Facts About Naypyidaw |
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|---|---|
| Country | Myanmar |
| State | Mandalay |
| Founded | 11,000 BC ( Stone Age culture called the Anyathian) |
| Area | 7,054 km² |
| Population | 924608 |
| Lat Long Coordinates | 19°45′N96°6′E |
| Time Zone | (UTC+06:30) |
| area Code | 67 |
| Language | Burmese |
| Major Religion | Buddhism, Hinduism, Christianity , Islam, Jews |
| Point of interest | parliament building, National Herbal Park, The Naypyidaw Zoological Gardens, The Naypyidaw Safari Park, Gem Museum, Uppatasanti Pagoda, Ngalaik Lake Gardens, Nay Pyi Taw City Golf Course, Yaypyar Golf Course |
About City
With a population of almost 1 million, Naypyidaw is the capital and the third largest city in Myanmar. The city was built in secret by the Myanmar Junta in the early 2000s and in 2005; the country’s capital was shifted from Yangon to Naypyidaw by the army without any prior announcement.
Literally meaning the “royal capital”, Naypyidaw is more strategically located than Yangon as well less congested. Essentially a political and administrative center, it also serves as the country’s transportation hub. It is one of the ten fastest growing cities in the world and is a Union Territory directly ruled by the President. The official language of the country is Burmese.
Geography
Located near Pyinmana, Naypyidaw is situated between the ranges of Shan Yoma and Bago Yoma. The city is bordered by the Chaungmagyi Dam to its north and the Ngalaik Dam to its south. It is divided into four zones, viz., the residential zone, the military zone, the ministry zone and the hotel zone. Almost 2 hectares of land has been set aside for foreign embassies and the United Nations missions’ headquarters. It is surrounded by eight townships which are well planned and still under construction.
How to Reach (Transport)
The Naypyidaw Airport is located between Ela and Lewe at a distance of about 16 km from the city. It is connected by several domestic airlines with regular flights to Yangon and other neighbouring cities.
Naypyidaw is accessible by train. The railway station covers an area of 3.5 sq km and is connected to Yangon by a daily train. One can even arrive at the city via the 8 lane highway from Yangon on a bus.
The motorways in the city are broad and it also has a 20 lane-boulevard because of which it is mostly devoid of congestion. One can book private taxis or even share a taxi with other passengers and or rent a private car. Motorbikes and the traditional tuk tuks are also popular.
When to Visit
Naypyidaw features a typical savannah climate, hot and humid. The months between March and May are the hottest, with a lot of moisture in the air, with temperatures going up to 38 degree Celsius. From June to October, Naypyidaw is flooded with rains.
The best time to visit is from November to February as the city is pleasant and relatively dry during this period.
Fairs and Festivals
Being a newly constructed city, Naypyidaw has no festival unique to it. However it celebrates public holidays and other Myanmar festivals.
- Peasants’ Day, celebrated on 2nd March honors all the hard working peasants of the country, their largest productive workforce.
- The Water Festival, Thingyan, celebrated in April is celebrated by throwing water at everybody.
- Kason Full Moon Day is in May marked by a small ceremony where water is poured to the sacred Bo tree.
- Buddhist Lent begins in July, with the Waso Full Moon Day when monks all over the country are gifted with necessary temporal gifts and it ends in October with the Tadingyut Festival, also called the festival of lights. It is followed by the Tadingyut Full Moon Day.
Other celebratory days include the Martyrs’ Day, Myanmar New Year, Independence Day, Union Day and the Tazaungdaing Fullmoon Festival.
Points of Interest (Places to Visit)
Some of the notable places to visit in Naypyidaw are as follows:
- The Uppatasanti Pagoda or the “Peace Pagoda” houses a Buddha tooth relic from China. It is a replica of Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon and a prominent landmark in the city. The pagoda stands 100 meters high and has a Pagoda Museum, a Bo tree Garden which has a Maha Bo Tree and the Marlini Mangala Lake.
- The Ngalaik Lake Gardens, situated along the Ngalaik Dam is a small water park. It is approximately seven miles from the city and was opened in the year 2008. Its attractions include water slides, natural resorts, lodging and even a beach.
- The Naypyidaw Zoological Gardens, the largest zoo in the country houses about 500 animals including a climate controlled penguin house.
- Three enormous sculptures of Anawrahta, Bayinnaung and Alaungpaya (U Aung Zeya) who are considered to be the greatest of the Burmese Kings.
Other points of interest are the Naypyidaw Safari Park, National Herbal Park, a Gem Museum, the Ngalaik Dam, a water fountain complex behind the city hall, etc.
Accommodation
Naypyidaw offers hotels, bed & breakfasts, inns and guest houses, all placed in a systematic manner inside the hotel-zone of the city. Aureum Hotel-Resort is one of the best hotels, located right at the start of the hotel-zone of the city with cheap yet well maintained rooms. The Royal Kumudra Hotel is a 4-star hotel spread majestically over 30 acres of land. Other places to stay are the Thingaha Hotel, Zabu Tihiri Hotel, Nan Waddy Hotel, Nga Laik Kan Tha Garden and Resort, Golden Land Hotel, etc.
Facts about Myanmar