Naypyidaw
Encyclopedia
Naypyidaw is the capital city
of Burma, also known as Myanmar. It is administered as the Naypyidaw Union Territory
, as per the 2008 Constitution. On 6 November 2005, the administrative capital of Myanmar was officially moved to a greenfield
3.2 km west of Pyinmana
, and approximately 320 km north of Yangon
(Rangoon), the previous capital. The capital's official name was announced on 27 March 2006, Myanmar Armed Forces Day
. Much of this planned city
is still under construction, which is set to be completed by around 2012. As of 2009, the population was 925,000, which makes it Myanmar's third largest city, behind Yangon and Mandalay
. The city is one of the world's 10 fastest-growing cities.
.
some 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) west of Pyinmana, and approximately 320 kilometres (198.8 mi) north of Yangon, with construction starting in 2002. At least 25 construction companies were hired by the military government
to build the city, including Asia World and Htoo Ltd
. The military government began moving government ministries
from Yangon to Naypyidaw on 6 November 2005 at the astrologically
auspicious time of 6:37 a.m. Five days later, on 11 November at 11 a.m., a second convoy
of 1,100 military trucks carrying 11 military battalions and 11 government ministries left Yangon. The ministries were expected to be mostly in place by the end of February 2006; however, the hasty move led to a lack of schools and other amenities which separated the government employees from their families for the time being. The government originally prohibited families of government workers from moving to the new capital. Military headquarters were located in a separate compound from the government ministries, and civilians have been banned from entering either. Vendors are restricted to a commercial zone near the government offices.
On 27 March 2006, more than 12,000 troops marched in the new capital in its first public event: a massive military parade to mark Armed Forces Day—which is the anniversary of then Burma's 1945 uprising against the Japanese occupation of Burma
. Filming was restricted to the concrete parade ground which contains three enormous sculptures—depictions of the Myanmar kings Anawrahta
, Bayinnaung
and Alaungpaya
, who are considered the three most important kings in Myanmar history
. The city was officially named Naypyidaw during these ceremonies.
, Kayah
and Kayin
states. It was felt that a stronger military and governmental presence nearby might provide stability to those chronically turbulent regions. The official explanation for moving the capital was that Yangon had become too congested and crowded with little room for future expansion of government offices.
Some Western diplomats speculated that the government were concerned with the possibility of foreign attack, as Yangon is on the coast and therefore vulnerable to an amphibious invasion
. Indian journalist Siddharth Varadarajan
, who visited Naypyidaw in January 2007, described the vastness of the new capital as "the ultimate insurance against regime change
, a masterpiece of urban planning
designed to defeat any putative "colour revolution" – not by tanks and water cannons, but by geometry and cartography".
and Shan Yoma
mountain ranges. The city covers an area of 7,054.37 square km and has a population of 924,608, according to official figures.
Chaungmagyi Dam is located a few kilometers to the north of Naypyidaw, while Ngalaik Dam
is a few kilometers to the south. The Yezin Dam is further away, to the northeast.
employees live in buildings with blue roofs, while Ministry of Agriculture employees live in those with green roofs. High ranking government officials live in mansions, of which there are about 50. Many of the city's residents, however, live in slums.
. "A monument to junta's fear". October 16, 2007 A parliament
ary complex consisting of 31 buildings and a 100-room presidential palace are also located there. The zone also contains the city hall building, which has many characteristics of Stalinist architecture
, but with a Burmese-style roof.
) on the Yangon-Mandalay Road.
, near Kyweshin Village on Ngalaik Lake (approximately seven miles from Naypyidaw). Opened in 2008, facilities at the Ngalaik Lake Gardens include water slides, natural resorts, lodging and a beach. The gardens are open to the public during Thingyan
holidays.
Also opened in 2008, the 200 acre (0.809372 km²) National Herbal Park
has exhibits of plants having medicinal applications from all of the major regions of Burma. There are thousands of plants at the park, representing hundreds of different species.
Behind the city hall, there is a park with a playground and water fountain complex, which hosts a musical light show every night.
The Naypyidaw Zoological Gardens
opened in 2008 with some 420 animals and a climate-controlled penguin house. It is the largest zoo in Burma. The Naypyidaw Safari Park
officially opened on 12 February 2011.
Naypyidaw also has two golf courses (Nay Pyi Taw City Golf Course and Yaypyar Golf Course), and a gem museum.
was completed in 2009. This new pagoda is named the Uppatasanti or "Peace Pagoda". The stake-driving ceremony for the pagoda was held on 12 November 2006. The invitation card for the ceremony opened with a phrase "Rajahtani Naypyidaw (the royal capital where the king resides)". The pagoda is just 30 cm shorter than the Shwedagon Pagoda. Uppatasanti translates roughly to "Protection against Calamity". It is the name of a sūtra
prepared by a monk in the early 16th century. It is to be recited in time of crisis, especially in the face of foreign invasion.
s of land for foreign embassies and headquarters of United Nations
missions.
are held annually in Naypyidaw given to the highest achievers in Myanmar cinema
. There is a movie theater in the Junction Centre Mall in Naypyidaw. There are two others in nearby Pyinmana, and one in Tatkon Township
.
under the direct administration of the President
. Day-to-day functions are carried out on the President's behalf by the Naypyidaw Council led by a Chairperson. The Chairperson and members of the Naypyidaw Council are appointed by the President and include both civilians and Armed Forces representatives.
On 30 March 2011, President Thein Sein
appointed Thein Nyunt as chairman of the Naypyidaw Council, along with 9 chair members: Than Htay, Colonel Myint Aung Than, Kan Chun, Paing Soe, Saw Hla, Myint Swe, Myint Shwe and Myo Nyunt.
The Naypyidaw Union Territory consists of the city proper (downtown) and eight surrounding township
s. Downtown is further divided into four wards. Pyinmana
, Lewe
, and Tatkon
townships were all formerly part of Yamethin District
. Oathara Thiri, Dekkina Thiri, Poppha Thiri, Zapu Thiri, and Zeyar Thiri are all new townships currently under construction. As of December 2009, most government ministry offices have been relocated to the administrative capital. Only the offices of ministries' directorates remain in Yangon.
Yezin
(a few kilometers northeast of Naypyidaw and Pyinmana)
, which would be the country's first underground rail system, underneath Naypyidaw.
s) although there is only light traffic throughout the city. Government ministries run shuttle buses in the morning and evening to their respective buildings.
The city has a Central Bus Station, and only one taxi company, which is operated by the military.
Motorbikes are banned from some roads within Naypyidaw city limits, including sections of Taw Win Yadana Road , resulting from hundreds of traffic accident-related deaths in 2009.
Myanmar Railways
has announced that passengers traveling on all trains except mail and local ones are to get off only at Nay Pyi Taw Station as they will not stop at Pyinmana Station after the inauguration of Nay Pyi Taw Station.
Prior to the opening of Naypyidaw railway station, Naypyidaw was served by Pyinmana and Lewe stations, though only Pyinmana station is on the main rail line (which extends from Yangon-Bago-Naypyidaw-Thazi
-Mandalay). Lewe station is located on the way from Pyinmana to Kyaukpadaung
. It takes nine hours by train to get from Yangon to Pyinmana; trains leave at 12:00 and arrive at 21:30 local time.
, Air Mandalay
, Myanma Airways
and Yangon Airways
--with regular flights to Yangon and other cities across the country. Since April 2009, the airport is undergoing major expansion to handle up to 3.5 million passengers per year.
Hong Kong Airlines on 29 June 2011 operated 4 round-trip charter services between Hong Kong
and Naypyidaw with Airbus
A330-200 aircraft.
. The nearby towns of Lewe, Pyinmana, and Tatkon each have one hospital.
mobile phone coverage. Private telephone lines to employees living in government apartments are not allowed, so public telephones must be used. Naypyidaw is the only city in Burma where electricity is available 24 hours a day.
Capital City
Capital City was a television show produced by Euston Films which focused on the lives of investment bankers in London living and working on the corporate trading floor for the fictional international bank Shane-Longman....
of Burma, also known as Myanmar. It is administered as the Naypyidaw Union Territory
Naypyidaw Union Territory
Naypyidaw Union Territory is a administrative division in central Burma . The Union Territory encompasses the administrative capital of Burma, Naypyidaw.-Townships:The Naypyidaw Union Territory consists of the following townships:...
, as per the 2008 Constitution. On 6 November 2005, the administrative capital of Myanmar was officially moved to a greenfield
Greenfield land
Greenfield land is a term used to describe undeveloped land in a city or rural area either used for agriculture, landscape design, or left to naturally evolve...
3.2 km west of Pyinmana
Pyinmana
Pyinmana ) is a logging town and sugarcane refinery center in the Mandalay Region of Myanmar. The administrative capital of Myanmar was officially moved to a militarized greenfield site two miles west of Pyinmana on November 6, 2005. Pyinmana is approximately north of Yangon...
, and approximately 320 km north of 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...
(Rangoon), the previous capital. The capital's official name was announced on 27 March 2006, Myanmar Armed Forces Day
Armed Forces Day
Several nations of the world hold an annual Armed Forces Day in honor of their military forces. - Armenia :Բանակի օր is celebrated on 28 January to commemorate the formation of the armed forces of the newly independent Republic of Armenia in 1992....
. Much of this planned city
Planned community
A planned community, or planned city, is any community that was carefully planned from its inception and is typically constructed in a previously undeveloped area. This contrasts with settlements that evolve in a more ad hoc fashion. Land use conflicts are less frequent in planned communities since...
is still under construction, which is set to be completed by around 2012. As of 2009, the population was 925,000, which makes it Myanmar's third largest city, behind Yangon and 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 ....
. The city is one of the world's 10 fastest-growing cities.
Etymology
Nay Pyi Daw is generally translated as "royal capital", "seat of the king" or "abode of kings". Traditionally, it was used as a suffix to the names of royal capitals, such as Mandalay, which was called (Yadanabon Naypyidaw). The name literally means "royal city of the sun" in BurmeseBurmese 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
Naypyidaw has a short history, having been founded on a greenfield site in the shrublandShrubland
Shrubland, scrubland, scrub or brush is a plant community characterized by vegetation dominated by shrubs, often also including grasses, herbs, and geophytes. Shrubland may either occur naturally or be the result of human activity...
some 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) west of Pyinmana, and approximately 320 kilometres (198.8 mi) north of Yangon, with construction starting in 2002. At least 25 construction companies were hired by the military government
State Peace and Development Council
The State Peace and Development Council was the official name of the military regime of Burma , which seized power in 1988. On 30 March 2011, Senior General Than Shwe signed a decree to officially dissolve the Council....
to build the city, including Asia World and Htoo Ltd
Htoo Group of Companies
The Htoo Group of Companies is a Burmese holding company, with headquarters at 5 Pyay Road, Hlaing Township, Yangon, Myanmar. HGC is the parent company of Air Bagan, a privately held Burmese airline company. The company has several subsidiaries. Htoo Wood Products Company Ltd. is engaged in...
. The military government began moving government ministries
Ministry (government department)
A ministry is a specialised organisation responsible for a sector of government public administration, sometimes led by a minister or a senior public servant, that can have responsibility for one or more departments, agencies, bureaus, commissions or other smaller executive, advisory, managerial or...
from Yangon to Naypyidaw on 6 November 2005 at the astrologically
Astrology
Astrology consists of a number of belief systems which hold that there is a relationship between astronomical phenomena and events in the human world...
auspicious time of 6:37 a.m. Five days later, on 11 November at 11 a.m., a second convoy
Convoy
A convoy is a group of vehicles, typically motor vehicles or ships, traveling together for mutual support and protection. Often, a convoy is organized with armed defensive support, though it may also be used in a non-military sense, for example when driving through remote areas.-Age of Sail:Naval...
of 1,100 military trucks carrying 11 military battalions and 11 government ministries left Yangon. The ministries were expected to be mostly in place by the end of February 2006; however, the hasty move led to a lack of schools and other amenities which separated the government employees from their families for the time being. The government originally prohibited families of government workers from moving to the new capital. Military headquarters were located in a separate compound from the government ministries, and civilians have been banned from entering either. Vendors are restricted to a commercial zone near the government offices.
On 27 March 2006, more than 12,000 troops marched in the new capital in its first public event: a massive military parade to mark Armed Forces Day—which is the anniversary of then Burma's 1945 uprising against the Japanese occupation of Burma
Japanese occupation of Burma
The Japanese occupation of Burma refers to the period between 1942 and 1945 during World War II, when Burma was a part of the Empire of Japan. The Japanese had assisted formation of the Burma Independence Army, and trained the Thirty Comrades, who were the founders of the modern Armed Forces...
. Filming was restricted to the concrete parade ground which contains three enormous sculptures—depictions of the Myanmar kings Anawrahta
Anawrahta
Anawrahta Minsaw was the founder of the Pagan Empire. Considered the father of the Burmese nation, Anawrahta turned a small principality in the dry zone of Upper Burma into the first Burmese Empire that formed the basis of modern-day Burma...
, Bayinnaung
Bayinnaung
Bayinnaung Kyawhtin Nawrahta was the third king of the Toungoo dynasty of Burma . During his 30-year reign, which has been called the "greatest explosion of human energy ever seen in Burma", Bayinnaung assembled the largest empire in the history of Southeast Asia, which included much of modern day...
and Alaungpaya
Alaungpaya
Alaungpaya was king of Burma from 1752 to 1760, and the founder of the Konbaung Dynasty. By his death in 1760, the former chief of a small village in Upper Burma had reunified all of Burma, subdued Manipur, recovered Lan Na, and driven out the French and the English who had given help to the...
, who are considered the three most important kings in Myanmar history
History of Myanmar
The history of Burma covers the period from the time of first-known human settlements 13,000 years ago to the present day. The earliest inhabitants of recorded history were the Pyu who entered the Irrawaddy valley from the north c. 2nd century BCE. By the 4th century CE, the Pyu had founded...
. The city was officially named Naypyidaw during these ceremonies.
Rationale for moving the capital
Naypyidaw is more centrally and strategically located than the old capital, Yangon. It is also a transportation hub located adjacent to the ShanShan State
Shan State is a state of Burma . Shan State borders China to the north, Laos to the east, and Thailand to the south, and five administrative divisions of Burma in the west. Largest of the 14 administrative divisions by land area, Shan State covers 155,800 km², almost a quarter of the total...
, Kayah
Kayah State
Kayah State is a state of Myanmar. Situated in eastern Myanmar, it is bounded on the north by Shan State, on the east by Thailand's Mae Hong Son Province, and on the south and west by Kayin State. It lies approximately between 18° 30' and 19° 55' north latitude and between 94°40' and 97° 93' east...
and Kayin
Kayin State
Kayin State is a state of Burma . The capital city is Hpa-an.-History:The region that forms today's Kayin State was part of successive Burmese kingdoms since the formation of the Pagan Empire in mid-11th century...
states. It was felt that a stronger military and governmental presence nearby might provide stability to those chronically turbulent regions. The official explanation for moving the capital was that Yangon had become too congested and crowded with little room for future expansion of government offices.
Some Western diplomats speculated that the government were concerned with the possibility of foreign attack, as Yangon is on the coast and therefore vulnerable to an amphibious invasion
Amphibious warfare
Amphibious warfare is the use of naval firepower, logistics and strategy to project military power ashore. In previous eras it stood as the primary method of delivering troops to non-contiguous enemy-held terrain...
. Indian journalist Siddharth Varadarajan
Siddharth Varadarajan
Siddharth Varadarajan is the Editor of The Hindu, one of India's leading English language newspapers. He has reported on the NATO war against Yugoslavia, the destruction of the Bamyan Buddhas by the Taliban regime in Afghanistan, the war in Iraq and the crisis in Kashmir...
, who visited Naypyidaw in January 2007, described the vastness of the new capital as "the ultimate insurance against regime change
Regime change
"Regime change" is the replacement of one regime with another. Use of the term dates to at least 1925.Regime change can occur through conquest by a foreign power, revolution, coup d'état or reconstruction following the failure of a state...
, a masterpiece of urban planning
Urban planning
Urban planning incorporates areas such as economics, design, ecology, sociology, geography, law, political science, and statistics to guide and ensure the orderly development of settlements and communities....
designed to defeat any putative "colour revolution" – not by tanks and water cannons, but by geometry and cartography".
Geography
Naypyidaw is located between the Bago YomaPegu Range
The Pegu Range is a range of low mountains or hills and uplands between the Irrawaddy and the Sittaung River in central Burma . The range runs from Mount Popa in the north to Singguttara Hill in the south...
and Shan Yoma
Shan Hills
The Shan Hills , also known as Shan Highland, are part of the range of hills that extends through Yunnan to Burma and Thailand, linking to the Himalayas, of which they may be considered foothills.-Etymology:...
mountain ranges. The city covers an area of 7,054.37 square km and has a population of 924,608, according to official figures.
Chaungmagyi Dam is located a few kilometers to the north of Naypyidaw, while Ngalaik Dam
Ngalaik Dam
The Ngalaik Dam is a dam and reservoir in the Pyinmana Township of the Mandalay Division of central Burma. It was completed between 1978 and 1987....
is a few kilometers to the south. The Yezin Dam is further away, to the northeast.
Cityscape
Naypyidaw is organized into a number of zones. As of 2011, the city is still lacking many of the facilities one would expect in a capital city.Residential zones
The residential areas are carefully organized, and apartments are allotted according to rank and marital status. The city currently has 1,200 four-story apartment blocks. The roofs of apartment buildings are color-coded by the jobs of their residents. For example, Ministry of HealthMinistry of Health (Burma)
The Ministry of Health is a national government-run ministry administering health affairs and health care in Burma, including all of the medical schools. It is one of the few civilian-headed ministries in Burma, and its current minister is Dr. Pe Thet Khin, who is assisted by two Union Deputy...
employees live in buildings with blue roofs, while Ministry of Agriculture employees live in those with green roofs. High ranking government officials live in mansions, of which there are about 50. Many of the city's residents, however, live in slums.
Military zones
High-ranking military officers and other key officials live 11 km away from regular government employees in a complex said to consist of tunnels and bunkers; this area is restricted to the public. The city also hosts a military base, which is inaccessible to citizens or other personnel without written permission. Inside the military zone, the roads have eight lanes to allow small aircraft to land.Ministry zone
The city's Ministry zone contains the headquarters of Burma's government ministries. All the ministry buildings are identical in appearance.The AustralianThe Australian
The Australian is a broadsheet newspaper published in Australia from Monday to Saturday each week since 14 July 1964. The editor in chief is Chris Mitchell, the editor is Clive Mathieson and the 'editor-at-large' is Paul Kelly....
. "A monument to junta's fear". October 16, 2007 A parliament
Parliament
A parliament is a legislature, especially in those countries whose system of government is based on the Westminster system modeled after that of the United Kingdom. The name is derived from the French , the action of parler : a parlement is a discussion. The term came to mean a meeting at which...
ary complex consisting of 31 buildings and a 100-room presidential palace are also located there. The zone also contains the city hall building, which has many characteristics of Stalinist architecture
Stalinist architecture
Stalinist architecture , also referred to as Stalinist Gothic, or Socialist Classicism, is a term given to architecture of the Soviet Union between 1933, when Boris Iofan's draft for Palace of the Soviets was officially approved, and 1955, when Nikita Khrushchev condemned "excesses" of the past...
, but with a Burmese-style roof.
Hotel zone
The Hotel zone has a handful of villa-style hotels that dot the hills on the outskirts of the city. There are currently twelve hotels located in or near Naypyidaw. Eight of these are located within the Naypyidaw Hotel Zone, and two are located in Laeway (LeweLewe
-External links:*...
) on the Yangon-Mandalay Road.
Shopping
Naypyitaw Myoma Market is currently the commercial centre of Naypyidaw. Other shopping areas include Thapye Chaung Market and Junction Centre Naypyidaw. Built by the Shwe Taung Development company, Junction Centre is the first privately operated shopping centre project in Naypyidaw. It opened in August 2009. There are also local markets and a restaurant area.Recreation
Ngalaik Lake Gardens is a small water park situated along the Ngalaik DamNgalaik Dam
The Ngalaik Dam is a dam and reservoir in the Pyinmana Township of the Mandalay Division of central Burma. It was completed between 1978 and 1987....
, near Kyweshin Village on Ngalaik Lake (approximately seven miles from Naypyidaw). Opened in 2008, facilities at the Ngalaik Lake Gardens include water slides, natural resorts, lodging and a beach. The gardens are open to the public during Thingyan
Thingyan
Thingyan is the Burmese New Year Water Festival and usually falls around mid-April . It is a Buddhist festival celebrated over a period of four to five days culminating in the new year...
holidays.
Also opened in 2008, the 200 acre (0.809372 km²) National Herbal Park
National Herbal Park
The National Herbal Park is a park located near the Naypyidaw-Taungnyo Road in Naypyidaw, Myanmar. Over 20,000 herbal and medicinal plants, representing over 700 species from the various states and divisions of Myanmar, are grown in the park...
has exhibits of plants having medicinal applications from all of the major regions of Burma. There are thousands of plants at the park, representing hundreds of different species.
Behind the city hall, there is a park with a playground and water fountain complex, which hosts a musical light show every night.
The Naypyidaw Zoological Gardens
Naypyidaw Zoological Gardens
The Naypyidaw Zoological Gardens located in Naypyidaw is the largest zoo in Myanmar. Located on the Yangon-Mandalay highway about 250 miles north of Yangon, the 612-acre zoo opened its doors on Myanmar's Armed Forces Day in 2008 with about 420 animals trucked in from the Yangon Zoological...
opened in 2008 with some 420 animals and a climate-controlled penguin house. It is the largest zoo in Burma. The Naypyidaw Safari Park
Naypyidaw Safari Park
The Naypyidaw Safari Park is a wildlife park, located in Naypyidaw, Myanmar . The park consists of a 35.1-acre Asian safari, a 3.53-acre Australian safari and a 59.64-acre African safari...
officially opened on 12 February 2011.
Naypyidaw also has two golf courses (Nay Pyi Taw City Golf Course and Yaypyar Golf Course), and a gem museum.
Uppatasanti Pagoda
Similar in size and shape to the Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon, Uppatasanti PagodaUppatasanti Pagoda
Uppatasanti Pagoda is a prominent landmark in the Burmese capital of Naypyidaw. The pagoda, which houses a Buddha tooth relic from China, is a replica of Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon and stands 325 feet tall....
was completed in 2009. This new pagoda is named the Uppatasanti or "Peace Pagoda". The stake-driving ceremony for the pagoda was held on 12 November 2006. The invitation card for the ceremony opened with a phrase "Rajahtani Naypyidaw (the royal capital where the king resides)". The pagoda is just 30 cm shorter than the Shwedagon Pagoda. Uppatasanti translates roughly to "Protection against Calamity". It is the name of a sūtra
Sutra
Sūtra is an aphorism or a collection of such aphorisms in the form of a manual. Literally it means a thread or line that holds things together and is derived from the verbal root siv-, meaning to sew , as does the medical term...
prepared by a monk in the early 16th century. It is to be recited in time of crisis, especially in the face of foreign invasion.
International zone
The government has set aside two hectareHectare
The hectare is a metric unit of area defined as 10,000 square metres , and primarily used in the measurement of land. In 1795, when the metric system was introduced, the are was defined as being 100 square metres and the hectare was thus 100 ares or 1/100 km2...
s of land for foreign embassies and headquarters of United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
missions.
Entertainment
The Myanmar Motion Picture Academy AwardsMyanmar Motion Picture Academy Awards
The Myanmar Motion Picture Academy Awards are film awards given annually in Naypyidaw, Burma presented to the biggest achievers in the Cinema of Burma. The awards ceremony has been held annually since 1952. Each winner is presented with a golden statue and in recent years also a cash prize...
are held annually in Naypyidaw given to the highest achievers in Myanmar cinema
Cinema of Myanmar
The cinema of Burma has a long history dating back to the 1910s. The person who created the first silent film was U Ohn Maung...
. There is a movie theater in the Junction Centre Mall in Naypyidaw. There are two others in nearby Pyinmana, and one in Tatkon Township
Tatkon Township
Tat Kon Township is one of eight townships of Naypyitaw Capital Region in Mandalay Division, Burma....
.
Administration
Naypyidaw is a Union TerritoryNaypyidaw Union Territory
Naypyidaw Union Territory is a administrative division in central Burma . The Union Territory encompasses the administrative capital of Burma, Naypyidaw.-Townships:The Naypyidaw Union Territory consists of the following townships:...
under the direct administration of the President
President of Burma
The President of Burma is the head of state and head of government of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, and leads the executive branch of the Burmese government, and heads the Cabinet of Burma. The president is elected by members of parliament, not by the general population. The Presidential...
. Day-to-day functions are carried out on the President's behalf by the Naypyidaw Council led by a Chairperson. The Chairperson and members of the Naypyidaw Council are appointed by the President and include both civilians and Armed Forces representatives.
On 30 March 2011, President Thein Sein
Thein Sein
Thein Sein is a Burmese politician and military figure who has been president of Myanmar since March 2011. Previously, he was Prime Minister from 2007 until 2011...
appointed Thein Nyunt as chairman of the Naypyidaw Council, along with 9 chair members: Than Htay, Colonel Myint Aung Than, Kan Chun, Paing Soe, Saw Hla, Myint Swe, Myint Shwe and Myo Nyunt.
The Naypyidaw Union Territory consists of the city proper (downtown) and eight surrounding township
Township
The word township is used to refer to different kinds of settlements in different countries. Township is generally associated with an urban area. However there are many exceptions to this rule. In Australia, the United States, and Canada, they may be settlements too small to be considered urban...
s. Downtown is further divided into four wards. Pyinmana
Pyinmana Township
Pyinmana Township is one of eight townships of Naypyitaw Capital Region in Mandalay Division, Burma.-Villages:-Dams:Pyinmana Township has the following dams.*Ngalaik Dam*Chaungmagyi Dam*Yezin Dam-Creeks:Pyinmana has...
, Lewe
Lewe Township
Shwepyi Aye Township, formerly Lewe Township , is one of eight townships of Naypyitaw Capital Region in Mandalay Division, Burma. The township was renamed on September 5, 2011....
, and Tatkon
Tatkon Township
Tat Kon Township is one of eight townships of Naypyitaw Capital Region in Mandalay Division, Burma....
townships were all formerly part of Yamethin District
Yamethin District
Yamethin District is a district of the Mandalay Division in central Burma.-Townships:The district contains the following townships:*Yamethin Township*Pyawbwe Township...
. Oathara Thiri, Dekkina Thiri, Poppha Thiri, Zapu Thiri, and Zeyar Thiri are all new townships currently under construction. As of December 2009, most government ministry offices have been relocated to the administrative capital. Only the offices of ministries' directorates remain in Yangon.
- City proper (Wards)
- Zeya Theiddhi
- Pyinnya Theddhi
- Bawga Theiddhi
- Mingala Theiddhi
- Pre-existing townships
- PyinmanaPyinmana TownshipPyinmana Township is one of eight townships of Naypyitaw Capital Region in Mandalay Division, Burma.-Villages:-Dams:Pyinmana Township has the following dams.*Ngalaik Dam*Chaungmagyi Dam*Yezin Dam-Creeks:Pyinmana has...
- LeweLewe TownshipShwepyi Aye Township, formerly Lewe Township , is one of eight townships of Naypyitaw Capital Region in Mandalay Division, Burma. The township was renamed on September 5, 2011....
- TatkonTatkon TownshipTat Kon Township is one of eight townships of Naypyitaw Capital Region in Mandalay Division, Burma....
- Pyinmana
- New Townships
- Ottara Thiri Township
- Dekkhina Thiri Township
- Pobba Thiri Township
- Zabu Thiri Township
- Zeyar Thiri Township
Education
Naypyidaw- No. 1 Basic Education High School
Yezin
Yezin
The village of Yezin , a few miles northeast of Pyinmana, Burma, has been the site of national scientific research institutions since the late 1970s. It is located near Naypyidaw city...
(a few kilometers northeast of Naypyidaw and Pyinmana)
- Yezin University of Veterinary Science
- Yezin Agricultural University
- Yezin University of Forestry
Transportation
Public transport services are limited between neighborhoods. The eight-lane, 323.2 km Yangon-Naypyidaw highway links Naypyidaw with Yangon directly, and is part of the 563 km-long overall Yangon-Naypyidaw-Mandalay highway. There is also a 20-lane boulevard, but like most roads in the city, it is largely empty.Metro system
In August 2011, Russian news media announced that a Russian-based firm would be constructing a 50 kilometres (31.1 mi) metro lineRapid transit
A rapid transit, underground, subway, elevated railway, metro or metropolitan railway system is an electric passenger railway in an urban area with a high capacity and frequency, and grade separation from other traffic. Rapid transit systems are typically located either in underground tunnels or on...
, which would be the country's first underground rail system, underneath Naypyidaw.
Buses and cars
Naypyidaw has four-lane roads and multilevel, flower-covered roundabouts (US term: traffic circleTraffic circle
A traffic circle or rotary is a type of circular intersection in which traffic must travel in one direction around a central island. In some countries, traffic entering the circle has the right-of-way and drivers in the circle must yield. In many other countries, traffic entering the circle must...
s) although there is only light traffic throughout the city. Government ministries run shuttle buses in the morning and evening to their respective buildings.
The city has a Central Bus Station, and only one taxi company, which is operated by the military.
Motorbikes are banned from some roads within Naypyidaw city limits, including sections of Taw Win Yadana Road , resulting from hundreds of traffic accident-related deaths in 2009.
Rail
Naypyidaw railway station (published as Nay Pyi Taw railway station) was opened at milepost No. (233/0), between Ywataw station and Kyihtaunggan station on the Yangon-Mandalay railroad with a station area of 9,000 x 4,000 feet and a covered area of 826.5 acres (3.3 km²). Construction began on 8 December 2006 and Naypyidaw railway station was opened on 5 July 2009, even though the overpass, locomotive shed, concrete road leading up to the station, parking lot, passenger lounge and platform were not yet completed.Myanmar Railways
Myanmar Railways
Myanmar Railways ; also spelled Myanma Railways; formerly Burma Railways) is the state-owned agency that operates the railway network in Myanmar. The metre gauge rail network consists of 858 stations, and generally spans north to south with branch lines to east and west. MR also operates the...
has announced that passengers traveling on all trains except mail and local ones are to get off only at Nay Pyi Taw Station as they will not stop at Pyinmana Station after the inauguration of Nay Pyi Taw Station.
Prior to the opening of Naypyidaw railway station, Naypyidaw was served by Pyinmana and Lewe stations, though only Pyinmana station is on the main rail line (which extends from Yangon-Bago-Naypyidaw-Thazi
Thazi
-Mandalay Region:*Thazi Township, in Meiktila District**Thazi, Meiktila, Mandalay Region, a town in Thazi Township-Sagaing Region:*Thazi, Kale, a village in Kale Township*Thazi, Monywa, a community in Monywa Township...
-Mandalay). Lewe station is located on the way from Pyinmana to Kyaukpadaung
Kyaukpadaung
Kyaukpadaung is a town in Mandalay Region in Central Myanmar. It lies just southwest of Mount Popa. It is the administrative seat for Kyaukpadaung Township.-History:The name of Kyaukpadaung is derived from Kyauk + Pann + Taung ....
. It takes nine hours by train to get from Yangon to Pyinmana; trains leave at 12:00 and arrive at 21:30 local time.
Air
Naypyidaw Airport, also known as Ayelar Airport, is located 10 miles (16.1 km) southeast of the city, between the towns of Ela and Lewe. It is served by all domestic airlines--Air BaganAir Bagan
Air Bagan Limited , operating as Air Bagan, is an airline headquartered in Bahan Township, Yangon, Myanmar. It operates domestic scheduled services to 15 towns and cities, as well as to Thailand. Its main bases are Yangon International Airport and Mandalay Chanmyathazi Airport.- History :The...
, Air Mandalay
Air Mandalay
Air Mandalay is an airline based in Yangon, Myanmar. It is a regional airline operating domestic services and international charter flights to neighboring countries. Its main base is Yangon International Airport.- History :...
, Myanma Airways
Myanma Airways
Myanma Airways Corporation is the national flag carrier and state-owned airline of Myanmar, based in Yangon. It operates scheduled services to all major domestic destinations. Its main base is Yangon International Airport.- History :...
and Yangon Airways
Yangon Airways
Yangon Airways Ltd. is an airline based in Yangon, Myanmar, offering scheduled and chartered domestic flights out of its bases at Yangon International Airport and Mandalay Chanmyathazi Airport...
--with regular flights to Yangon and other cities across the country. Since April 2009, the airport is undergoing major expansion to handle up to 3.5 million passengers per year.
Hong Kong Airlines on 29 June 2011 operated 4 round-trip charter services between Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
and Naypyidaw with Airbus
Airbus
Airbus SAS is an aircraft manufacturing subsidiary of EADS, a European aerospace company. Based in Blagnac, France, surburb of Toulouse, and with significant activity across Europe, the company produces around half of the world's jet airliners....
A330-200 aircraft.
Healthcare
Nay Pyi Taw Hospital opened in 2006. There is also the Defence Services Obstetric, Gynaecological and Children's Hospital, 300-bed facility which is among the teaching hospitals of the Burmese Defence Services Medical AcademyDefence Services Medical Academy (Burma)
The Defence Services Medical Academy , located in Mingaladon, Yangon, is the University of Medicine of the Myanmar Armed Forces. One of the most selective universities in the country, the academy offers M.B., B.S. degree programs. Upon graduation, most DSMA cadets are commissioned with the rank...
. The nearby towns of Lewe, Pyinmana, and Tatkon each have one hospital.
Communications
Beginning in 2009, Naypyidaw has CDMACode division multiple access
Code division multiple access is a channel access method used by various radio communication technologies. It should not be confused with the mobile phone standards called cdmaOne, CDMA2000 and WCDMA , which are often referred to as simply CDMA, and use CDMA as an underlying channel access...
mobile phone coverage. Private telephone lines to employees living in government apartments are not allowed, so public telephones must be used. Naypyidaw is the only city in Burma where electricity is available 24 hours a day.
External links
- Nay Pyi Daw - A photo album
- Inside Napyidaw, The Flying Dutchman blog, 15 June 2007 (one of first two tourists to visit Naypyidaw, includes lots of photos)
- Abode of Kings in a Derelict Kingdom, Disposable Words blog, 15 June 2007 (second of first two tourists to visit Naypyidaw, more photos)