Meiktila

Meiktila (Burmese: မိတ္ထီလာမြို့; MLCTS: mit thi la mrui.; Burmese pronunciation: [meɪʔtʰìlà mjo̰]) is a city in central Burma on the banks of Meiktila Lake in the Mandalay Region at the junctions of the Bagan-Taunggyi, Yangon-Mandalay and Meiktila-Myingyan highways. Because of its strategic position, Meiktila is home to Myanmar Air Force's central command and Meiktila Air Force Base.[1] The country's main aerospace engineering university, Myanmar Aerospace Engineering University is also located in Meiktila.

Meiktila

မိတ္ထီလာမြို့
City
Meiktila
Location in Burma
Coordinates: 20°53′0″N 95°53′0″E
Country Myanmar
Division Mandalay Region
DistrictMeiktila District
TownshipMeiktila Township
Population
 (2005)
 • Ethnicities
Bamar, Karen, Shan
 • Religions
Theravada Buddhism
Time zoneUTC+6.30 (MST)

History
A Burmese family living in a dug-out share tea with a British soldier in Meiktila, 10 March 1945.

The name Meiktila comes from Mithila, the name of an ancient Indian kingdom.

The history of Meiktila is closely tied to that of central Myanmar's dry zone, home of the Bamar people. The region had been part of various Bamar kingdoms at least from 11th century CE to 19th century CE before the British Empire took over all of Upper Myanmar in 1885.

Meiktila was part of the 1945 Battle of Meiktila and Mandalay, during which the Allied forces under William Slim defeated the Japanese forces. Soon after Burma's independence from Britain in 1948, Meiktila briefly fell under the insurgent Karen forces.

On 22 March 2013, a state of emergency was imposed in the town after two days of anti-Muslim riots after dozens of people were killed and more than 12,000 were forced from their homes, the overwhelming majority of whom were Muslims.[2][3] This violence later spread to other places in Burma such as Okpho and Gyobingauk Townships.[4]

Geography

Meiktila district is the most easterly of the districts in Myanmar's central dry zone.[5] It lies between Wundwin, Myingyan, Yamethin, and touches Shan State on the east. The chief feature of the region Lake Meiktila, an artificial irrigation and water reservoir, 7 miles (11 km) long, 0.5 miles (0.80 km) wide.[5] Mondai dam supplies water to the lake.

Climate

Meiktila has a tropical savanna climate (Köppen climate classification Aw). Temperatures are very warm throughout the year, and the months before the monsoon (March to May) are especially hot, with average maxima around 36 °C (97 °F). There is a winter dry season (November–April) and a summer wet season (May–October).

Climate data for Meiktila (1981–2010)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average high °C (°F) 29.9
(85.8)		 33.0
(91.4)		 36.5
(97.7)		 38.4
(101.1)		 36.0
(96.8)		 33.0
(91.4)		 32.7
(90.9)		 32.3
(90.1)		 32.7
(90.9)		 32.5
(90.5)		 29.6
(85.3)		 28.8
(83.8)		 33.0
(91.4)
Average low °C (°F) 14.6
(58.3)		 16.7
(62.1)		 21.1
(70.0)		 25.0
(77.0)		 25.2
(77.4)		 24.6
(76.3)		 24.4
(75.9)		 24.3
(75.7)		 24.2
(75.6)		 23.4
(74.1)		 20.0
(68.0)		 16.0
(60.8)		 21.6
(70.9)
Average rainfall mm (inches) 2.3
(0.09)		 1.8
(0.07)		 10.0
(0.39)		 25.5
(1.00)		 126.4
(4.98)		 103.8
(4.09)		 75.4
(2.97)		 121.0
(4.76)		 150.6
(5.93)		 147.4
(5.80)		 41.5
(1.63)		 7.2
(0.28)		 812.9
(32.00)
Source: Norwegian Meteorological Institute[6]

Culture

The city's well-known pagodas are Shwemyintin, Shweyinmi (asa Hteethonesint), Nagayon, Yele, Sutaung Pyi, Hpaung Daw U Pagoda and Phaungdawoo.

Education

Meiktila is home to the Myanmar Aerospace Engineering University, a national university; and regional universities and colleges such as Meiktila University, Meiktila Institute of Economics, Computer University, Meiktila, Technological University, Meiktila and Meiktila Education College.

Of the city's six public Basic Education High Schools, BEHS 1 Meiktila or Royal High School is considered the most selective.

Military

Meiktila is home to two Myanmar Air Force air bases:

  • Meiktila Air Base and home to Central Command
  • Shante Air Base - located north of Meiktila in Pyitharyar

References
  1. Min Lwin (2008-12-01). "Junta Orders Major Air Force Base Relocated". The Irrawaddy News. Archived from the original on 2008-12-11.
  2. State of emergency imposed in Meiktila
  4. https://www.economist.com/news/asia/21574506-sectarian-violence-was-not-supposed-be-part-myanmars-bright-new-direction-when-lid-blows Communal violence in Myanmar: When the lid blows off
  5. Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Meiktila" . Encyclopædia Britannica. 18 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. pp. 82–83.
  6. "Myanmar Climate Report" (PDF). Norwegian Meteorological Institute. pp. 23–36. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 October 2018. Retrieved 1 December 2018.

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