Kengtung Town
This article has been extracted from THE IMPERIAL GAZETTEER OF INDIA , 1908. OXFORD, AT THE CLARENDON PRESS. |
Note: National, provincial and district boundaries have changed considerably since 1908. Typically, old states, ‘divisions’ and districts have been broken into smaller units, and many tahsils upgraded to districts. Some units have since been renamed. Therefore, this article is being posted mainly for its historical value.
Kengtung Town
Capital of Kengtung State in the Southern Shan States, Burma, situated in 21 degree 18' N. and 99 degree 45' E., towards the southern end of the central valley of the State. The town, which lies on low, undulating ground, was built early in the nineteenth century, and in 1901 had a population of 5,695. It is a straggling- area, containing a few brick buildings and the Sawbwa's haw or palace of timber surrounded by a brick wall. Kengtung has till recently been the head-quarters of an Assistant Superintendent. It was a post of importance in the eighteenth century, and was fortified strongly by Alaungpaya with a thick wall and a moat. It is still an important trading centre. The present station of Kengtung is a quarter of a mile away, and contains the quarters of the police. The cantonment is about 7 miles west of the town. The place is very unhealthy, and a site for a new station has been found on a spur (Loi Mwe) at an altitude of 5,500 feet, 12 miles south-east of Kengtung town. There is room here for both the civil station and the cantonment, and a good supply of drinking-water is obtainable. The garrison of Kengtung has recently been replaced by military police.
