Travel to Burma / Myanmar: Moulmein 2: Mosques, Churches, Schools

A portfolio of mosques, churches, and schools--all in a state of decay.

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There aren't many Muslims left in Moulmein, but there are several surviving mosques, including the waterfront Kaladan Mosque, for Sunni Muslims.

Not far to the south, the Sulati Mosque, also Sunni; between the two is a smaller Shia mosque.

A row of dilapidated Christian churches runs along Upper Main Road.

Some are better taken care of than others.

Hardly a lifetime passed between construction of these churches and the collapse of British colonial rule.

The 1880s were a prosperous decade for Moulmein.

An exotic baptismal font.

A great many of the churches were partnered with schools.

Newer schools are simpler and of teak.

A British-built high school.

A school downtown, originally for Indian students.

The interior of one of the classrooms in the school shown in the previous picture.

First student of the day. He's just climbed the stairs, which lead from the street-level entrance.

Another classroom in the school.

Lesson of the previous day.

A mission school.

A side gate to the same school: the microscope in wrought-iron is a fine symbol of the missionaries' hopes of introducing science to Burma.