Key Facts About Phunom Village
Admin
November 17, 2025
Key Facts About Phunom Village
- Location
- Phunom (also spelled ဖူနွမ်း) is in Tedim Township, which is part of Falam District, in Chin State, Myanmar.
- It lies near the border with India.
- The village elevation is quite high — about 4,921 ft (almost 1,500 m).
- Population and Demographics
- According to sources, the Phunom village tract had a population of 2,149 people (991 males and 1,158 females) per the 2014 census.
- All (or nearly all) the inhabitants are Christians.
- History
- The village was originally founded as Hiang Zang in AD 1650.
- Around 1889, the village moved slightly (about 0.5 km north) and was renamed Phunom.
- The name “Phunom” is said to mean “There is luck here” (“PHUN” = luck, “OM” = here).
- In the First World War, some men from Phunom volunteered for the Allied Labour Corps under the British.
- Geography & Climate
- The landscape is mountainous, with valleys and rivers.
- It has three main seasons:
- Cool — November to February
- Hot — March to May
- Rainy — June to October
- Reported temperature extremes are quite wide (per one source, though this may be anecdotal): as low as ~20 °F in the cold season, up to ~80 °F in the hot season.
- Economy & Agriculture
- The villagers are predominantly farmers. Key crops include:
- Beans, corn
- Fruits/vegetables like apples, avocados, tomatoes, cauliflower, cabbage, sunflowers, etc.
- Rice is the staple food. Traditionally, it was cooked over wood fires, though many households now use electricity.
- Education
- Primary school opened on June 12, 1928.
- There are various other schooling levels: middle school (public and private), a junior high branch, and a high school opened in 2013.
- Community & Culture
- Religious life is central: the community is Christian, and their Harvest Festival “Khuado” is especially important.
- According to their local website, after the 2021 military coup in Myanmar, the officially appointed village leader was removed. In response, Phunom Christian Unity (PCU) stepped in to provide leadership.
- There was a reported bombing incident in 2024: a bomb was dropped near a school with over 200 students present, but it reportedly landed ~200 feet away, and nobody was killed.
Significance & Observations
- Strategic location: Being near the Indian border and in a mountainous region, Phunom is relatively remote but potentially strategically significant.
- Resilient community: Despite the political turmoil in Myanmar (especially post-coup), Phunom’s community has remained active, with local structures (like PCU) stepping in to maintain education and leadership.
- Rich cultural history: With origins back to the 17th century and active participation in global events (WWI), Phunom is not just a remote village — it has deep historical roots.