Mount Zwegabin

Mount Zwegabin is the highest point in the region. The area around Mount Zwegabin, is quite densely populated, with 155 inhabitants per square kilometer. The closest major city is Hpa-an, 8.2 km northwest of Mount Zwegabin. The surroundings around the mountains are a mosaic of agricultural land and natural vegetation.

Mount Zwegabin is a mountain in Myanmar. It is located in Kayin State, in the southern part of the country, around 450 km south of the capital Naypyidaw. The top of Zwegabin is 722 metres above sea level. The terrain around Mount Zwegabin is flat to the northwest, but hilly to the southeast.

Kayin people comprise of different 11 ethnic groups such as Kayin, Kayinpyu, Pa-Le-Chi, Mon Kayin (Sarpyu), Sgaw, Ta-Lay-Pwa, Paku, Pwo, Monnepwa, Monpwa and Shu. Among them, the largest Sgaw and Pwo have differences of dialect within their language. The Sgaw or Skaw are Burmese Kayin, their (one third) of population live in Karen State or administrative division. Over 1 million has settlements in the mountain of Karen State, in the shan uplands, and to a lesser extend in the Irrawaddy and Sittaung deltas. Predominantly Sagaw are Christian and mainly live in hills area.

The Pwo Karen inhabits primarily the Irrawaddy delta. Predominantly Pwo Karen are Buddhist. Most of Kayin people are Buddhist or Buddhist – animist. Minority of Kayin are Chrisitian and Mulism. Karen dialects occupy the Tibeto-Burman branch of Sino-Tibetan languages. While the Karen people speak at least 12 dialects, the Karen language has three main branches; Sgaw, Pwo, and Pa’o.Kayin men wear their headdresses with tassels hanging loose on the right side of the head. They wear trousers, longyis, shirts and tunics, which can be either pullover-type or jacket-type. Their longyis have horizontal stripes with a parallel strip in the middle. Kayin women dress in long tunics and longyis, with headbands that have both ends hanging in the front.

The most important Karen celebrations are the Karen New Year, celebrated in December or January, the Karen State Day celebrated on November 7, and the wrist-tying ceremony, celebrated between July and September.Mount Zwekabin, Caves and Pagodas are the most attractive in Kayin State for visitors.