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 Myanmar
Division Mandalay Region
DistrictKyaukse District
TownshipKyaukse Township
Population
 (2014)
 • Total741,071[1]
 • Ethnicities
Burman
 • Religions
Theravada Buddhism
Time zoneUTC+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

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

Town landmarks and landscapes

References
  1. Provisional Results Census 26 August 2014 FINAL, ပြည်သူ့အင်အားဦးစီးဌာန, 26 August 2014, p. ၂၈, retrieved March 25, 2015
  2. "Kyaukse, famous town for elephant festival" (PDF). The New Light of Myanmar. 16 October 2009.
  3. Shin, Aung (22 June 2014). "APR takes up the elephant dance". The Myanmar Times.
  4. Ma Theingi (3 October 2011). "Amazing discovery in Kyaukse region". The Myanmar Times.
  5. ABSDF urges inclusiveness in reform process


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