Matupi
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Matupi Batupuei Batu (Ngala) |
|
| Motto: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:IMG_0284.jpg | |
| Myanmar |  Burma |
|---|---|
| Admin. division | Chin State |
| Second capital of Chin State | |
| Township | Matupi Township |
| Government | |
| - Mayor | |
| Population (2005) | |
| - Religions | Christianity |
Matupi is a town in the Chin State of West Myanmar.
Matupi is the second capital City, one of the townships of Chin State of West Myanmar, South-east Asia. Matupi formerly known as "Batupuei" or "Batu" village before it was promoted to the status of township occupies a large portion of land and includes over 100 major villages in the southern part of Chin State. The Matu Chin tribe is one of the biggest tribes among the Kuki-Chin. From the very beginning all the Chins including Mizo, Zomi, Naga, Laimi, and Asho had lived and hill sides or riverbanks, constituting villages on groups. Among the villages, Matupi (Formerly Known as Batu village) was the biggest and most populous. The British Gazette mentioned that there were over one thousand and houses including paddy barns in the village Matupi between 1900-1930. Hakha book recorded that during those days “Matupi” was the biggest and most populous village in the Chin Hills. Matupi township is located at the western part of Myanmar, and situated between latitudes 21.36'57.93 North and Longitudes 93.26'21.09 East. And it is surrounded: in the east by Magwe division, in the south by Mindat Township, in the south-west by Paletwa township, in the north-west by Mizoram State of India, and in the north by Thantlang and Hakha township. Matupi township is straight-length about 68 miles from north to south, and 47 miles from east to west. The total area of Matupi township is about 2316.8 square miles (or) 1482752 acres. The main roads are from Matupi to Mindat township is 102 miles long and from Matupi to Hakha township is 173 miles long. Under British rule, the township was included in Hakha district Ministry of Home and Religious Affairs issued and ordered to be Matupi township on March 22, 1948. In the township there are five major tribes namely; Matu, Dai, Zotung, Lautu, and Mara (Miram). According to 2009 register, the total population of Matupi township was 50,580 and 6,630 houses in Matupi township.
Nowadays 98% of the population is Christian and the rest are traditional Animist.
January is the coldest month of the year with a mean temperature of around 29 degrees Celsius. April is the hottest month at a mean of 37 degrees Celsius. The total rainfall is about 89.22 inches every year. It is quite cold during the winter months. Sometimes, the temperature drops to as low as two degree Celsius. It is also very windy in winter.
Language, Dialect: Matu people speak Matu dialect and they call themselves as "Matu Ol." "How are you doing?" in Matu (Na sa ding aa?) or Have you eaten?" (Na caak pawn aa?). Among Chin Dialects in Myanmar, Matu dailect is unique. Some words are the same with other Chin dialect. Commonly, one type of Chin dialects can be communicated with another type of Chin dialect ( Haka dialect can be understood by Htantlang, Tiddim dialect can be used to communicate with Ton Zang dialect etc...). For some reason Matu dialect is hard to learn and it is a little bit similar here and there with all other Chin dialects.
In general, Matupi Township is a mountainous region. There is almost no plain in the whole region except hills and mountain ranges. Matupi Township is located at 3560 feet high above sea level. In the township, the highest mountain is the well know Awtaraw mountain 9909 feet in height is the highest peak and Lukil 8408 feet in height is the second highest mountain. Most of streams take their sources form the hills and mountain ranges. The famous rivers of the township are Lemru (Bunglong), and Boinu rivers. The famous streams are Pensong, Kadi, Leatsa, Tilak, Tisi and Vawmpu Streams, Bungtla water fall, the famous water-fall of chin state, is located in Matupi township, Awisi lake, well-known in Matupi township, is located near Ruang village.
The people of Matupi village call themselves Ngala and they speak of their language as Nga-La-ol and of their territory Nga-La-baen. This state of affairs should be contrasted with that of among the northern Chin. The undeveloped state of southern political organization traditionally made travel between areas hazardous and difficult, consequently it was rare for any group of people not bordering upon Myanmar to have any direct access to Burmese markets. They had to depend upon what was handed over from one village and from one region, to the next.
