Ben’s Place of the Week: Pyinmana, Burma

Travel Blog  •  Ben Keene  •  11.11.05 | 4:18 AM ET

Population: 97,400 (2005 est.)
Coordinates: 19 45 N 96 12 E
imageA resource-rich former province of India, the Union of Burma, or Myanmar as the country is also known, struggles economically in spite of its natural wealth due to poor infrastructure and political instability. No elections have been held since 1990 and the autocratic head of state has demonstrated little interest in democracy, preferring, it would seem, to keep the population ill-informed and dependent on black-market sources of income.

Last week, the military junta in power decided to move the capital from Rangoon on the Gulf of Martaban in the south, to the isolated township of Pyinmana along the heavily forested banks of the Sittang River in the Mandalay Division.

—.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) is the editor of the Oxford Atlas of the World.

Tags: Asia, Burma (Myanmar)

Ben Keene has appeared on National Public Radio, Peter Greenberg Worldwide Radio as well as other nationally syndicated programs to discuss geographic literacy and his work updating a bestselling world atlas. Formerly a touring musician, he has written for Transitions Abroad and inTravel.


2 Comments for Ben’s Place of the Week: Pyinmana, Burma

LAL 11.11.05 | 1:45 PM ET

JUNTA crooks know that they have to relinquish the power soon, they are preparing refuge, when the new goverment prosecute them they can go into hidings in the forest, with small group of people with weapons,

Carl Parkes 11.15.05 | 4:46 PM ET

I’m now collecting photos of Pyinmana and the construction of the new capital, which I understand is outside town in all four directions. So far, just a handful of various construction sites, but if anyone finds more photos, please send them along to me at my blog. Thanks!

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