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Monywa မုံရွာမြို့ | |
|---|---|
Capital Town | |
 Monywa | |
  Monywa Location in Burma | |
| Coordinates:22°6′30″N95°8′30″E / 22.10833°N 95.14167°E /22.10833; 95.14167 | |
| Country |  Myanmar |
| Region |  Sagaing Region |
| District | Monywa District |
| Township | Monywa Township |
| Population (2014 Census)[1] | |
• Capital Town | 372,095 |
| • Urban | 207,489 |
| • Rural | 164,606 |
| • Religions | Buddhism |
| Time zone | UTC+6.30 (MST) |
| Area code | 71[2] |
Monywa (Burmese:မုံရွာမြို့;MLCTS:muṃ rwa mrui.;pronounced[mòʊɰ̃jwàmjo̰]) is the largest city in Sagaing Region,Myanmar, located 136 kilometres (85 mi) north-west ofMandalay on the eastern bank of theRiver Chindwin. Monywa is one of the largest economic cities inMyanmar. It is also known as 'Neem City' because many of the city's streets are lined withneem trees.[citation needed]
Monywa and neighbouring parts of the “Dry Valley” are the only places in Southeast Asia where thehot semi-arid climate (KöppenBSh) occurs.[3][4] The city misses thetropical savanna climate (KöppenAw) classification due to the very high temperatures and resultant high evaporation levels, alongside a long dry season. The semi-aridity has to do with the “Dry Valley” being located in therain shadow of theArakan Mountains. Temperatures are very high throughout the year, although the winter months from December to February are significantly milder at around 21 °C or 69.8 °F in January. The early monsoon months from April to July are especially hot, with average high temperatures reaching 38.4 °C (101.1 °F) in April.
Monywa received 139 millimetres or 5.47 inches of rainfall on 19 October 2011. This was a new record for rainfall within 24 hours in October in Monywa for the last 47 years. The previous record was 135 millimetres or 5.31 inches on 24 October 1967.[5]
| Climate data for Monywa (1991–2020) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 34.6 (94.3) | 39.3 (102.7) | 43.5 (110.3) | 44.8 (112.6) | 45.7 (114.3) | 43.5 (110.3) | 43.0 (109.4) | 41.0 (105.8) | 38.9 (102.0) | 39.4 (102.9) | 37.4 (99.3) | 34.0 (93.2) | 45.7 (114.3) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 29.2 (84.6) | 33.0 (91.4) | 37.0 (98.6) | 39.4 (102.9) | 38.1 (100.6) | 36.4 (97.5) | 36.2 (97.2) | 35.0 (95.0) | 34.1 (93.4) | 32.9 (91.2) | 31.3 (88.3) | 28.9 (84.0) | 34.3 (93.7) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 21.5 (70.7) | 24.4 (75.9) | 28.2 (82.8) | 31.4 (88.5) | 31.7 (89.1) | 31.1 (88.0) | 31.1 (88.0) | 30.3 (86.5) | 29.5 (85.1) | 28.2 (82.8) | 25.4 (77.7) | 22.1 (71.8) | 27.9 (82.2) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 13.9 (57.0) | 15.8 (60.4) | 19.4 (66.9) | 23.5 (74.3) | 25.4 (77.7) | 25.9 (78.6) | 25.9 (78.6) | 25.5 (77.9) | 24.9 (76.8) | 23.5 (74.3) | 19.5 (67.1) | 15.3 (59.5) | 21.5 (70.7) |
| Record low °C (°F) | 7.2 (45.0) | 11.0 (51.8) | 11.8 (53.2) | 17.1 (62.8) | 17.2 (63.0) | 20.2 (68.4) | 22.8 (73.0) | 21.0 (69.8) | 20.4 (68.7) | 17.6 (63.7) | 12.0 (53.6) | 8.3 (46.9) | 7.2 (45.0) |
| Averageprecipitation mm (inches) | 2.9 (0.11) | 1.3 (0.05) | 7.0 (0.28) | 31.5 (1.24) | 97.5 (3.84) | 80.6 (3.17) | 62.4 (2.46) | 121.6 (4.79) | 172.3 (6.78) | 135.8 (5.35) | 23.3 (0.92) | 3.6 (0.14) | 739.8 (29.13) |
| Average precipitation days(≥ 1.0 mm) | 0.4 | 0.5 | 0.8 | 3.4 | 8.5 | 6.6 | 6.3 | 9.3 | 10.3 | 8.8 | 1.9 | 0.7 | 57.5 |
| Source 1:World Meteorological Organization[6] | |||||||||||||
| Source 2:Norwegian Meteorological Institute (extremes),[7] Meteomanz(record)[8] | |||||||||||||
Monywa is a national hub for poets, and is often described as the centre of poetry inUpper Myanmar. The town has served as home to many contemporary poets, including Min Swe Hnit,K Za Win, Kyi Zaw Aye, andKhat Thi.
Monywa is served by the Mandalay-Budalin branchrailway line, but is best reached bybus as theroad from Mandalay is in reasonably good shape. Monywa is linked by road to Budalin,Dabayin,Ye-U andKin-U, and by rail toSagaing and the Mandalay -Myitkyina line.[9] River transport on the Chindwin has always been important as it is navigable for 640 km (400 mi) toHkamti during themonsoon season, and most of the year toHomalin.[10] Monywa Airport also serves the area.[11]
Monywa is a major centre fortrade andcommerce and foragriculturalproduce from the surrounding Chindwin valley, especiallybeans,orange,pulses andjaggery (palm sugar). In addition, the localindustry includes mills for the production ofcotton,flour,noodles, andedible oil.Sausages from Alon calledwet udaunk are quite popular, and Budalinlongyi (sarong) is known for the strength of the fabric and its checked patterns. Monywa's rough cottonblankets are famous throughout Myanmar (with Monywa providing 80% of the country's blankets for a century),[12] and some can even be found sewn up intoknapsacks sold to unsuspecting tourists inBangkok. Other regional crafts includebamboo andreed products,bullock carts andagricultural implements. The village of Kyaukka is well known for itslacquerware utensils for everyday use.
Black market goods fromIndia, especiallysaris andbicycle parts, pass through Monywa on their way to other parts of Myanmar.
The majortourist attraction in Monywa isThambuddhe Pagoda , aBuddhist temple with a hugestupa resemblingIndonesia'sBorobudur. It dates from 1303, although it was reconstructed in 1939. It is said to contain over 500,000 images ofBuddha. Close by is theMaha Bodhi TahtaungLaykyun Sekkya standing Buddha statue, the 3rd tallest statue in the world, at 115.82 metres (a total of 129.23 metres, including the pedestal). This is the focal point of a sprawling site filled with Buddha statues, bodhi trees, and pagodas, established by theMaha Bodhi Ta Htaung Sayadaw in the 1960s. It includes also a 95-metre longreclining Buddha statue.[13]
Another attraction is thePhowintaung cave complex across the Chindwin River, approximately 25 kilometres (16 mi) west of Monywa.
Nyaung-gan Bronze Age cemetery, dated to between 1,500 BCE and 500 BCE, in Budalin with bronze tools, ceramics and stone artifacts is 60 minutes travel on a narrow road north of Monywa.[14]
Very few tourists visit Monywa as its facilities are limited.
The city is home to several higher education institutions:
Monywa has two public hospitals:
The insurgentBurmese Communist Party (BCP) was centred in the Monywa area (west of the Chindwin River) for many years. TheMyanmar military presence in Monywa remains heavy.[17]
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| 2,000,000 and more | |
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| 1,000,000–1,999,999 | |
| 500,000–999,999 |
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| 200,000–499,999 | |
| 100,000–199,999 | |
| International | |
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| National | |
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