Kyaukse, town, central Myanmar (Burma). Lying on the Zawgyi River, 25 miles (40 km) south of Mandalay, it is served by the Mandalay-Yangon (Rangoon) railway. The first Myanmar (Burmese) probably settled in the area about 800, and local 12th- and 13th-century inscriptions refer to Kyaukse as “the first home.” Remains of pagodas and old cities are found throughout the area. The Shwethalyaung pagoda, built by King Anawrahta (reigned 1044–77), is located in Kyaukse.
The surrounding area consists of a level strip running south from Mandalay along the foothills of the Shan Plateau. The area is located in the heart of Myanmar’s dry zone but is drained by the Panlaung and Zawgyi rivers, which were used for an ancient irrigation-canal system that predates Myanmar settlement in the area. The main lines of the canal system were supposedly dug by order of King Anawrahta in the 11th century. They are the largest of the historic irrigation works in Myanmar. The canalized area, traditionally the main Myanmar granary, was repaired and expanded under the British; it produces high yields of rice. Pop. (1983) 27,850.