Dawei

Dawei ထားဝယ်မြို့ Tavoy
Dawei Location in Burma
Coordinates: 14°05′0″N 98°12′0″E / 14.08333°N 98.20000°E / 14.08333; 98.20000
Country	Burma
Division	Tanintharyi Region
District	Dawei District
Township	Dawei Township
Population (2005)
• Religions	Buddhism
Time zone	MST (UTC+6.30)
Area code(s)	59[1]

Dawei (Burmese: ထားဝယ်မြို့; MLCTS: hta: wai mrui., pronounced: [dəwɛ̀ mjo̰]; Mon: ဓဝဲါ, [həwài]; Thai: ทวาย, RTGS: Thawai, pronounced [tʰā.wāːj]; formerly known as Tavoy), is a name of ethnic people among 135 of Myanmar, a city in southeastern Myanmar and is capital of Tanintharyi Region, formerly Tenasserim Division, situated about 614.3 km (381.7 mi) south of Yangon on the northern bank of the Dawei River. Population (2004 estimate) 139 900. It is situated at 14.09°N 98.20°E. Dawei is a port at the head of the Dawei River estuary, 30 km (18.6 mi). from the Andaman Sea. As a result the city is prone to flooding during the monsoon season.

History

The area around the Dawei River estuary has been inhabited for centuries by Dawei, Mon, Kayin and Thai mariners. From the 11th to 13th centuries, Dawei was part of the Pagan Empire. From 1287 to 1564, Dawei became part of the Sukhothai Kingdom and its successor Ayutthaya Kingdom (Siam). From 1564 to 1594, Dawei was part of the Toungoo Kingdom of Burma. Siam temporarily regained the city between 1594 and 1614. From 1614 to the 1740s, Dawei was the southernmost city of Burmese authority, and was backed by a Burmese garrison. In the late 1740s during the Burmese civil war of 1740–1757, Dawei along with the northern Tenasserim coast was taken over by Siam. Burma regained the city in 1760, and extended its control over the entire Tenasserim coast in 1765. The Tenasserim coast was ceded to the British after the First Anglo-Burmese War (1824–1826).

After independence in 1948, the city became part of the Tenasserim Division, which also included today's Mon State. In 1974, Mon State was carved out of Tenasserim, and Dawei became the capital of the truncated Division. In 1989, the city's English name was changed from Tavoy to Dawei, and Tenasserim became Tanintharyi.

Climate

Dawei features an extreme tropical monsoon climate (Köppen climate classification Am), similar to Sittwe further northwest. There is a substantial dry season from November to April, but in the wet season the influence of local mountains causes Dawei to receive as much as 1,300 millimetres (51 in) per month. Apart from the Chocó region of Colombia, and the area around Mount Cameroon in Africa, it is possibly the wettest lowland tropical region in the world.

Transport

Dawei Airport

Only recently Dawei was connected to the rest of Myanmar by road and rail. There are plans to construct a deepwater port in Dawei.^[3] In November 2010, the Myanmar Port Authority signed a USD $8.6 billion deal with Italian-Thai Development to develop a deep sea port at Dawei.^[4] This development would become Myanmar's first Special Economic Zone, which includes plans to develop a 250 square kilometres (97 sq mi) industrial estate, with sea, land (railway and road) infrastructure links to Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam, as well as a gas pipeline to Thailand’s Kanchanaburi Province and commercial and residential developments.^[5] The development of the SEZ has been linked to land confiscations and land grabs from farmers, upwards of 63,768 acres (258.06 km²) (direct) and 153,919 acres (622.89 km²), potentially displacing 500,000 Dawei natives.^[6]

A transnational highway and a railway line across the Tenasserim Hills connecting Dawei and Bangkok are planned if the deepwater port project goes ahead.^[7] This port could significantly bypass Singapore bound traffic when completed.^[8]However, Japanese funding has transferred to Thilawa.

Economy

Dawei longyi (sarong) is a famous local product.^[9] The area produces rubber, dried fish and teakwood. It also produces cashew nuts and betel nuts and exports them through local traders to China, India and Thailand. Dawei is also well known for its variety of tropical fruits such as pineapples, a variety of mangoes, mangosteens, and durian. There is one fruit called zin thi (in Dawei language), which can only be found in Dawei and surrounding areas; this fruit is sweet with a touch of sour.

Dawei is also getting a proposed special economic zone plus deep sea port called the Dawei Port Project. It is under going construction with companies providing road link to Thailand, port construction and rail connection. Partly being developed by Italian-Thai Development. The proposed completion date is set to 2014.^[10]

Attractions

• Maungmagan Beach is a popular beach in Myanmar and served as a beach retreat for the British during colonial days.

There are also a number of hot water springs around the outskirts, about one to a few hours drive from Dawei. There is one quite close to Maungmagan (on the way to Maungmagan from Dawei).

The largest reclining Buddha in Myanmar is in Dawei (about 30 minutes drive from Dawei). The closest city from Dawei is Yeiphyu. Dawei Hope at a long sleeved peninsula has a lighthouse guiding to Dawei port and Mali Naval Base.

• Dawei Education College
• Dawei University
• Technological University, Dawei
• Computer University, Dawei

See also

• Dawei Airport
• Railway stations in Burma
• Railway stations in Thailand

References

Coordinates: 14°05′N 98°12′E / 14.083°N 98.200°E / 14.083; 98.200

v t e Tanintharyi Region Capital: Dawei Dawei District Dawei Township Launglon Township Thayetchaung Township Yebyu Township Myeik District Kyunsu Township Myeik Township Palaw Township Tanintharyi Township Kawthaung District Bokpyin Township Kawthaung Township Main cities and towns Dawei Launglon Thayetchaung Yebyu Myeik Kyunsu Palaw Tanintharyi Kawthaung Bokpyin