Pathein (pətēn', -tān') or Bassein (bəsēn', -sān'), town (1983 pop. 144,092), capital of Ayeyarwady div., S Myanmar, on the Pathein River. Lying at the western edge of the Ayeyarwady delta, Pathein is accessible to large vessels; it is also the terminus of a branch of the main railroad line. The town is a rice-milling and export center, known for its umbrella-painting industry. Teak and bamboo are also handled. The British established a fort at Pathein in 1852. It was occupied by the Japanese during World War II.
Pathein
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| Pathein ပုသိမ်မြို့ also known as Bassein |
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  Pathein
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| Coordinates: 16°46′N 94°43′E / 16.767°N 94.717°E | |
| Country |  Burma |
| Admin. division | Ayeyarwady Division |
| District | Pathein District |
| Township | Pathein Township |
| Population | |
| - Total | 300,000 |
| - Ethnicities | Bamar, Burmese Indians, Kayin |
| - Religions | Buddhism, Islam |
| Area code(s) | 42[1] |
Pathein (Burmese: ပုသိမ်မြို့့; MLCTS: pu. sim mrui.) (Bassein), is a port city with a 2004 population estimated at 215,600, and the capital of the Ayeyarwady Division, Burma. It lies on the Pathein River (Bassein), which is a western branch of the Irrawaddy River.[2]
It is located within the Pathein Township of Pathein District and is also the seat of all. Although once part of the Mon kingdom, Pathein has few ethnic Mon residents today. The majority are of Bamar, Burmese Indians, Kayin ethnicity. There are, however, notable minorities of Karen and Rakhine.
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Etymology
The city's name is believed to 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.
History
Pathein was part of the Mon kingdom. The British built a fort and established a garrison in 1826, after the First Anglo-Burmese War. The 1983 census recorded a population of 144,092.
Geography and economy
Lying at the western edge of the Ayeyarwady River delta, on the Pathein (Ngawan) River 118 miles (190 km) west of Yangon, Pathein is accessible to large vessels and despite its distance from the ocean, it is the most important delta port outside of Yangon. The city is also a terminus of a branch of the main railroad line which connects it to Hinthada, Letpadan and Yangon. In the 1990s, the road network along the Irrawaddy to Monya was improved.[2]
The coastline along the Bay of Bengal is surrounded by the Arakan Mountains. In the area is Inye Lake, 1.5 miles (2.5 km) long and 1 mile (1.6 km) wide, which is known for its fishing. There is also an offshore reef, Diamond Island which is popular with bathers. Diamond Island is also noted as a turtle breeding ground.[2]
The city is a rice-milling and export centre. Aside from several rice mills, the town has numerous sawmills and umbrella workshops. The colourful handmade parasols made in Pathein are widely known throughout Burma.[2]They are known locally as "Pathein Hti".[3] Pathein is also known for its pottery and colourful hand-made baskets and buckets.
The surrounding area of Pathein are employed in agriculture and cultivate sesames, groundnuts, jute, maize, pulses, tobacco, chilies etc.[3]
Landmarks
Pathein has a scenic waterfront, many Buddhist temples. The main sight of Pathein is Shwemokhtaw Paya, a Buddhist temple originally founded (according to local legend) by King Asoka of India in 305 BC. Bagan's King Alaungsithu raised the height of the stupa to 11 meters in 1115 AD, and the Mon King Samodogossa raised it to 131 feet (40 m) in 1263 AD. The stupa is now 153 feet (46.6 m) tall, with the topmost layer made of 13.9 pounds (6.3 kg) of solid gold, the middle tier of pure silver, and the third tier of bronze, with some 829 diamonds, 843 rubies, and 1588 semi-precious stones.[4]
Education
The city is home to the Pathein Education College for elementary teachers and Pathein University. Pathein has a large hospital which also serves those in the surrounding district.
See also
References
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Pathein |
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Wikisource has the text of the 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica article Bassein. |
- ^ "Myanmar Area Codes". http://en.18dao.net/Area_Code/Myanmar. Retrieved 2009-04-10.
- ^ a b c d "Pathein". Encyclopedia Britannica. http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/55491/Pathein. Retrieved August 21, 2009.
- ^ a b "Pathein (Bassein)". Journeysmyanmar.com. http://www.journeysmyanmar.com/highlights_of_myanmar_pathein.htm. Retrieved August 21, 2009.
- ^ "Ayeyawaddy Division Myanmar". Guide For Myanmar. http://www.guideformyanmar.com/ayeyarwady.html. Retrieved August 21, 2009.
Coordinates: 16°46′27″N 94°43′54″E / 16.77417°N 94.73167°E
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