The People

Kachin, tribal peoples occupying parts of northeastern Myanmar (Burma) and contiguous areas of India (Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland) and China (Yunnan).The Kachin is a home to many of the 135 different ethnic groups in Myanmar. Each group have their own unique language. There are seven ethnic groups in Kachin state and they are Lungmi, Lhavo, Rawang, Lachit, Lisue, Zaiwa and Jinghpaw.

The state usually hold a Kachin State Day. This events is marked with a traditional Manau festival held in the state capital. The Ma-nau dance, which is a tradition of the Kachin people, is celebrated to worship and propitiate the "Lamu Madai," God of the Spirits. The Divine God Lamu Madai is believed to be the creater of the Universe. The Ma-nau Celebration is a tradition ritual conducted with various aims in worship of this divinity.

The kachin women working in the rice field enjoy doing so and this is shown in of the dance moves featured in the Kachin Dance. This move is shown when the women shake their shoulders and the silver chains on the costume make a nice sound and they shake side to side and this shows that they are happy. Above is a photo of Kachin women dancing the dance move that represents the shaking of shoulders showing that they are happy.

KACHIN

Kachin State is a beautiful state located northern of Myanmar and is adorned by the king of mountains, the Himalayas. Hkakabo Razi, the highest peak of Myanmar is also located here. Kachin is also home to the largest inland lake of Southeast Asia – Indawgyi Lake and the birthplace of Ayeyarwady River. The lush green farmlands on the banks of the river interspersed with snow-capped peaks present a postcard-perfect scene for visitors to admire. The state is also famous for the abundance of jade and gold. The sight of people in groups digging a panning for gold is quite common to be seen on the sides of Ayeyarwaddy River.

The economy of Kachin State is predominantly agricultural. The main products include rice, teak, sugar cane, opium.

A majority of the Kachin are Christian, mainly Baptist and Roman Catholic.

The Jingpho language is the traditional language of the area, and is the state's lingua franca.

Indawgyi Lake

Indawgyi Lake is a secluded destination for nature lovers in remote Kachin State. The largest lake in Myanmar, Indawgyi remains pristine and undeveloped and has been designated as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve; it’s still possible to find places where you won’t hear the drone of a motor – or even see a single boat. The area is largely untouched by tourism, with few foreigners making the journey this far north. It’s truly a place to relax and enjoy the simple rural lifestyle and the beautiful natural surroundings. Indawgyi has also become something of an adventure destination with kayaking, trekking, cycling and recreational fishing all on offer.

Irrawaddy Confluence

The Irrawaddy or, officially, Ayeyarwady River is a river that flows from north to south through Myanmar. It is the country's largest river and most important commercial waterway. Originating from the confluence of the N'mai and Mali rivers, it flows relatively straight North-South before emptying through the Irrawaddy Delta into the Andaman Sea. Its drainage basin of about 404,200 square kilometres covers a large part of Burma. After Rudyard Kipling's poem, it is sometimes referred to as 'The Road to Mandalay'. As early as the sixth century, the river was used for trade and transport. Having developed an extensive network of irrigation canals, the river became important to the British Empire after it had colonized Burma. The river is still as vital today, as a considerable amount of goods and traffic moves by river. Rice is produced in the Irrawaddy Delta, irrigated by water from the river.

Khakaborazi Mountain

Located in the northern Kachin state, within a tributary of the Himalayas, at the foot of Mount Khakaborazi National Park. The entire park is located in the high mountains, characterized by rain forests of subtropical climates. In the mountains there are forest types: large evergreen broadleaf forests, deciduous forest, coniferous forest and snow forest. Those who love high altitude cannot ignore this destination, conquering the roof of Southeast Asia will definitely leave you many memories in his pilgrimage tour Myanmar. Mount Khakaborazi which stands at 19'296 feet (5881.42 meters) is the highest peak in Southeast Asia.It lies in an outlying subrange of the Greater Himalayan mountain system. With its height 5,881 m (19,295 ft), Hkakabo Razi is higher than the highest mountains of Europe and Australia. The mountain lies on the border tri-point among Myanmar, China, and India.

Putao

Situated in the north of Myitkyina, the capital city of Kachin state, can reach only by air route. The city surrounded with snow peaked mountains and the weather is cold around the year. Flora and Fauna can be seen in the forest around Putao. There are also many different ethnic minority tribes in Kachin state. It is the nearest town to the base camp for Climbing Mt. Khakhaborazi (5889 metres), which is the highest mountain in Myanmar and in Southeast Asia. Putao is the starting point for Myanmar's most adventurous trekking adventures. Flowing streams and rivulets, straw-roofed houses and fences of pebbles and creek stones provide a pleasant, pastoral contrast to the scenes and sights of modern cities. The suspension bridges are the typical river crossing in this region. People of the Rawan, Lisu, Khamti-Shan, Jingphaw and Kachin are represented in the region.

Local Specilities

Traditional Costume

Kachin men wear shirts, traditional jackets, sarong-like longyis or slacks. They also wear turbans or headdresses with tassels, han ging loose one end on the right of their head. They keep a sword and a shoulder bag as an ornament. Kachin women adorn themselves with hand-woven clothes with flowery and checkered designs.

The traditional pattern including sequences

The bright fabric and colorful/glittery sequences are to show how happy the Kachin people are and how beautiful the women are. "Many Kachin women are very beautiful to us, they deserve to wear things that make them stand out, like the beautiful colorful fabric and glittery decoration on their Kachin dresses." - Multiple Burmese boys living in Yangon.

Sweet rice wine

Sweet and cold drink is very famous drink in Kachin state and made by boiling together black sticky rice, milk and sugar. Also very famous dessert.

Kachin steamed fish

Kachin steamed fish is really famous food not only in Kachin but also in most cities. Variety of Kachin spices, rice powder, tomatoes and fish are wrapped in banana leaf and steamed that’s why really healthy and delicious food.

Kachin pounded beef salad with herbs

Kachin beef salad is very popular food of Kachin. It is made with pound beef, garlic, ginger, shan coriander, soybean, phat phel leaf, green chili and basil are beat up together. If finished all, add lime juice and can be eat together with the rice.