Myitkyina

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Myitkyina (Burmese: မ္ရစ္‌က္ရိးနားမ္ရုိ့; MLCTS: mrac kri: na: mrui.) is a city, and the capital of Kachin State in Myanmar (formerly Burma), located 919 miles from Yangon, or 487 miles from Mandalay. In burmese, it means "near the big river" in fact "Myitkyina" is located near the big Ayeyarwady (Irrawaddy) River. It is on the Ayeyarwady River, just below 26 miles from Myit-sone, the confluence of its two headstreams (the N-Maikha and Malikha rivers). It is the northernmost river port and railway terminal in Myanmar. The population is a mix of Kachin, Shan, Bamar peoples and some Chinese and Indians. Fragrant rice produced near Myitkyina, called khat cho, is considered the best in Myanmar.

During World War II, Myitkyina fell to the Allied forces under General Joseph Stilwell after a prolonged siege and heavy fighting between Nationalist Chinese divisions and Merrill's Marauders of NCAC and the besieged elements of the 33rd Imperial Japanese Army under General Masaki Honda. The town was strategically important not only because of its rail and water links to the rest of Burma, but also because it was on the planned route of the Ledo Road.

As the capital of the State, it has government offices, and more populations among other cities in the State. Kachin language is a common language among Kachin but Burmese is a national language and every one can speak Burmese. It has two big markets. It has Myitkyina University, Educational college, nursing school, computer institution which are controlled by the Government and many other private colleges of religius affiliation and English institutions.

The city has a population approximately 150,000. Major religions are Christians and Buddhists but it has a few other religions such as animist, Hindu and Muslim. Foreigners are now free to visit Myitkyina without prior government permission.