South East Asian Trips

Rivers in Myanmar are legend especially the mighty Ayeyarwady or Irrawaddy River and this not only since British colonial times. Due to the topology of Myanmar there are plenty rivers of Myanmar. Not every river in Myanmar is as big as the Ayeyarwady or Irrawaddy River.

The Mekong river bordering Laos and Myanmar is one of the longest in Asia. The major rivers of Myanmar are Ayeyarwady, Irrawaddy, Salween, Thanlwin, Sittoung, Sittang, Mekong, Kaladan, Mogaung, Chindwin.

Myanmar's Salween or Thanlwin river at the Border to Thailand, the Sittoung or Sittang River, emptying the water near Bago into the Andaman Sea. Plus the Mekong River in the north east, the Kaladan River in Rhakine or Arakan which meets the Bay of Bengal at Sittwe and countless small rivers in Myanmar.

The Northern Irrawaddy or Ayeyarwady River and Chindwin

Myanmar Irrawaddy - Ayeyarwady river is of all the great rivers of Indo-China the greatest. Through Myanmar it flows for a thousand miles, in a broad navigable stream, from the " confluence - in the far north, where, emerging from its mysterious birthplace, it unites with many tributary until pouring into the Andaman Sea through the huge delta. Born in the Himalaya mountains, follow its destiny seaward, and when they sweep down to its water's edge, or tower mistily on its wide horizon. Lessening gradually from altitudes of eternal snow which finally sink with this great Myanmar river into the ocean.

It is no light undertaking to describe this majestic Myanmar River. It's length and volume, its importance as an artery of Myanmar, its rise and fall--these are easily recorded facts. The beauty of its waters, of its hills and forests and precipitous heights, of its vast spaces that bring a calm to the most fretful spirit, of the sunsets that wrap it in beautiful color-these are things for which words are greatly inadequate.

A relaxing and enjoyable journey, maybe spiced up with some Myanmar river adventure would be to float down the mighty Irrawaddy - Ayeyarwady river. A old Chinese once said, "I know the happiness of fishes in the river through my own joy, when I am walking along the same river." In fact walking along or drifting on a river is a great way to get in touch with nature.

River life in Myanmar or Burma is typical rural countryside. A long distances the Irrawaddy - Ayeyarwady river slowly moves through wilderness. Passing villages and towns on the way to the Irrawaddy - Ayeyarwady delta around Yangon.

Traveling the Irrawaddy - Ayeyarwady river is a different travel than river travel in other countries since nothing has changed since colonial times, even speed boats didn't come in jet. Traveling Irrawaddy - Ayeyarwady river by canoeing, kayaking or maybe with a inflatable boat.

In the last several decades the Irrawaddy - Ayeyarwady river, which is the longest river in Myanmar and has one of the most interesting river deltas of the world became more and more difficult to travel.

During English colonial times when most of river travel was done by ships of the legendary "Irrawaddy Flotilla Company" the Myanmar rivers were maintained, in particular shifting sand banks where handled but since the communists took over in Myanmar it only was decay left over.

Even until now Irrawaddy - Ayeyarwady river traveling is very limited. For travelers only the Irrawaddy - Ayeyarwady river stretch from Bagan to Mandalay is used. In the vicinity of Mandalay river travel is very busy up until about Myitkyina and Monywa after it becomes only minimal.

Hundred of years ago the Myanmar wandered down the tributary sources of the Upper Irrawaddy - Ayeyarwady river finally to coalesce in the valley of the great river. The Irrawaddy - Ayeyarwady river, then, as it flows ocean ward, ever accompanied by its hills, is symbolic in a profound sense of the history of Myanmar. Counting all together means the Irrawaddy or Ayeyarwady river is longest river in Myanmar

On its banks these rude Mongol wanderers grew up to civilization under the influence of Hindu exiles from India ; a civilization to which the ruins of ancient cities bear testimony to this day. About its northern reaches there was fought out the long battle of Burmese supremacy over the rival Shan's ; a struggle of many centuries and varying fortunes in which the prize was the great Myanmar river itself.

Shan kingdoms once powerful in the north, and as early as the first century of the Christian era in political relation with China.

fell in the struggle, and save in tattered chronicles of small value, their memory has gone out from among their people. Down the Myanmar river valley of the Irrawaddy - Ayeyarwady, too, there swept the all-but ­engulfing tide of the Chinese invasions, in one of the earliest of which there perished Bagan, the greatest of all Myanmar or Burmese capitals. And it has been up Myanmar's Irrawaddy - Ayeyarwady river from the sea, reversing as in India the immemorial tradition of conquest, that the British power has advanced.

More Rivers of Myanmar: Ayeyarwady, Irrawaddy, Salween, Thanlwin, Sittoung, Sittang, Mekong, Kaladan, Mogaung, Chindwin, river, Asia, Burma river, Myanmar, Burma rivers.