Tamu

Tamu stands in the northern Kabaw Valley, at the foot of the hills leading west to Manipur. The valley lies in the upper Chindwin basin and forms a natural passage between the Manipuri highlands and Burma, following the low ground between ranges of wooded hills. Its position made it a contested frontier, through which armies and travellers passed between the two countries.

Burmese and Manipuri rulers both sought control of Kabaw. Under the Konbaung dynasty its inhabitants were called upon to provide food and service for Burmese armies marching toward Manipur. After the First Anglo-Burmese War, the valley again became the subject of negotiations; in 1834 the British returned it to Burma, and Tamu fell on the Burmese side of the agreed boundary.