Eco Tourism in Myanmar

Myanmar has set aside 8443.475 sq, miles of protected forests out of 3611228 sq, miles of forests areas in Myanmar. This was done to insure that people will always be able to enjoy the natural beauty of the forests and to preserve them. while ,at the same time stimulating the economic development opportunitites of the local communities in these areas. Myanmar is a blessed with many natural resources,which are a big attraction for eco tourists.

Myanmar's natural resources are far rangeing: from the far northern from snow-capped mountains in Kachin State , to the southern coastal equatorial regions of Mon State and the Tha-Nin-Thar-Yi Division to the moderate plane of Shan State ,to the semi-desert conditions of the dry zone of central Myanmar and to the deep blue sea of the Bengal in the West. Below is a breakdown of some of Myanmar's natural resources that are popular with eco tourists:

Beaches	:	Ngwee Saung Beach; Chaung Tha Beach; Ngapali Beach; Maung Ma Kan Beach; Myeik Archipelago; Lampi Island; and Coastal region of Kaw Thaung & Myeik;
Hill Regions	:	Lisu@ Hake Bo Ra Zi Mt.( Kachin State ); Nat Ma Taung ( Mt.Victoria ) ( Chin State ); Popa Mt.( Mandalay Division ); Shwe Oo Daung Taung ( Mandalay Division ); and Kay Lar Tha Taung ( Mon State );
Lakes( Wetland )	:	Moeyongyi Wetland Wildlife Sanctuary ( Bago Division ); In Daw Gyi Lake ( Kachin State ); Inle Lake( Shan State ); and Mein Ma Hla Island ( Aye Yar Waddy Division );
National Parks	:	Hlaw Kar ( Yangon ); Kandawgyi ( Royal Lake ) Yangon; Popa Mt.( Bagan ); Nat Ma Taung ( Mt.Victoria ) ( Kan Pet Lett ); Alung Daw Ka Tha Pa ( Sagaing ) and Lampi-Island ( Myeik )
Monsoon Holidays	:	Special Interest Tours Programs for June-July-August- September.
Eco Tourism is couriered the forest growing market in the Myanmar Tourism Industry .

Nat Ma Taung ( Mt.Victoria )

Mt.Victoria is unique in the natural environment of Myanmar. The Chin Hills have never been opened to tourists; hence, they are unspoiled and are full of natural beauty, including high mountains with various kinds of forests which are rich with flora and fauna.The most well known flower of the region is Rhado- Dendron arboretum.The Chin Hill are notable for Nat Ma Taung , in Kan-pet-lett Township, rising to a height of 3,055 meters above sea level.

Among the people of Chin Hills are the "Tattoo faced" Chin women and "Naga" who are native of Chin States. They live along the long range of Chin Hills from North to South.The Chin State is notable for numbers of rare birds and endemic birds spices. The National Park is believed to be one of the largest and best reserved natural habitats remaining with Chin State.Chin State day is on February 20th. On that day, tribal people living around the capital of Northern Chin State" Mindut " came to celebrated their " National Day " every year.

Naga Celebrations

Every year in January 15th , in Naga, in the rugged mountains of the Northwest frontier of Myanmar, the many sub-tribes come out in all their finery at their annual New Year Festival, a gathering of the clans. Festival are held in which the people celebrate with brightly colored costomes, by shrieking wildly and with the sound of thumping drums. Fierce-looking hunters and warrior chiefs gather to celebrate the New Year. They strut into town decked out in feathers and beaks of hornbill, claws and teeth of bear and tiger, tusks of boar and elephant, fur of bear, monkey and mountain goats, and shells brought over the mountains from seas they have never seen.

Meditation Centers in Myanmar provide opportunities to study and practice " Insight-Awareness Meditation", based on teachings found in the Maha Satipat Ma na Sotto of the Theravad Buddhist Ca.Many westerners have come to Myanmar to practice at the various center for periods ranging from 10 days to more than a year with a special Visa Permit just for this purposes.At the meditation cnter, visitors typically attach themselves during the during of their visit to a respected Abbot ("Sayadaw"), in the Buddhist tradition.The most famous meditation center in Yangon is the Mahasi Tha tha na Yeik Tha. Myanmar people who practice the Mahasi Sayadaw teachings strive for an intensive moment to moment awareness of every physical movement , every mental and physical sensation and ultimately every thought.This technique has spread well beyond Myanmar's borders and is now commonly taught in Buddhist centers all over the world. .

Buddhist Thought

" The purpose of meditation is not to achieve a perfectly still and serene mind. Although
a lovely state, it doesn't lead to liberation by itself. The purpose of meditation is to achieve
uninterrupted mindfulness. Mindfulness, and only mindfulness, produces Enlightenment."

British monk brings Buddhism to Westerners.

A handful of Americans and Europeans who are disenchanted with religion at home and seeking a deeper sense of spirituality, meditation and ultimately inner peace.Religion is seen as a source of conflict, a source of wars, a source of people who don't have reasons for doing things. They follow blind faith, but .....Buddhism is seen as different. It is a religion of wisdom, which encourages people to think and encourage people to believe in cause and effect.

Moeyungyi Wetlands

Moeyungyi Wetlands are situated in Bago Division, about 70 miles north of Yangon-Mandalay highway. It is just two hours drive from Yangon. In 1878 a water storage reservoir changed naturally into Wetlands over the area of 40 sq. miles. These wetlands have high wetland conservation value. As a result, these wetlands were turned into a wildlife sanctuary since 1988.
Every year, millions of birds usually fly from northern hemisphere to the South along the East Asian-Australian Flyway to escape from winter. They stop to rest and feed in Asia. Moeyungyi is part of a network of Wetland comprising the East Asian-Australian Flyway. A recent study revealed that there are 125 species of water birds including 70 species of migrants, in Moeyungyi. The best season to visit is from November to March. In addition to bird watching, you can observe the fauna and flora of the wetlands and the colorful lifestyle of the native people.

Myaing Haywun & Elephant Trekking

Elephant trekking is a popular holiday and recreational activity around the world.
In Myanmar, we have six place where elephant trekking facilities are available for tourists as well as for the Myanmar people.
Four of these places are listed below:

Myaing-hay-wun Elephant Research Camp.

Hu-kaung Valley Wild Life Sanctuary

Alaung-daw Kathapa National Park, and

Sein Ye Camp are accessible for tourists.

Elephant trekking in Wild Life Sanctuaries and National Park has been carried out with the cooperation of private
tour companies.

Myaing Hay Wun Elephant Research Camp sites on 10 acres only and 72 miles from downtown Yangon in Taik Kyi Township of Yangon Division.There are 32 domesticated elephants in the camp, and about 200 feral elephants are in the wild around the camp.
Myaing Hay Wun Elephant Research Camp gives three services;

Elephant trekking

Elephant entertainment and

Elephant dancing

You Can also observe the elephant research work,which is conducted by forestry personal.

Eco Tourism in Myanmar

Nat Ma Taung ( Mt.Victoria )

Naga Celebrations

Moeyungyi Wetlands

Myaing Haywun & Elephant Trekking

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