Matupi, Myanmar

Matupi (Burmese: မတူပီမြို့; MLCTS: ma. tu pi, pronounced [mətùbì mjo̰]) is a town in the Matupi Township of Chin State in western Myanmar. There are 6 major Chin tribes living in Matupi; the Matu, Mara, Dai, Zotung, Lautu and Khumi tribes.

Matupi

မတူပီ
Town
Nickname(s): 
Batupuei
Matupi
Location in Burma
Coordinates: 21.6°N 93.4432°E / 21.6; 93.4432
Myanmar Myanmar
Division Chin State
DistrictMatupi District
TownshipMatupi Township
Area
 • Total2,316.8 sq mi (6,000 km2)
Elevation
3,560 ft (1,090 m)
Population
 (70,000)
 • Religions
Christianity
Time zoneUTC+6.30 (MST)
ClimateCwa

Transportation

There are two roads leading from Matupi. The first leads to Mindat and is 102 miles (164 km) long), and the second leads to Hakha township (173 miles (278 km) long).[1] Depending on the weather, there are buses that go back and forth between Pakokku located in Magway and Matupi on a weekly basis, although buses may travel between Matupi and Pakokku more than once a week as well.[2]

Minibuses from Pakkokku's Junction 8 bus station depart for Matupi most mornings starting at 7am, passing through Mindat. The road to Mindat is paved and windy and then semi-paved and much more bumpy from Mindat to Matupi. The minibuses return from Matupi to Pakokku each morning. The minibus from Pakokku to Matupi takes 12 to 18 hours depending on weather, engine trouble, etc. Minibuses often caravan in group of 2 to 4 or more in order to support each other in case of engine trouble, etc. between Mindat to Matupi. Two large bridges over rivers have been constructed in the past 18 months, increasing the accessibility between Pakokku and Matupi [as of May 2016].

From time to time, private cars may also go between Pakokku and Matupi and vice versa.

Both roads leading to Matupi are not well-paved roads.[1]

Road near Mindat, which lies between Matupi and Pakokku.

History

Among the villages in Chin State, Matupi (formerly known as Batu Village) was the biggest and most populous. The British Gazette mentioned that there were over 1,000 houses including paddy barns in the village of Batupuei in the period between 1900 and 1930. Under British rule, the township was included in the Hakha district. The Ministry of Home and Religious Affairs granted Matupi the status of township on March 22, 1948.

Batupuei refers to the inhabitants of Matupi, Chin State, Myanmar (Burma). Batu is an ethnic group in Southern Chin State, named after descendants of Batu, the first settler at Batu village. The name Batupuei comes from Batu, the name of the first settler, and Puei meaning "great". According to some local experts from the Batu tribe in Ngala ward, the name Matupi is derived from Batupuei (Badupi); however, due to a misreading of the spelling: Ba into Ma and Puei into Pi in Burmese characters, Matupi became the most widely used name without any historical significance in its meaning.

The Batu tribe migrated from Central Burma or northern Matupi after moving place to place as the Chin people migrated from China. Some Chin people settled along the Chindwin River and Central Burma, while some continued to find the place too mountainous area and hilly. Those Chin People who lived in plain areas called themselves "Asho Chin" and those settling in the western mountainous areas called themselves "Hilly Chin". This Batu tribe is one of the Chin tribes who were living on the delta of the Chindwin River, but then moved to western Burma.

Education

High schools
  • No. 1 Basic Education of Matupi (Longvan ward)
  • No 2. Basic Education of Matupi (Cangbong ward)

References
  1. "Biking the green hills of southern Chin". Frontier Myanmar.
  2. "Visiting Mindat, Myanmar Off The Beaten Path". Longest Bus Rides.
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