Ethnic Study in Myanmar
Mon

          A distinctive branch of Mon-Khamar. The Mons brought both Buddhism and writing, in 15 century to Myanmar. The Mons ruled much of lower Myanmar at Thaton, Mottama and Bago. The Mon was one of the earliest inhabitants of Myanmar and stretched into Thailand, Vietnam and Laos. They were gradually conquered neighbour kingdoms. As in Thailand, which also has a Mon minority, the Mon have almost completely assimilated with the majority and in most ways seem undistinguished from the Myanmar. Mon people are honest and simple. They are especially noted for their deep respect in Buddhism.

Weather
The weather is equatorial climate, annual rainfall is always 150'.

Scenery
The state is generally lowland but very close to sea and other rocky mountains are there.

Traditional Costume
Their costume are very likely to Myanmar but slightly different. Men wear in simple longyi (Sarone) and Myanmar traditional jacket with neat shirt. Ladies wear Longyi (Sarong) and blouse with long sleeve and adorn with long shawl

Location
The state located at the southern side of Myanmar.

Appearance
Black hair, fair complexion

Literature
They have their own literature. They write proverbs, poem jatakas, medicine thesis about herbs and other literature

Worshipment
Buddhists

Art
Crocodile instrument, cymbal, flute, triumph

Mentality
Hospitality , Bravery, Hard Working and Honest

Symbol
Hamsa Bird

Occupation
Farming, Wood Carving, Black Smith, Gold Smith

Attraction
Setse Beach
It lies 24km south of Kyaikkami and 16km south-west of Thanbyuzayat, Mon State. It is a very wide, brown-sand beach that tends towards tidal flats when the shallow surf-line recedes at low tide. The beach is lined by weaving casuarinas trees. Vendors sell fresh young coconuts full of juice, and restaurants serve seafood. It is one of the noted beaches in Myanmar.

Mawlamyine
Mawlamyine is the capital of Mon State and the third largest city of Myanmar. It is situated at the mouth of the "Than Lwin River", 171 km south east of Yangon. It is extremely beautiful and famous for its tropical fruits such as durians, mangoes, rambutans, mangosteens and pomelos. There are many tourist destinations in its vicinity. It is easily accessible by road and rail from Yangon. Sites to see in Mawlamyine are Kyaikthanlan Pagoda, Uzena Pagoda. Kawgoon Caves, which is famous for its countless Buddha images, stalagmites and stalactites.

Kyaikhtiyo (the Golden Rock)
Located about 160 km from Yangon, Kyaikhtiyo is the largest domestic tourism center. The small stupa, 7.3m high, sits atop at the Gold Rock, it stands on gilded boulder precariously perched on the edge of the hill over 3,615 feet above sea level. The pagoda is said to have been built during the life-time of the Buddha over 2400 years ago. There are many legends about the pagodas and Nat (Spirit Gods) shrines along the way from the base camp to the Pagoda. The Season of pilgrimage is from October to May. At that time the platform of the pagoda is lighted with ninety thousnd candles offered to the Buddha and thousands of worshippers gather around the pagoda offering fruits, foods incense to the Buddha.

Kyaikkami
Located 9km northeast of Thanbyuzayat, Kyaikkami was a small coastal resort and missionary center known as Adoniram Judson (1788-1850), an American missionary who developed the first Burmese-English dictionary in 1849 and was the first person to translate the Bible into Burmese. He was sailing to India with his wife when their ship was blown off course, forcing them to land at Kyaikkami. Judson stayed on and established his first mission here. However, the main focus of Kyaikkami is Yele Paya, a metal-roofed Buddhist shrine complex perched over the sea and reached via a long two-level causeway; the lower level is submerged during high tide. Along with 11 Buddha hair relics, the shrine chamber beneath Yele Paya reportedly contains a Buddha image that supposedly floated here on a raft from Sri Lanka in ancient times.

Than Byu Za Yat : War Cemetery
About 34 km from Mawlamyine is Thanbyuzayet, an Allied War Memorial Cemetery for the prisoners of War who lost their lives in the building of famous Death Railway across the River Kwai. Most of them were Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia.

Dead Railway Cemetery
South of Mudon, little traffic is seen and the hills to the east grow more densely forested. Thanbyuzayat (Tin Shelter), 30km south of Mawlamyaing, was the western terminus of the infamous Burma- Siam Railway, dubbed the 'Death Railway' by the thousand of Allied prisoners of war (POWs) and Asian coolies who were forced by the Japanese military to built it.