Thanlyin

Thanlyin, more commonly pronounced Tanyin and formerly Syriam, is a city in Yangon Division in Myanmar (Burma). It is located on the Bago River, and is a major port.

History

In the late 1500s, Thanlyin was the base of the Portuguese adventurer, Philip de Brito. Officially a mercenary from Arakan, he established himself as a local warlord from his base at Thanlyin, and hired his forces on occasion to the Mon in their battles against the Burmese. However, in 1599 he unleashed his army against Bago, which he sacked. Captured by the Burmese in 1613, he was executed by impalement – a punishment reserved for defilers of Buddhist temples. Thanlyin continued to be a major port until it was destroyed by King Alaungpaya in 1756 during the Mon revolt. [cite web|url=http://www.myanmars.net/myanmar-travel/myanmar-yangon/thanlyin-kyauktan.htm|title=Thanlyin and Kyauktan|publisher="myanmars.net"|accessdate=2008-09-17]

The Portuguese and Eurasian survivors of de Brito's band were taken to the villages of Monhla and Chantha in the Mu River valley near Shwebo. Called "bayin ji" (great kings), their fair-haired, European featured descendants still live and follow the Catholic faith in these villages, but have become assimilated to the surrounding Bamar. [cite web|url=http://www.arscives.com/bladesign/the_bayingyi.htm|title=Portuguese Descendants of Bhurma's Mu Valley - The Bayingyi|accessdate=2008-09-17]

Transport

Thanlyin is the site of a proposed deep sea port served by railway branch line with one of the main terminals called International Terminal Thilawa. The other major point is the 1882.6 metre long road and rail bridge called Yangon-Thanlyin Bridge built by the People's Republic of China and opened in 1993. [cite web|url=http://www.fmprc.gov.cn/ce/cemm/eng/zt/zmjjqd/jmgxgk/t198979.htm|title=Yangon-Thanlyin Bridge|publisher=Embassy of the People's Republic of China in the Union of Myanmar|accessdate=2008-09-17]

Points of Interest

Thanlyin is home to the Kyauktan Ye Le Pagoda, which lies approximately 20 km (13 miles) south of the city on a small island in Hmaw Won Creek, a tributary of Yangon River. This unusual temple was built under King Bawgasena in the third century B.C.E. [cite web|url=http://www.myanmar.gov.mm/Perspective/persp1998/12-98/kya.html|title=Kyauktan Ye Lai Phaya|author=U Thaw Kaung|year=December 1998|publisher="Perspective"|accessdate=2008-09-17] The temple hosts an impressive collection of paintings, sculptures and other fine demonstrations of Burmese Buddhist artwork and craftsmanship.

References

* [http://www.fallingrain.com/world/BM/17/Syriam.html FallingRain Map - elevation = 19m]