Kawlin: History
Under the Burmese monarchy governors of Kawlin were by royal appointment. The site of the old town where they ruled is about a mile west of Kawlin, and is reduced to a village. The new town of Kawlin was formed by consolidating the former villages of Taungin (တောင်အင်း) and Northin (မြောက်အင်းခေါ်).
On 6 November 2023, the town came fully under control of the People’s Defense Forces (PDF) during the ongoing civil war. By December 2023, it was restored to full civilian rule. However, Tatmadaw forces recaptured the town on February 10, 2024. Around 80 percent of the town has reportedly been destroyed when Tatmadaw forces started burning homes in the aftermath of their recapture of the town.