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Burma is a secretive country of some 43 million people which receives relatively few tourists because of its ramshackle infrastructure and poor human rights record. Those who make the journey will discover some of Asia's most dazzling pagodas and ruined remnants of a once powerful civilisation. The capital, Rangoon (Yangon) is a bustling city of crumbling colonial buildings, crowded markets and chaotic traffic.
The Swedagon Pagoda dominates the sprawling capital, a massive golden spire rising 100 metres over the city. The city boasts some fine parks and lakes, cheap food and plenty to see and do. Shopping opportunities are limited but the excellent Bogyoke market has a good range of Burmese tapestries and handicrafts.
Rangoon's most famous hotel, The Strand, ranks along side the Raffles in Singapore and the Oriental in Bangkok as one of Asia's classic colonial era hotels.
Click here to read our review of The Strand Hotel and make online bookings.
Burma is serviced by limited air routes with most travelers entering from Bangkok by air. Within Burma air services are expensive with a poor safety record. The road network is poor by western standards but popular spots like Mandalay and Bagan are accessible by road.
Britain conquered Burma over a period of 62 years (1824-1886) and incorporated it into its Indian Empire. Burma was administered as a province of India until 1937 when it became a separate, self-governing colony; independence from the Commonwealth was attained in 1948.
General NE WIN dominated the government from 1962 to 1988, first as military ruler, then as self-appointed president, and later as political kingpin. Despite multiparty legislative elections in 1990 that resulted in the main opposition party - the National League for Democracy (NLD) - winning a landslide victory, the ruling junta refused to hand over power.
NLD leader and Nobel Peace Prize recipient AUNG SAN SUU KYI, who was under house arrest from 1989 to 1995 and 2000 to 2002, was imprisoned in May 2003 and is currently under house arrest.
Burma is a resource-rich country that suffers from government controls, inefficient economic policies, and abject rural poverty.
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HOTEL RESERVATIONS 
