is the 165 kilometres (102.5 mi) Tamu Kalayamyo road. The Border Roads Organization, a parastatal organization of the Government of India, started construction of this road in 1997, which was opened by the Foreign Minister of India in 2001. This road has facilitated trans-border movement between India and Myanmar. Apart from this road, the town is well connected by a network of roads with Kalay, GantGaw
, Monywa
, Yarje and Mandalay. The important road route during the rainy season is the Kalay-GuntGaw-MonYwar-Mandalay road and during winter it is the Kalay-Myoma-Yarje-Monywar-Mandalay Route.
Rail services also operate between Kalayamyo and GuntGaw. This line passes through the PounTaun Poun Nyar Tunnel.
Inland water transport is also available up to Kalaywa, which is 24 kilometres (14.9 mi)short of Kalaymyo. On this route, Morlike, Homalin, Khunte, Mingin and Monywar are also accessible.
There is an airport at Kalaymyo
, an extension of a British-built Second World War airstrip that was used to ferry troops and supplies into Burma during the British reconquest of Burma in 1945. The airport is located in the middle of the town. Myanmar Airways
, Bagan Airways,Mandalay Airways and Air KBZ operate regular air services to and from Yangon
, Mandalay and Kalaymyo. The airport is at an elevation of 499 feet (152.1 m); it has a 79 metres (259.2 ft) wide and 1677 metres (5,502 ft) long runway with blacktopped surface.
Sagaing Division
Sagaing Region is an administrative region of Burma , located in the north-western part of the country between latitude 21° 30' north and longitude 94° 97' east...
of Burma
Myanmar
Burma , officially the Republic of the Union of Myanmar , is a country in Southeast Asia. Burma is bordered by China on the northeast, Laos on the east, Thailand on the southeast, Bangladesh on the west, India on the northwest, the Bay of Bengal to the southwest, and the Andaman Sea on the south....
. It is located upstream from Mandalay
Mandalay
Mandalay is the second-largest city and the last royal capital of Burma. Located north of Yangon on the east bank of the Irrawaddy River, the city has a population of one million, and is the capital of Mandalay Region ....
and Monywa
Monywa
Monywa is a city in Sagaing Division, Myanmar, located 136 km northwest of Mandalay on the eastern bank of the River Chindwin.-Transport:...
on the Myittha River
Myittha River
Myittha River is a river of western Burma. It originates in the Chin Hills and flows into the Chindwin River just below the town of Kalewa.-See also:*List of rivers of Burma...
, a tributary of the Chindwin River
Chindwin River
The Chindwin River is a river in Burma , and the largest tributary of the country's chief river the Ayeyarwady . It flows entirely within Burma and is known as Ning-thi to the Manipuris.-Source:...
. The town is the district headquarters of the Kalay District. It has gained importance with trans border movement enabled between Burma and India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
following the 165 kilometres (102.5 mi) Tamu–Kalayamyo road built by the Border Roads Organization of India.
Etymology
The earlier name of the town ‘Karlaymyo,’ renamed now as ‘Kalaymyo,’ means “a town surrounded by four satellite towns” in the Burmese languageBurmese language
The Burmese language is the official language of Burma. Although the constitution officially recognizes it as the Myanmar language, most English speakers continue to refer to the language as Burmese. Burmese is the native language of the Bamar and related sub-ethnic groups of the Bamar, as well as...
.
History
According to tradition, Kalaymyo was established as a town on a Sunday in the 5th of waning moon of Tabotwe month 328, as per the traditional Burmese calendarTraditional Burmese calendar
The traditional Burmese calendar is a lunisolar calendar based on both the phases of the moon and the motion of the sun. Within each month of the Burmese calendar, a major festival, often Burmese Buddhist in nature, is held...
.
During the Second World War
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Kalaymyo was an important regrouping point for the British
British Armed Forces
The British Armed Forces are the armed forces of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.Also known as Her Majesty's Armed Forces and sometimes legally the Armed Forces of the Crown, the British Armed Forces encompasses three professional uniformed services, the Royal Navy, the...
during their retreat from Burma
Burma Campaign 1942-1943
The Burma Campaign in the South-East Asian Theatre of World War II took place over four years from 1942 to 1945. During the first year of the campaign, the Imperial Japanese Army had driven British forces and Chinese forces out of Burma, and occupied the country...
in 1942 because of the relatively easier access to India along the Manipur River
Manipur River
-See also:*List of rivers of Burma...
(the alternative was to march through malarial forests from Kalewa
Kalewa
Tahan is a town at the confluence of the Chindwin River and the Myittha River in Kale District, Sagaing Division of northwestern Burma...
to Tamu).
A votive tablet was unearthed in Kalaymyo in 1983, with a Mon language
Mon language
The Mon language is an Austroasiatic language spoken by the Mon, who live in Burma and Thailand. Mon, like the related language Cambodian—but unlike most languages in Mainland Southeast Asia—is not tonal. Mon is spoken by more than a million people today. In recent years, usage of Mon has...
inscription referring to the Aniruddha
Aniruddha
Aniruddha , meaning "uncontrolled" or "without obstacles", was the son of Pradyumna and the grandson of Krishna. He is said to have been very much like his grandfather, to the extent that he may be a jana avatar. The four important Vishnu extensions are Vasudeva, Sankarsana, Pradyumna, and...
.
On September 19, 2007, 200 monks marched through the streets of Kalaymyo as a part of the 2007 Burmese anti-government protests
2007 Burmese anti-government protests
The 2007 Burmese anti-government protests were a series of anti-government protests that started in Burma on 15 August 2007...
. Over the next few days, the monks were joined by thousands of people of the Chin ethnic group. On September 24, students marched from Kalay University with posters and protested, demanding the release of Aung San Suu Kyi
Aung San Suu Kyi
Aung San Suu Kyi, AC is a Burmese opposition politician and the General Secretary of the National League for Democracy. In the 1990 general election, her National League for Democracy party won 59% of the national votes and 81% of the seats in Parliament. She had, however, already been detained...
and two other political prisoners.
Kalaymyo has several notable prisons, to which people from all across the region are transported.
Geography
Geographically, the distinctive feature of the town is that the Tropic of CancerTropic of Cancer
The Tropic of Cancer, also referred to as the Northern tropic, is the circle of latitude on the Earth that marks the most northerly position at which the Sun may appear directly overhead at its zenith...
passes through it. This point has been marked by the milepost 55/56 near KyanSitKone village. Set in terrain that has an average elevation of450 feet (137.2 m) above mean sea level, the town has a picturesque backdrop of the LayThar Hill in the east and the Chin Hill in the west.
The city is drained by the Myitthar River that flows in a south–north direction, the Nayyinzayar River that flows in a north–south direction, and the MaNePuRã River (also called the NunKaThel River) from across the international border with India; the last-named river has its origin in Manipur state of the Northeast India.
Climate
A tropical monsoonMonsoon
Monsoon is traditionally defined as a seasonal reversing wind accompanied by corresponding changes in precipitation, but is now used to describe seasonal changes in atmospheric circulation and precipitation associated with the asymmetric heating of land and sea...
climate dominates the town. Temperature variations are significant, with summer months from March to May recording 100–112 °F (37.8–44.4 C) and the winter months in the range of 50–70 °F (10–21.1 C). The average annual temperature is reported to be 79 °F (26.1 °C). The average annual rainfall is of the order of 67.77 inches (172.1 cm).
Demographics
The population of Kalaymyo is estimated to be 400,000, comprising 55% Burmese, 35% ChinChin people
The Chin , known as the Kuki in Assam, are one of the ethnic groups in Burma. The Chins are found mainly in western part of Burma and numbered circa 1.5 million. They also live in nearby Indian states of Nagaland, Mizoram and Manipur and Assam. Owing to Mizo influence and Baptist missionaries'...
and 10% other nationalities and foreigners. The valley town, with its tranquil atmosphere, is inhabited in equal numbers by the Chin community (95% Christians) and Bamar
Bamar
The Bamar are the dominant ethnic group of Burma , constituting approximately two-thirds of the population. The Bamar live primarily in the Irrawaddy basin, and speak the Burmese language, which is also the official language of Burma. Bamar customs and identity are closely intertwined with general...
s. The Chin people also refer to the town as ‘Zomi’ and there is lively discussion as to who were the original settlers here, the Chin or the Bamar.
Economy
The economy of Kalaymyo is dependent upon agriculture but it is also an industrial town. Cars, jeeps, trucks, fire engines, trailers, three-wheeled motorcycles are manufactured in the Kalay Industrial Estate. The town is the hub of trading activity with India across the border.Kale Township is unable to meet its own food requirements, although it exports food to neighbouring towns and cities. It has 80000 acres (32,374.9 ha) under paddy, 10000 acres (4,046.9 ha) under peas
PEAS
P.E.A.S. is an acronym in artificial intelligence that stands for Performance, Environment, Actuators, Sensors.-Performance:Performance is a function that measures the quality of the actions the agent did....
, and 40000 acres (16,187.4 ha) under cooking oil crops. The irrigation dam in RāZāJo village will provide water to grow more crops under irrigated conditions.
Kale Township has teak
Teak
Teak is the common name for the tropical hardwood tree species Tectona grandis and its wood products. Tectona grandis is native to south and southeast Asia, mainly India, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Burma, but is naturalized and cultivated in many countries, including those in Africa and the...
, ironwood
Ironwood
Ironwood is a common name for a large number of woods that have a reputation for hardness. Usage of the name may include the tree that yields this wood...
(Pterocarpus indicus), the large timber tree Shorea obtusa
Shorea ovata
Shorea ovata is a species of plant in the Dipterocarpaceae family. It is found in Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines. It is threatened by habitat loss.-Source:...
, Shorea robusta and many other species of tree.
Religion
The religious composition of Kalaymyo and the surrounding township is listed as 55 percent Buddhist (mainly Theravada Buddhists),40 percent ChristianChristian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
(mainly Baptist) and the remaining 5 percent follow other religious practices. The district has 116 Buddhist monasteries, 508 churches, a mosque
Mosque
A mosque is a place of worship for followers of Islam. The word is likely to have entered the English language through French , from Portuguese , from Spanish , and from Berber , ultimately originating in — . The Arabic word masjid literally means a place of prostration...
, two Hindu temples, two Buddhist seminaries for nuns, five Buddhist nunneries and a joss house
Joss house
A Shenist temple or Chinese folk temple is a place for worshiping the variety of indigenous Chinese shen from Chinese folk religion and Chinese mythology....
(Chinese
Culture of China
Chinese culture is one of the world's oldest and most complex. The area in which the culture is dominant covers a large geographical region in eastern Asia with customs and traditions varying greatly between towns, cities and provinces...
communal temple).
Social infrastructure
The basic social services of education (primary to high school level, and universities within close commutable distances from the town), health services (general hospital, military hospital and traditional medicines' hospital), modern telecommunication network (telephone, Internet, telecommunication satellite network etc.), Media network of news papers (simultaneous coverage of news with Yangon), TV and radio services are well established in the town. The town’s electricity needs are met from the MāNePu Hydroelectric Project, which also helps promote industries.Transportation
The strategic road between India and Myanmar, built with assistance from the Government of IndiaGovernment of India
The Government of India, officially known as the Union Government, and also known as the Central Government, was established by the Constitution of India, and is the governing authority of the union of 28 states and seven union territories, collectively called the Republic of India...
, is the 165 kilometres (102.5 mi) Tamu Kalayamyo road. The Border Roads Organization, a parastatal organization of the Government of India, started construction of this road in 1997, which was opened by the Foreign Minister of India in 2001. This road has facilitated trans-border movement between India and Myanmar. Apart from this road, the town is well connected by a network of roads with Kalay, GantGaw
Gangaw
Gangaw is a town of Gangaw Township in Gangaw District in the Magway Division in Myanmar. Gangaw is also known as the City of Yaw, a certain region in Myanmar including Gangaw, Tilin, Saw and villages around them...
, Monywa
Monywa
Monywa is a city in Sagaing Division, Myanmar, located 136 km northwest of Mandalay on the eastern bank of the River Chindwin.-Transport:...
, Yarje and Mandalay. The important road route during the rainy season is the Kalay-GuntGaw-MonYwar-Mandalay road and during winter it is the Kalay-Myoma-Yarje-Monywar-Mandalay Route.
Rail services also operate between Kalayamyo and GuntGaw. This line passes through the PounTaun Poun Nyar Tunnel.
Inland water transport is also available up to Kalaywa, which is 24 kilometres (14.9 mi)short of Kalaymyo. On this route, Morlike, Homalin, Khunte, Mingin and Monywar are also accessible.
There is an airport at Kalaymyo
Kalaymyo Airport
Kalaymyo Airport is an airport serving Kalaymyo , a town in the Sagaing Division of Burma.-Airlines and destinations:...
, an extension of a British-built Second World War airstrip that was used to ferry troops and supplies into Burma during the British reconquest of Burma in 1945. The airport is located in the middle of the town. Myanmar Airways
Myanmar Airways
Myanmar Airways may refer to:*Myanma Airways, the Myanmar national airline*Myanmar Airways International, the Myanmar international airline, partly owned by Myanma Airways....
, Bagan Airways,Mandalay Airways and Air KBZ operate regular air services to and from Yangon
Yangon
Yangon is a former capital of Burma and the capital of Yangon Region . Although the military government has officially relocated the capital to Naypyidaw since March 2006, Yangon, with a population of over four million, continues to be the country's largest city and the most important commercial...
, Mandalay and Kalaymyo. The airport is at an elevation of 499 feet (152.1 m); it has a 79 metres (259.2 ft) wide and 1677 metres (5,502 ft) long runway with blacktopped surface.