Shan State

Prior to British colonisation, Taunggyi was a small village of a few huts. The area, which lay in a depression of the Sintaung Hills of the Shan Plateau, was populated by the Taungthu ethnicity.

During British occupation, the town became the chief city and capital of the Southern Shan States. It was within the sub-state of Yawnghwe. Taunggyi's modern development began in 1894, when the British moved their administrative offices from Maing Thauk (Fort Stedman) on the eastern shores of Inle Lake to the higher elevation of Taunggyi, for health and geographical reasons. By 1906, there existed a thousand houses. Because of civil unrest throughout the Shan States during the early 1900s, Taunggyi served as the chief garrison for military police. Taunggyi also served as a supplying centre to the Shan States, and catered to persons of many nationalities.

The majority of people are Shan tribals implying many ethnic minorities. But traditionally, it has two main groups, Kanbawza shan, and Maw shan. Average temperature in the cold season is below 40°F (4.4 Degrees Centigrade) Average annual rainfall is 80-100 inches. The Shan State has a tropical climate with low temperature in the hill regions.

In the coldest months of December and January, the average temperature of the region is 70°F (21°C) to 80°F (26°C). Rainfalls are over 60 inches at the hills and over 40 inches in the valleys.

The Shans dominated most of Myanmar from the 13th century to the 16th century. In the 19th century, long after their power declined, they were distributed among more than 30 petty states; most of them paid tribute to the Bamar king (Bamar or Burman is the dominant ethnic group in Myanmar). Under British rule, the Shan States were ruled by their hereditary chiefs "Saophas" (King in Shan language) as feudatories of the British crown. In 1922 most of these small states were joined in the Federated Shan States. This arrangement survived the constitutional changes of 1923 and 1937. A single Shan state was established by the 1947 Burmese constitution. In 1959 the Saophas relinquished much of their power to the Burmese government. Shan State's autonomy was further eroded by increased centralisation of the Burmese government following the Constitution of 1974. Generally, the Shans remain committed to the preservation of their distinct ethnic heritage.

Silver, lead and zinc are the main minerals mined in the Shan State. Teak is cut, and rice and other crops are grown. Shan State is part of the Golden Triangle, an area in which much of the world's opium and herion are illegally produced. Drug trafficking is controlled by local warlords, some of whom have private armies.

The valleys and tableland are inhabited by the Shans, who in language and customs resemble the Thais, Dai, and the Lao. They are largely Buddhists and are mainly engaged in agriculture. Among the Shans live Bamar, Chinese and Karens. The hills are inhabited by various peoples, notably the Wa (an ethnic group primarily Chinese), who are numerous in the north and along the Chinese border.

Inle Lake is a freshwater lake located in the mountains of Shan State in Myanmar. It is the second largest lake in Myanmar with an estimated surface area of 44.9 sq miles and one of the highest at an altitude of 2900 feet. During the dry season, the average water depth is 7 feet, with the deepest point being 12 feet, but during the rainy season this can increase by 5 feet.

The people of Inle Lake (called Intha), some 70,000 of them, live in four cities bordering the lake, in numerous small villages along the lake's shores and on the lake itself. Most residents live in simple stilt houses of woven bamboo and are largely self-sufficient.

Stilt housing

Picture : Entrance to Shwe-U-Min caves

The major attraction of Taunggyi is its market. The market on every fifth day is crowded with minorities in their colorful traditional dresses. Another special feature of Taunggyi is the six-day, six-night long hot-air balloon competition which is held in November during Tazaungdaing Festival.

Taunggyi is the melting pot for the Myelat area of the Shan State. In addition to the indigeneous Pa-O and Intha, there is a significant popuplation of Shans, Burmese, Chinese and Indians. Like in most of Burma, influence of Buddhism is most evidenced by tne monasteries scattered throughout the city. However, being a relatively new city, the monasteries are not of historical signifcance and architecturally not unique.

Photo : Panoramic view of Taunggyi taken by Xianzi Tan

Other Images of Shan State

Katku (or Kakku) is located west of the Inle Lake and about 50 kilometres south of Taunggyi, in the 16th century during the reign of the Toungoo king Alaungsitthu, 2500 small pagodas were built on a very small area. The majority of these buildings are still intact and the pagodas are until today a destination for Buddhist piety. They are built in the typical Shan style and are richly decorated.