Paletwa is one of the westernmost towns of Myanmar, in Chin State 18 kilometres from the border with Bangladesh. From the other side of the border, lies Chittagong Division of Bangladesh. Paletwa town's population in 2014 was about 97,000. The Arakan Army launched an attack at the town on November 13, 2023 and captured it on 15 January, 2024 during the Myanmar Civil War.

Demographics

Rakhine is the Lingua Franca of the region, while Kuki-Chin languages are spoken mostly in the hills. The west of the town hosts many refugees that have fled from Rakhine state. The literacy rate is 65% (2017). Neighboring villages such as Kan Lay (ကန်းလေ) can be reached only by foot in about an hour.

Connectivity

Paletwa is connected to the Rakhine state only by boat. It leaves Kyauktaw every morning and reaches Paletwa in the afternoon, running up the Kaladan River. The road to Matupi is reported to be on the brink of completion. Though, there is no direct evidence of it. Paletwa is part of an ongoing infrastructure project Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project that will connect it to the Indian state of Mizoram.

Tourism

Despite its serene natural surroundings, Paletwa sees few tourists. The town has one hotel, but restrictive policies and limited accessibility make travel to the area a challenge.