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Rakhine State

Rakhine State
ရခိုင်ပြည်နယ်
Arakan State
State
Myanma transcription(s)
 • Arakanese ra-khai-pray-nay
Flag of Rakhine State
Flag
Official seal of Rakhine State
Seal
Location of Rakhine State in Myanmar (Burma)
Location of Rakhine State in Myanmar (Burma)
Coordinates: 19°30′N 94°0′E / 19.500°N 94.000°E / 19.500; 94.000Coordinates: 19°30′N 94°0′E / 19.500°N 94.000°E / 19.500; 94.000
Country  Myanmar
Region West coastal
Capital Sittwe
Government
 • Chief Minister Nyi Pu (NLD)
 • Legislature Rakhine State Hluttaw
Area
 • Total 36,778.0 km2 (14,200.1 sq mi)
Area rank 8th
Population (2014 Census)
 • Total 3,188,807
 • Rank 8th
Demographics
 • Ethnicities Rakhine, Kaman, Mro, Khami, Rohingya and others
 • Religions Theravada Buddhism, Islam, Hinduism and others
Time zone MMT (UTC+06:30)
Website rakhinestate.gov.mm

Rakhine State (Burmese: ရခိုင်ပြည်နယ်; MLCTS: ra_khai_pray_nay, Rakhine pronunciation [ɹəkʰàiɴ pɹènè]; Burmese pronunciation: [jəkʰàiɴ pjìnɛ̀]; formerly Arakan) is a state in Myanmar (Burma). Situated on the western coast, it is bordered by Chin State to the north, Magway Region, Bago Region and Ayeyarwady Region to the east, the Bay of Bengal to the west, and the Chittagong Division of Bangladesh to the northwest. It is located approximately between latitudes 17°30' north and 21°30' north and east longitudes 92°10' east and 94°50' east. The Arakan Mountains, rising to 3,063 metres (10,049 ft) at Victoria Peak, separate Rakhine State from central Burma. Off the coast of Rakhine State there are some fairly large islands such as Cheduba and Myingun Island. Rakhine State has an area of 36,762 square kilometres (14,194 sq mi) and its capital is Sittwe.

The term Rakhine is believed to have been derived from the Pali word Rakkhapura (Sanskrit Raksapura), meaning "Land of Ogres" (Rakshas), possibly a pejorative referring to the original Negrito inhabitants. In Hindu religious Text, Austric Race (Austroloid Race-Aborigine Of eastern India) was called Rakshas (Orge). The Pali word "Rakkhapura" ("Rakkhita") means "land of the people of Rakhasa" (also Rakkha, Rakhaing). They were given this name in honour of their preservation of their national heritage and ethics or morality. The word Rakhine means, "one who maintains his own race." In the Rakhine language, the land is called Rakhinepray, the ethnic Rakhine are called Rakhinetha.


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