Pathein or Bassein (Burmese ပုသိမ်မြို့) is a city (pop. 315,600 as of 2004) and the capital of Ayeyarwady Division inMyanmar.
Lying at the western edge of the Ayeyarwady (Irrawaddy) River delta, on the Pathein (Ngawan) River 190 km west ofYangon, Pathein is accessible to large vessels and despite its distance from the ocean, it is the most important delta port outside of Yangon. It is also the terminus of a branch of the main railway line. The city is a rice milling and export centre.
The city's name may derive from Pathi (Burmese word for "Muslim"), due to the large population of Arab and Indian traders. The name was corrupted to Bassein during the British colonial period. The British built a fort and established a garrison in 1826, after the First Anglo-Burmese War.
Pathein is now a peaceful little town with a scenic waterfront, many Buddhist temples, and Pathein umbrella workshops. The colourful handmade umbrellas made in Pathein are famous in Myanmar.
Although once part of the Mon kingdom, Pathein has few ethnic Mon residents today. There are sizable minorities of Karen and Rakhine.
Most pickups and smaller buses will drop of people at the16.78112994.7335331City Bus Station from where it can be hard to find onward travel, e.g. north or to the beaches. If you do not want to stay in Pathein, take a motorbike (2,000 kyat) or pickup (1,000 kyat) out of the city to the bigger16.79254294.7636942Highway Bus Station, from where it should be easy to catch onward travel. Equally, if you are dropped of at the latter, take a motorbike or pickup into the city.
The train to Pathein starts from either18.34077595.2433391Kyankin (100 km from Pyay) or Hinthada. Hence, coming fromPyay, you first have to take a local transport or a boat to one of the two cities.
As the roads have improved, there is no longer a ferry service to Pathein from Yangon.
The town is small enough that you can see much of the town on foot. Motorbike taxis are also readily available and the standard fare for a trip is 1,000 kyat (which however seems a little excessive).
A local ferry can take you to the Karen village across the river.
Most buses for distant destinations leave from theHighway Bus Station, otherwise try theCity Bus Station (see#Get in).
The16.77565294.7411984Railway Station is in the eastern/southeastern part of the city. There is a train toHinthada at 05:30, which takes about 6 hr and costs 2,000 kyat for upper class. AlsoKyankin, the last stop near Pyay, is served from Pathein.
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