Myanmar (Burma) is burdened by a weirdly despotic government and blessed with a populace eager to receive visitors. Its beauties are heart-stirring: the Plain of Temples at Bagan; Mandalay; Yangon's Shwedagon Temple; and Inle Lake, famed for its leg rowers. And it's still true, as Kipling said, "This is Burma, and it will be quite unlike any land you know."

• TOTAL AREA: 678,500 sq km

• LAND AREA: 657,740 sq km

• WATER AREA: 20,760 sq km

• POPULATION: 47,382,633

• RELIGIONS: Buddhist 89%, Christian 4% (Baptist 3%, Roman Catholic 1%), Muslim 4%, animist 1%, other 2%

• LANGUAGES: Burmese, minority ethnic groups have their own languages

• GOVERNMENT TYPE: Military Junta

• CAPITAL CITY: Rangoon

• OFFICIAL CURRENCY: kyat (MMK)

• TIME ZONE: GMT/UTC +6.5