Naypyidaw, Myanmar

According to abbreviationfinder, Naypyidaw is the current capital of the Republic of Myanmar, was officially made the capital on November 6th of the year 2005 replacing Rangoon ancient capital. The population of the city according to the calculations made is around one hundred thousand residents.

History

Naypyidaw was converted into the administrative capital of Burma, officially a republic of Myanmar on November 6, 2005 by decision of the military junta. Who decided that it should replace Rangoon, the capital until then.

The city was built on a field that was formerly a training area for the soldiers and officers of the Burmese Independent Army who first fought against the British, and where later General Aung San placed his headquarters, which achieved victory against the occupation Japanese during World War II. Pyinmana became a symbol for the Burmese army, as it was there that the Burmese defeated the invading armies.

The city is located more or less in the center of the country, in a railway network and communication center very close to the states of Shan, Chin and Karen, maintaining a continuous military presence close to the most belligerent regions. Another advantage of the new facility is its setting far from Rangoon, a city agglomerated due to its excessive population and which made it impossible to expand government buildings.

Burmese opposition to the country’s military regime has stated that the main cause of the capital’s transfer has been to move it away from the coast to protect it from a potential attack from abroad led by the United States.

As a result of the 2007 anti-government protests, the UN commissioned a special envoy to examine the situation. The 30 of September of 2007 the envoy met with the head of the Burmese military junta in Naypyidaw and later moved to Yangon, where he met with opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

The 23 of maypole of 2008 the Secretary General of the UN, Ban Ki-moon became the first foreign personalities who visited the new capital of Burma in the context of the humanitarian crisis unleashed in the wake of the cyclone Nargis in the country, obtaining on the part of the leader of the military Junta, Generalissimo Than Swe, “the commitment to approve the entry of all humanitarian workers, whatever their nationality,” as well as the consent of the regime for the Yangon airport to be used as an international platform for aid distribution.

Geography

Location

Known as Naipyidó or Nay Pyi Taw. This city is located in the town of Kyatpyae in the municipality of Pyinmana, in the Mandalay division, approximately 320 kilometers from Rangoon the old capital and only 3 kilometers west of the city of Pyinmana.

Population

The population of the city of Naypyidaw is doubtful, although the estimates made are around one hundred thousand residents, with a vast majority of Burmese and a minority of Chinese and Indians. See population of Burma.

Economy

Although the city has good water and electricity services, many public employees have declared their refusal to the government measure that forced them to move to Naipyidó. This is due to the almost non-existence of shopping centers and restaurants in the city, and many employees have decided not to move with their families, at least initially.

Religion

The religion that predominates in the population is Buddhism, although some Christians also inhabit, although to a lesser extent.

In November 2006, the opening ceremony of the construction of a large religious complex was held in the new capital, much like Shwedagon in Rangoon. The complex will be crowned with a 98-meter pagoda, the same height as Shwedagon’s, and should be seen from a large part of the city.

Customs

Among the customs of the country is not to touch adults on the head, or to make physical expressions of affection in public. Most Burmese do not wear shoes inside the houses and it is recommended, in the case of being invited, to take off shoesto enter. The monks, even if they are children, should be treated with respect and it is forbidden for women to speak to them.

Transportation

There is transport by train from Yangon to Naipyidó, the journey lasts nine hours. Trains depart at 12:00 and arrive at 21:00 local time.

To serve the city, Ela airport was remodeled so that it could fly with large planes. The airport is located about ten miles southeast of Kyatpyae. All the country’s airlines include Naipyidó as a destination for their flights, they also provide flights between the capital and other cities in the country.

In March 2006, Air Mandalay put into service a line of flights between Yangon and Naipyidó. On June 5, 2006, between Naipyidó and Thandwe and Sittwe, in the state of Rakhine, to improve access to the west of the country.

Curiosities

With respect to some curiosities of this place, it should be noted that its name Naypyidaw, means “royal city” or “seat of kings”, which was announced during the course of the Armed Forces Day, celebrated in March 2006, a date that is also considered the inaugural date of the city.