Chin & Naga Tribe

There are more than 30 Chin tribes.

Together with the subgroup of Naga this the biggest ethnic crowd in the country. Their New Year festival is one of the better known. They live in the North West close to India. They have some differences in the spoken language which is also similar to the one across the border in India. 

This is a very exotic and colorful part of the country but a very rough mountainous area with very little infrastructure and because of this riots erupt from "time to time". The main reason for all this is the trouble the British created during colonial times similar as they did with the Karen on the east side. 

All together this are about 130 ethnicity which again speak often a very different language it is really a bit difficult to govern this. Actually before the British came there was no major problem since all lived more or less in their autonomic region. A very unique art they make are tribal face tattoos.

A warrior in traditional gear

This tribe in the north west is well known for "tribal face tattoos" silver jewelry and pretty dresses with rich textile and accessories plus hand woven textiles with delicate pattern. Considering the isolated situation they are living in it's amazing because all of this from the very source on was produced locally and that's definitely not easy. All this became great ethnic body decoration, read more.

They sent them missionaries who pulled them over to Christianity and promised them a own state when they cooperate with them against the Bamar Buddhist which as usual never happen, it was just the usual cheating and lying as already the old Romains did with "divide and conquer". 

Unfortunately the English really destroyed the country, they and the US are still trying the same until today. Someone might ask why, the answer is the Myanmar's are proud people they don't make the kotau in front of the colonialist.  

Mountains, deep rough valleys and now plains are around the tribes are typical residents of the hills which are up to 3100 m at Nat Ma Taung in the south part of Chin State. The Manipur river of India delivers most of the water which finally merge with the Chindwin and that one with the Irrawaddy north of Bagan. 

The whole is an ideal adventure destination.

Waterways are full of rapids and tributaries have beautiful waterfalls. The streams are navigable by smaller ships an ideal holiday destination. Some lakes are around but trees are already often cut to make some money. On the other hand the rough terrain makes it difficult for poachers to cut trees means still some teak and other hardwood is left but today Chinese poachers are coming in again with more heavy machinery and it looks not very good for the environment.

A particular attractive showcase is their tribal fashion.