Tachileik
Encyclopedia
Tachileik is a border town
in the Shan State
of eastern Burma (Myanmar). It is the administrative seat of Tachileik Township
and Tachileik District
.
, and was the home of the drug lord Khun Sa
.
On March 24, 2011 a magnitude 6.8 earthquake struck the region very close to Tachileik. It caused some damage as far away as Chiang Rai
.
which links to three Burmese cities - Yangon
, Mandalay
, and Kengtung. By road Tachileik is connected to Kengtung, which lies 106 km (66 miles] to the north, by the Asian Highway route AH2, and via Kengtung west to Taunggyi
, capital of Shan State, and east by route AH3 to Mongla and on to Yunnan Province, China
.
town of Mae Sai
, which sits directly south on the other side of the small Mae Sai River
. There are two bridge
s that provide access between Mae Sai and Tachilek, one is actively used for border crossing
s and the other newer one was not yet being utilized as of January 2007. It may be possible for tourists to take a bicycle
across the bridge, but logistically it would be difficult. It is a porous border and is actually not difficult to wade across the river. Burmese
merchant
s used to be able to cross over and do business
in Mae Sai for days at a time. The border is also a popular destination for westerners (referred to locally as farang
) who either reside in or are visiting Thailand
and who need to get their passport
visa
s renewed.
There is no charge for a 'visa run' going from Thailand to Burma on the Thai side, but there is a charge of US$10 or 500 Thai Baht on the Burmese side.
is a large gold
-colored stupa
, Wat Phra That Doi, which, among other things, showcases the seven days of the week
. The idea is for a pilgrim
to go to the spot which has the day he/she was born known as the planetary post
, and do a simple spiritual ritual.
Tachileik has a reputation as being a rough town, since it is a major distribution point for heroin and ya ba
(speed
pills) moving from Myanmar to the world market. The reports say the drugs are manufactured and distributed by a number of armed cease-fire groups in Shan State, in particular the United Wa State Army
. In reality, Tachilek is not dangerous, and even solo forays out at night are safe. (UWSA).
Border town
A border town is a town or city close to the boundary between two countries, states or regions. Usually the term implies that it is one of the things the town is most famous for. Border towns can have highly cosmopolitan communities, a feature they share with port cities...
in the Shan State
Shan State
Shan State is a state of Burma . Shan State borders China to the north, Laos to the east, and Thailand to the south, and five administrative divisions of Burma in the west. Largest of the 14 administrative divisions by land area, Shan State covers 155,800 km², almost a quarter of the total...
of eastern Burma (Myanmar). It is the administrative seat of Tachileik Township
Tachileik Township
Tachileik Township is a township of Tachileik District in the Shan State of Myanmar. The principal town is Tachileik....
and Tachileik District
Tachileik District
Tachileik District is a district of the Shan State in Myanmar. It consists of 1 towns and 295 villages. It is one of the 4 districts of Eastern Shan State.-Townships:The district contains the following townships:*Tachileik Township...
.
History
Tachileik was a border crossing used in the opium trade from the Golden TriangleGolden Triangle (Southeast Asia)
The Golden Triangle is one of Asia's two main illicit opium-producing areas. It is an area of around that overlaps the mountains of four countries of Southeast Asia: Burma, Vietnam, Laos, and Thailand. Along with Afghanistan in the Golden Crescent and Pakistan, it has been one of the most...
, and was the home of the drug lord Khun Sa
Khun Sa
Khun Sa , also known as Chang Chi-fu was a Burmese warlord. He was born in Loi Maw of Mongyai. He was also dubbed the "Opium King" due to his opium trading in the so-called Golden Triangle. He was also the leader of the Shan United Army and the Mong Tai Army.- Biography :Khun Sa was born to a...
.
On March 24, 2011 a magnitude 6.8 earthquake struck the region very close to Tachileik. It caused some damage as far away as Chiang Rai
Chiang Rai
-Demographics:Official Population count: According to the Thailand National Statistical Office, as of September 2010, Chiang Rai municipal district has a population of 199,699...
.
Climate
Transport
Tachileik has an airportAirport
An airport is a location where aircraft such as fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and blimps take off and land. Aircraft may be stored or maintained at an airport...
which links to three Burmese cities - Yangon
Yangon
Yangon is a former capital of Burma and the capital of Yangon Region . Although the military government has officially relocated the capital to Naypyidaw since March 2006, Yangon, with a population of over four million, continues to be the country's largest city and the most important commercial...
, Mandalay
Mandalay
Mandalay is the second-largest city and the last royal capital of Burma. Located north of Yangon on the east bank of the Irrawaddy River, the city has a population of one million, and is the capital of Mandalay Region ....
, and Kengtung. By road Tachileik is connected to Kengtung, which lies 106 km (66 miles] to the north, by the Asian Highway route AH2, and via Kengtung west to Taunggyi
Taunggyi
-Transportation:The main access to Taunggyi is by road. A railway line that passes through Taunggyi was recently built in 1995, but at the moment it offers no passenger service. Regular railway passenger service to the rest of the country is through the town of Shwenyaung, twelve miles to the...
, capital of Shan State, and east by route AH3 to Mongla and on to Yunnan Province, China
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
.
Border crossing
Tachileik can be accessed from the ThaiThailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
town of Mae Sai
Mae Sai
Mae Sai is the northernmost district of Chiang Rai Province in northern Thailand. The town of Mae Sai is a major border crossing between Thailand and Burma...
, which sits directly south on the other side of the small Mae Sai River
Mae Sai River
Mae Sai River is a river that is the natural border between Thailand and Myanmar. It passes under Phahonyothin Road.Upstream of the Mae Sai River was located at Myanmar....
. There are two bridge
Bridge
A bridge is a structure built to span physical obstacles such as a body of water, valley, or road, for the purpose of providing passage over the obstacle...
s that provide access between Mae Sai and Tachilek, one is actively used for border crossing
Border Crossing
Border Crossing may refer to:* Border Crossing , an album by saxophonist Mike Osborne.* Border Crossing , a UK hip hop collective musical group.* Border Crossing , a 2001 novel by English author Pat Barker....
s and the other newer one was not yet being utilized as of January 2007. It may be possible for tourists to take a bicycle
Bicycle
A bicycle, also known as a bike, pushbike or cycle, is a human-powered, pedal-driven, single-track vehicle, having two wheels attached to a frame, one behind the other. A person who rides a bicycle is called a cyclist, or bicyclist....
across the bridge, but logistically it would be difficult. It is a porous border and is actually not difficult to wade across the river. Burmese
Myanmar
Burma , officially the Republic of the Union of Myanmar , is a country in Southeast Asia. Burma is bordered by China on the northeast, Laos on the east, Thailand on the southeast, Bangladesh on the west, India on the northwest, the Bay of Bengal to the southwest, and the Andaman Sea on the south....
merchant
Merchant
A merchant is a businessperson who trades in commodities that were produced by others, in order to earn a profit.Merchants can be one of two types:# A wholesale merchant operates in the chain between producer and retail merchant...
s used to be able to cross over and do business
Business
A business is an organization engaged in the trade of goods, services, or both to consumers. Businesses are predominant in capitalist economies, where most of them are privately owned and administered to earn profit to increase the wealth of their owners. Businesses may also be not-for-profit...
in Mae Sai for days at a time. The border is also a popular destination for westerners (referred to locally as farang
Farang
Farang , also spelled falang, is the generic Thai word for a Westerner. A general term for foreigners is khon tang prathet . There is no expressly negative or positive implication in the word itself. However when it is used along with other words, it can bring a negative meaning depending on...
) who either reside in or are visiting Thailand
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
and who need to get their passport
Passport
A passport is a document, issued by a national government, which certifies, for the purpose of international travel, the identity and nationality of its holder. The elements of identity are name, date of birth, sex, and place of birth....
visa
Visa (document)
A visa is a document showing that a person is authorized to enter the territory for which it was issued, subject to permission of an immigration official at the time of actual entry. The authorization may be a document, but more commonly it is a stamp endorsed in the applicant's passport...
s renewed.
There is no charge for a 'visa run' going from Thailand to Burma on the Thai side, but there is a charge of US$10 or 500 Thai Baht on the Burmese side.
Tourism
The crowning tourist attractionTourist attraction
A tourist attraction is a place of interest where tourists visit, typically for its inherent or exhibited cultural value, historical significance, natural or built beauty, or amusement opportunities....
is a large gold
Gold
Gold is a chemical element with the symbol Au and an atomic number of 79. Gold is a dense, soft, shiny, malleable and ductile metal. Pure gold has a bright yellow color and luster traditionally considered attractive, which it maintains without oxidizing in air or water. Chemically, gold is a...
-colored stupa
Stupa
A stupa is a mound-like structure containing Buddhist relics, typically the remains of Buddha, used by Buddhists as a place of worship....
, Wat Phra That Doi, which, among other things, showcases the seven days of the week
Week-day names
The names of the days of the week from the Roman period have been both named after the seven planets of classical astronomy and numbered, beginning with Monday. In Slavic languages, a numbering system was adopted, but beginning with Monday. There was an even older tradition of names in Ancient...
. The idea is for a pilgrim
Pilgrim
A pilgrim is a traveler who is on a journey to a holy place. Typically, this is a physical journeying to some place of special significance to the adherent of a particular religious belief system...
to go to the spot which has the day he/she was born known as the planetary post
Planet
A planet is a celestial body orbiting a star or stellar remnant that is massive enough to be rounded by its own gravity, is not massive enough to cause thermonuclear fusion, and has cleared its neighbouring region of planetesimals.The term planet is ancient, with ties to history, science,...
, and do a simple spiritual ritual.
Economy
Tachileik has retained the habit of allowing vendors to openly sell endangered animal parts. It has been suggested by some that this trade is fueled by the many Chinese who frequent the area.Tachileik has a reputation as being a rough town, since it is a major distribution point for heroin and ya ba
Yaba (drug)
Ya ba are tablets containing a mixture of methamphetamine and caffeine.-Alternative names:...
(speed
Speed
In kinematics, the speed of an object is the magnitude of its velocity ; it is thus a scalar quantity. The average speed of an object in an interval of time is the distance traveled by the object divided by the duration of the interval; the instantaneous speed is the limit of the average speed as...
pills) moving from Myanmar to the world market. The reports say the drugs are manufactured and distributed by a number of armed cease-fire groups in Shan State, in particular the United Wa State Army
United Wa State Army
The United Wa State Army is an ethnic minority army of an estimated 30,000 Wa soldiers of Myanmar's Special Region No. 2 led by Bao Youxiang . There is no recognised Wa State in Myanmar, which is divided into divisions, states, and special regions...
. In reality, Tachilek is not dangerous, and even solo forays out at night are safe. (UWSA).
External links
- Satellite map Maplandia