Mindat (, ) is a town in Chin State of western Myanmar (Burma). It is the administrative seat of Mindat Township and Mindat District. The inhabitants speak the Kʼchò language.
History In 2021, the town was the site of the battle of Mindat during the Myanmar civil war (2021–present).
People
The people living in Mindat are called K'Cho (Cho), who are divided into 3 regions: Mün, Daai, and Kaang. The K'Cho people are known for their rare tradition of females having their faces tattooed. However, this tradition has not been practiced since 1962, and face tattoos are now seen only on elderly women. Beginning in the early 21st century, many of the K'Cho people have migrated to many different parts of the world, including the United States, Australia, Denmark, Norway, New Zealand, Malaysia, and other countries. A girl would decide when she was ready to have her face tattooed. She would take an offering to the woman who gave the tattoos.
The entire face could be tattooed in as little as an hour. The time depended on how many breaks the girl needed, since it is a painful procedure. The time is estimated, since they did not have clocks in those days. Their face tattoo is done with black ink from charcoal mixed with some other things to keep it safe for the skin, and is done with lime/lemon/cane thorns.
Climate
Mindat has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen climate classification Cwa). Temperatures are warm for most of the year, but the winter months (November–February) are cooler. There is a winter dry season (December–May) and a summer wet season (June–November).
Geography The main part of the town runs along the ridge of a mountain. The paved road runs from Pakokku to Matupi.
Transport
Bus There is a bus station with direct buses to Pakokku or Matupi. These run mainly in the morning. The Pakokku bus route is approximately 4.5 hours, and the Matupi bus route is approximately 5 hours.
Walking trails Before the road was built and regular bus service began, students walked from Mindat to the advanced schools in Pakokku. The route was a walking trail and took 2 to 3 days.
Religion
There are various religions in the town. Missionaries walk or motorbike to outlying villages to convert people.
Catholicism There is a Catholic church, which maintains a nursery school and living quarters for the elderly.
Buddhism There are three Buddhist monasteries: one in the Western Quarter, another in the Sanpya Quarter, and the last one in the Eastern Quarter.
Notable residents San Yu Htwe, Olympic archer in the 2016 Summer Olympics
References
External links Satellite map at Maplandia.com