Mawlamyine, Port city at Salween River delta, Myanmar
Mawlamyine is a port city where the Salween River meets the Gulf of Martaban in southeastern Myanmar, spreading along the eastern riverbank. Forested hills behind the waterfront are crowned with pagodas that rise above the city and overlook the bay.
The city served as British Burma's first capital from 1826 to 1852, when colonial powers chose it for its strategic river position. It grew rapidly as a major trading hub, especially for teak and rice shipped through its port.
The city serves as a center of Mon culture, with temples woven throughout daily life and visible in how residents move through and use the streets. These sacred spaces shape how the community gathers and marks time together.
The city is best reached by boat, with ferries connecting to neighboring areas and river vessels traveling the Salween regularly. It helps to check boat schedules before visiting, since water routes can shift with seasonal changes.
The hills surrounding the city hold hundreds of pagodas, many of them little-known and rarely visited by travelers passing through. These smaller temples offer quiet spots for exploring away from the main routes.
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