Mawlamyine Facts and Figures
The most common transliteration is Mawlamyine (pronounced Maw-lamyain). Government offices and school signs written in English use this form. Other transliterations include Mawlamyaing. It's former colonial name is Moulmein.
Telephone Area Code
057 (formerly 032)
Mawlamyine is the capital of Mon state which is situated between the latitudes of 14o 52'N and 17o 32'N and longitudes 96o 51'E and 98o 13'E. Part of the state is bordered by Thailand in the south east and the Gulf of Mottama and the Andaman Sea in the west. Mon state covers an area of 4,750 square miles.
Mawlamyine experiences a tropical climate with a lower humidity than in most parts of South East Asia. Its temperature averages between 25.6o C during January, its coolest month to 29.4o C in April, it's hottest month. The rainy season is between June and October although the greatest rainfalls usually occur in July and August. The average annual rainfall in Mawlmayine is 190 inches.
The population of Mon State is 3 million and consist mainly of Mon and Bamars, although there exist Kayin, Rakhine, Chin, Kachin, Shan, Pa-O, Indian and Chinese ethnicities as well. The majority of Indians are third or fourth generation Myanmar whose ancestors were brought to Mawlamyine during British colonial rule. They are now fully assimilated into the Myanmar culture having long forgotten their mother tongue, however many still hold strongly to their religious customs and beliefs.
The majority of the population practice Buddhism, although Christianity, Islam and Hinduism are widely practised as indicated by the numerous mosques, hindu temples and churches dotted around town.There are 10 townships and 450 wards in Mon state. Mon state day falls on March 19th.