Kyaukse
Kyaukse (Burmese: ကျောက်ဆည် မြို့, pronounced [tɕaʊʔ sʰɛ̀ mjo̰]) is town and capital of Kyaukse District in Mandalay Region, Myanmar. Lying on the Zawgyi River, 25 miles (40 km) south of Mandalay, it is served by the Mandalay-Yangon (Rangoon) railway. The first Myanmar probably settled in the area about 800, and local 12th- and 13th-century inscriptions refer to Kyaukse as “the first home”.
Kyaukse ကျောက်ဆည် | |
---|---|
Town | |
Downtown Kyaukse, the Main Road, and Clock Tower | |
Kyaukse Location in Burma | |
Coordinates: 21°36′47″N 96°7′49″E | |
Country | |
Division | |
District | Kyaukse District |
Township | Kyaukse Township |
Population (2014) | |
• Total | 741,071[1] |
• Ethnicities | Burman |
• Religions | Theravada Buddhism |
Time zone | UTC+6.30 (MST) |
Kyaukse is famous for the Kyaukse elephant dance festival[2], and for being the home town of former dictator Senior General Than Shwe. The town's industrial zone is one of more than 30 across the country.[3]
History
Kyaukse has been an important area in Myanmar history. It is well irrigated and lush, and has been ever since the Bagan era when it was known as the granary of the kingdom.[4]
King Anawrahta built numerous fortresses along his kingdom's borders, as well as along the rivers flowing within his lands. Tamote was one of nine fortresses along the rivers of Kyaukse region, erected because he needed protection against invasion by water.
When Than Shwe was in power at the head of the military regime, a heavy industrial zone was established in Kyaukse – supposedly to provide employment, though its population is relatively small.
Education
Kyaukse is home to the
- Basic Education High School No. 1 Kyaukse,
- Basic Education High School No. 2 Kyaukse,
- Basic Education High School No. 3 Kyaukse,
- Basic Education High School No. 4 Kyaukse,
- Technological University, Kyaukse,
- Kyaukse University.
Economy
The Kyaukse area is known for its turmeric, mango and onions. The town has a relatively large shopping centre Aye Mya Kyi Lin Market.
Notable people
- Than Shwe, Myanmar's dictator and Chairman of the State Law and Order Restoration Council
- Saw Tun, a former Minister for Construction of Myanmar
- U Thaung, a former Minister for Science and Technology of Myanmar and former member of parliament in the Pyithu Hluttaw
- Ashin Wirathu, a nationalist Buddhist monk
- Ledwintha Saw Chit, an author
- Shwe Sin, an actress and model
- Than Khe, Chairman of the All Burma Students' Democratic Front (ABSDF)[5]
Town landmarks and landscapes
- BEHS 1 Kyaukse
- Kyaukse City Hall
- View from Kyaukse hill
References
- Provisional Results Census 26 August 2014 FINAL, ပြည်သူ့အင်အားဦးစီးဌာန, 26 August 2014, p. ၂၈, retrieved March 25, 2015
- "Kyaukse, famous town for elephant festival" (PDF). The New Light of Myanmar. 16 October 2009.
- Shin, Aung (22 June 2014). "APR takes up the elephant dance". The Myanmar Times.
- Ma Theingi (3 October 2011). "Amazing discovery in Kyaukse region". The Myanmar Times.
- ABSDF urges inclusiveness in reform process