Tachileik

Tachileik was a border crossing probably used in the opium trade from the Golden Triangle[https://web.archive.org/web/20050209023855/http://www.pbase.com/tsechien/into_burma_ here] and was the town that the drug lord Khun Sa used to live in.Chien, Choo Tse (2004) [http://www.pbase.com/tsechien/into_burma_ "Border Areas & Into Burma Photo Gallery"]

On 24 March 2011 a magnitude 6.8 earthquake struck the region very close to Tachileik. It caused some damage as far away as Chiang Mai.

On 24 March 2012 a bomb wounded 2 people at the Regina Hotel golf course in Tachileik, followed by a second bomb that exploded an hour later.{{cite news|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/SouthAsia/Two-wounded-in-Myanmar-golf-course-bombing/Article1-830128.aspx|title=Two wounded in Myanmar golf course bombing|date=24 March 2012|agency=Agence France-Presse|work=Hindustan Times|access-date=27 March 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120327212430/http://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/SouthAsia/Two-wounded-in-Myanmar-golf-course-bombing/Article1-830128.aspx|archive-date=27 March 2012}}

The border trade post with Thailand opened on 16 March 1996.{{Cite web |title=Border Trade Posts |url=https://www.commerce.gov.mm/en/content/border-trade-posts |access-date=2023-03-05 |website=Ministry of Commerce}} In 2022, total trade volume at the border post stood at {{US$|130.664 million}}.{{Cite web |date=2023-02-24 |title=Border Trade Data |url=https://www.commerce.gov.mm/en/dobt/border-trade-data |access-date=2023-03-05 |website=Ministry of Commerce}}

In 2009, it was reported that Tachileik vendors openly sold endangered animal parts.{{cite web|title=Endangered animal skins and iPods. A day trip to Tachilek, Myanmar|url=http://www.cnngo.com/bangkok/shop/day-trip-tachilek-myanmar-078336|work=CNN|publisher=Turner Broadcasting System, Inc|access-date=26 August 2012|author=Richard S. Ehrlich|date=5 December 2009}} Located immediately following the bridge that divides Myanmar and Thailand is a marketplace{{cite web|title=Tachilek: Gateway to Myanmar|url=http://www.johnpseely.com/travelarticles/myanmar/tachf/tachilek_4|work=John P Seely.com|publisher=John P Seely|access-date=26 August 2012|author=John P Seely|year=2003–2012}}{{cite web|title=Tachilek market Burmaover the border from Mae Sai in Thailand|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yet_3_pQn8I |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/Yet_3_pQn8I |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|work=YouTube|publisher=Google, Inc|access-date=26 August 2012|author=paulandwaralak|date=28 January 2012}}{{cbignore}} that sells a large variety of products, including DVDs, perfume, clothing, luggage and wine.

Tachileik once had the reputation as a distribution nexus for heroin and ya ba (methamphetamine pills) moving from rural Myanmar to the world market.

The main tourist attraction is a large gold-coloured stupa, which, among other things, showcases the seven days of the week. The idea is for a pilgrim to go to the spot which has the day he/she was born known as the planetary post, and do a simple spiritual worship.

West of town there are hiking trails, though currently they are designated for locals, not for tourists. There is an Akha hill tribe, over an hour's walk north-west of Tachilek called Ho Yu. There are no maps and no guides for such excursions, and Burmese authorities frown on foreign visitors leaving the beaten track.

Pasa Wildlife Reserve is located in the eastern side of the district. File:Tachileik Shwedagon Pagoda.jpg

Tachileik has an airport which links to four Burmese cities – Yangon, Mandalay, Taungyi Heho and Kengtung.{{Cite web|url=http://www.myanmartravels.net/timetaken-distances.htm|title=Time Taken and Distances (Car / Flight / Boat)|publisher=myanmartravels.net|access-date=2009-03-15}} By road Tachileik is connected to Kengtung, which lies 106 km (66 miles) to the north, by the Asian Highway route AH2, and via Kengtung west to Taunggyi, capital of Shan State, and east by route AH3 to Mongla and on to Yunnan Province, China.{{Cite web|url=http://www.unescap.org/ttdw/Publications/TIS_pubs/pub_2303/MyanmarB5.pdf|title=Asian Highway in Myanmar|website= unescap.org|access-date=2009-03-15}}{{Cite news|url=http://www.irrawaddy.org/article.php?art_id=15281|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090315073546/http://www.irrawaddy.org/article.php?art_id=15281|url-status=dead|archive-date=2009-03-15|title='Yaa-Baa' Bust in Tachilek|author=Lawi Weng|publisher=The Irrawaddy, March 11, 2009|access-date=2009-03-15}}

{{Weather box

|location = Tachileik

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|rain colour = green

|Jan rain days = 5

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|source 1 = [http://www.worldclimateguide.co.uk/climateguides/burmamyanmar/tachilek.php World Climate Guide]

|date=January 2012}}

File:Tachileik in.jpg

Tachileik can be accessed from the Thai town of Mae Sai, which sits directly south on the other side of the small Mae Sai River. There are two bridges that provide access between Mae Sai and Tachilek.

It is a porous border and is not difficult to wade across the river. Burmese merchants used to be able to cross over and do business in Mae Sai for days at a time. The border is also a popular destination for Westerners who either reside in or are visiting Thailand and who need to get their passport visas renewed.

File:Thailand-Myanmar bridge.jpg

There is no charge for a 'visa run' going from Thailand to Burma on the Thai side, but there is a charge of US$10 or 500 Thai Baht on the Burmese side.{{Cite web|url= http://dominicktao.blogspot.com/2009/02/burma-part-2-checkpoints.html|title=Burma, part 2: Checkpoints|publisher=the Daily Muse|access-date=2009-03-15}}

• Tachileik General Hospital

{{Reflist}}

• {{Commons category-inline}}
• {{Wikivoyage inline|Tachileik}}
• [http://www.maplandia.com/burma/shan/tachilek/tachilek/ Satellite map] Maplandia
• [https://www.panoramio.com/photo/8008865 Picture]

{{Borders of Myanmar}}

{{Border Crossings of Myanmar}}

{{Shan State}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Populated places in Shan State

Category:Myanmar–Thailand border crossings

Category:Township capitals of Myanmar