Mon State

Mon State is a beautiful area in the country of Myanmar. It is found between Kayin State to the east and the Andaman Sea to the west. To the north, it borders Bago Region, and to the south, it meets Tanintharyi Region. At its very southeastern tip, Mon State also touches Thailand's Kanchanaburi Province.

The land covers 12,155 km² (4,693 sq mi), with a long coastline that stretches for 566 km (352 mi). Along this coast are small islands such as Kalegauk, Wa Kyun, and Kyungyi Island. The Dawna Range runs along the eastern side, creating a natural border with Kayin State.

The capital city of Mon State is Mawlamyine. This area has a rich culture and history, making it an important part of Myanmar.

History

See also: Mon people and Mon kingdoms

The Mon people have a long history. Their tradition says their first kingdom, called Suwarnabhumi, began around the port of Thaton about 300 BC, though this is debated by historians.

The Mon people became followers of Buddhism early on, and they mixed their culture with Indian traditions. By around 825, they had built important cities like Bago (Pegu) and Thaton, and by the mid-800s, they controlled all of southern Myanmar.

Mon kingdoms

Main article: Mon kingdoms

The first kingdom clearly linked to the Mon was Dvaravati, which lasted until around 1024 AD. After that, many people moved west to what is now Myanmar and started new kingdoms. These new kingdoms faced challenges from groups moving in from the north, but the Mon people helped spread Buddhism and left a big mark on the area's culture and religion.

Advent of the British

Lower Burma, including what is now Mon State, was taken over by Great Britain in 1824 after a war. The Mon people helped the British, hoping for their own leaders again, but these promises were not kept. Many Mon people who had lived in Siam returned home under British rule. Over time, most of the mixed Anglo-Burmese community left for the UK or Australia.

Burmese independence

In 1947, the Mon people wanted to make their own decisions about their future, separate from the new Union of Burma. The leader of Burma at the time, U Nu, did not agree to this. The Burmese army took control of Mon areas by force, starting a long conflict. Mon groups formed organizations to fight for their rights, and parts of the eastern hills have been controlled by these groups since 1949. In 1974, Mon State was officially created, partly to address these concerns. Fighting continued until a peace agreement in 1995, though some tensions remained.

Government

Mon State has its own government, which includes leaders who help manage the area. There is a special group called the Mon State Hluttaw that helps make important decisions. The Mon State High Court is in charge of making sure laws are followed fairly.

Demographics

Mon State had a population of 2,054,393 people as of the 2014 Census.

The Mon people make up most of the population, but there are also important groups of Bamar, Kayin, Pa-O, Anglo-Burmese, and Thai people living in areas like Kyaikkami. Many of these groups do not speak the main language of Burmese.

Most people in Mon State follow Buddhism, with about 92.6% of the population identifying as Buddhist. Other religions include Islam, Hinduism, and Christianity, each making up smaller parts of the community.

Geography

Mon State is a region in Myanmar. It is located between Kayin State to the east, the Andaman Sea to the west, Bago Region to the north, and Tanintharyi Region to the south. It also shares a small border with Thailand at its southeastern tip. The area of Mon State is 12,155 km² (4,693 square miles).

Climate and weather

Mon State has a tropical climate. Because it is close to the sea and in a low latitude area, the weather is generally mild with only small temperature changes. For example, the average temperature in the city of Mawlamyine is around 78 °F (26 °C) in January and 85 °F (29 °C) in April. The area receives a lot of rain, especially in July and August, with annual rainfall reaching up to 217 inches (5.5 meters) in some places.

Economy

Mon State has a lot of land used for farming, with nearly 4,500,000 acres where people grow rice. Another important crop is rubber. In the mountains, there are orchards and rubber farms, while in the coastal south, especially in Ye District, people fish and make products like dried fish, fish sauce, and agar-agar.

People in Mon State also grow betel nut, which has been a traditional way to earn a living. Some areas still have land that isn’t used for farming, especially near the border with Karen State. Recently, people have started growing cashew trees for their nuts.

Other industries in Mon State include making paper, sugar, and rubber tires. Thaton has a big factory for rubber products. Forests cover about half of the state, so cutting timber is also important. The state has minerals like salt, antimony, and granite.

Mon State has a lot of natural resources, but they are often used by important government leaders and companies from other countries. One big project is the use of natural gas reserves, which has caused some worries for the Mon people and their land.

There is a research center in Mudon that studies farming, especially rubber and plant care.

The future for tourism in Mon State looks good because it has good ways to travel, like trains, buses, boats, and airplanes. The new Mawlamyine Bridge makes it easier to travel between southern Mon State and cities like Bago and Yangon. The Three Pagodas Pass is a route that connects Mon State to Kanchanaburi province in Thailand.

Transport

Mon State has two airports that help people travel. One is called Ye Airport, and the other is Mawlamyine Airport. These airports make it easier for people to fly in and out of the area.

Administrative divisions

Mon State’s capital city is Mawlamyine, which is the fourth largest city in Myanmar. It used to be called Moulmein when Myanmar was under British rule until the late 1980s.

Mon State has two main districts:

• Mawlamyine District
• Thaton District

Education

See also: List of universities in Mon State

This section gives a quick look at the public schools in Mon State during the school year 2002–2003.

Most of the colleges and universities in the state are in Mawlamyine. Mawlamyine University is the biggest and main university there.

Health care

The health care system in Myanmar, including Mon State, is not very strong. Even though health care is supposed to be free, people usually have to pay for medicines and treatments, including at public hospitals and clinics. These public places often don’t have many advanced tools or equipment to help patients. The information above shows details about the public health system in Mon State from the year 2002–2003.

Notable sites

• Kyaiktiyo Pagoda: A famous religious site with a steeple built on a rock covered with gold leaf, balanced on the edge of a cliff.
• Kyaikhtisaung Pagoda: A famous pagoda said to hold a hair of the Gautama Buddha.
• Kaylartha Pagoda: A famous pagoda on Kaylartha Mountain where the Buddha is said to have landed.
• Thaton: Thaton was the capital of the Thaton Kingdom, which ruled parts of Lower Burma between the 9th and 11th centuries.
• Mudon Kangyi Pagoda: It lies on a hill west of a large lake near Mudon.
• Win Sein reclining Buddha: It is the world's largest reclining Buddha, located in Mudon.
• Thanbyuzayat War Cemetery & Death Railway Museum
• Setse Beach & Kyaik-kami
• Kyaikmaraw Paya: A huge Buddha image built in AD 1455 by Queen Shin Saw Pu, the only female ruler in Myanmar's history.
• Belu-kyun (Bilu island): It is located opposite to Mawlamyine, and is known for traditional handmade products.
• Zinkyaik Pagoda: An ancient pagoda on top of Zinkyaik Mountain and former home of Hermits Tissa and Thiha