About Myanmar
Myanmar, officially known as the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, is a country located in the western portion of mainland Southeast Asia and is the northermost country there.
It is shaped like a kite with a long tail that runs south along the Malay Peninsula.
Myanmar is a country of great ethnic diversity. It is known that there are 135 indigenous ethnic groups in Myanmar, grouped into eight national races: Burman, Kachin, Kayah, Karen, Chin, Mon, Rakhine and Shan.
Moreover, there are also many places of natural beauties and incredible wonders, such as snow-capped mountains, evergreen forests, broad seashores, and wide rivers, all of which make Myanmar a top travel destination for tourists.
Symbols of Myanmar
The Green Peafowl - "Daung"
In Burmeses traditions, green peafowl is regarded as a symbol of the descendence of the sun. The dancing peacock, or ka-daung, was used as the symbol of the Burmese monarch. Being the central feature of the Konbaung Dynasty’s flag and coins (1700-1885), the green peafowl is a symbol of “compassionate watchfulness” in Buddhist mythology.
White Elephant
According traditional Burmese beliefs, the region's ancient rulers regarded white Elephants as extremely auspicious. Their birth as well as sudden appearance in an area was conceived as a symbol of righteous political power.
It is also believed that Buddha himself was once used to be a white elephant.
The Chinthe - "Guardian Lion"
Chinthe are mythical half-dragon and half-lion creatures. They are often depicted in pairs, being seen at the entrances of Burma pagodas and temples with the belief that they will serve to protect these religious places. Myanmar’s military government used these lion-like as a symbol of the state.
The Golden Land
Buddhism is the main religion in Myanmar, and it has seen thousands of years of history and cultural history which is still being discovered. In surrounding countries, Myanmar is known as ‘the golden land’, and when you fly into cities such as Mandalay and Yangon it’s easy to understand why. From the sky you can see glittering golden stupas and pagodas dotted throughout the countryside and nestled among busy city streets.