Tanintharyi Division

The division is home to sea traders, miners, fishers, farmers, rubber planters of diversed ethnic origins. On the coastal strip on the west are rice fields, and farms growing maize, sugar cane, ground nut, chillies, onions, rubber, palm trees, durian, mangosteen and rambutan.

Historically the area belonged to the Thai kingdoms of Sukhothai and Ayutthaya but was in the possession of the Burmese kingdom at the start of the 1800s. At the end of the First Burmese War in 1826 Tenasserim became part of the territory controlled by the British East India Co, with the Treaty of Yandaboo. It was then part of Lower Burma. The British had taken the territory as a bargaining chip for future negotiations with either Burma or Thailand. The territory was unprofitably run for a number of years and the British considered giving it up to either Burma or Thailand in the 1830s.

Long after the independence of Burma the northeastern part of Tenasserim became Karen State (now Kayin State). In 1974 Mon State was created, taking the northwestern part of Tenasserim. As the previous capital Moulmein is in the Mon state, the capital of Tenasserim was moved to Dawei (Tavoy). In 1989 the division was officially renamed to Tanintharyi.

More than 800 islands called Myeik Archipelago are in the division. Forests of rubber and evergreen trees lie as far as the eye can see. Pearl Island is the source of quality pearls and fishing is a major business along the coast and on islands. Due to its virtual isolation, the islands and surrounding seas are alive with an amazing diversity of flora & fauna and very beautiful underwater scenes and marine life. The only human inhabitants in the area are sea gypsies, namely Salone in Myanmar. They live on boats during dry season and remain on land during rainy season. They still practice the same fishing and boat building techniques used for generation.

Dawei, is the capital of the Tanintharyi Division. Various nationalities such as Bamar, Mon, Kayin, Rakhine and Shan totalling over 120,000 are residing in Dawei.

Dawei is dotted with famous historical pagodas and can be accessible with all means of transportation. A place to visit in Dawei is Maungmakan Beach, a well-known beauty spot of Myanmar, which is about 10 miles from Dawei.

As Dawei is in the coastal region, fisheries become the mainstay of the economy there. Seafood such as lobsters (Pagae) and prawns are sufficient enough not only for local consumption but also for the international market. Also jelly-fish are exported to the international market. Most local people make their living by trading in regional goods. Some have rubber, oil palm, cashew and mango plantations and they also cultivate paddy.

 Lawkatharaphu pagoda

Dawei

In the 18th century, Mergui was a port belonging to the Thai Ayuthaya Empire. It became an important trading centre, especially for the Europeans, who would land at Mergui, travel upriver to Taninthayi and then cross the mountains to reach Ayuthaya. The British occupied the region after the First Anglo-Burmese War of 1826.

The population is engaged in fishing, production of rubber and coconuts, manufacture of fermented shrimp paste, and the collection of edible bird's nests. Offshore, the 800 islands of the Myeik Archipelago have a huge potential for tourist development. Tourism in the area is in the form of live aboard boats as land based accommodations are non-existent on the islands. This keeps the area very attractive as low impact tourism preserves the area's natural beauty.

The inhabitants of the area are known as Salone or Moken, Sea Gypsies who are said to be related to island tribes from Malaysia.

Kawthaung, the southern most town in Myanmar (800 km from Yangon and 2,000 km from the country's most northern tip), formerly known as Victoria Point, is one of the entry ports into Myanmar and is only separated from Thailand by a broad estuary in the Pakchan River.

The main business of Kawthaung is trade with Thailand, fishing, rubber and cashew nuts. Most Kawthaung residents speak Burmese and Thai. A huge bronze statue of King Bayintnaung, one of the great Myanmar kings (out-fitted in full battle regalia brandishing a sword) stands at the crest of a hill on the cape. A spectacular sea and island view from a hilltop pagoda known as the Three Mile Pagoda is located in a fishing village 5 kilometres north of town.

Kawthaung Port

Myeik Archipelago comprises over 800 beautiful islands. Due to its virtual isolation, the islands and surrounding seas are alive with an amazing diversity of flora & fauna and very beautiful underwater scenes and marine life.

The only human inhabitants in the area are sea gypsies, namely Salon in Myanmar. They live on boats during dry season and remain on land during rainy season. They still practice the same fishing and boat building techniques which has been used for generations.

Myeik Archipelago

Other images of Tanintharyi Division