Kalay: History
According to tradition, Kalay was established as a town on 3 February 966 (Sunday, the 5th of waning of Tabodwe 328 ME). A votive tablet unearthed in Kalay in 1983, with a Mon language
by ညောင်ဦး စောရဟန်း the first ruler was his son, the inscription, refers to the "Aniruddha, the Great King".
Kale was an independent Shan state between the 14th–16th centuries.
During the Second World War, Kalay was an important regrouping point for the British during their retreat from Burma in 1942 because of the relatively easier access to India along the Manipur River (the alternative was to march through malarial forests from Kalewa to Tamu).
On 19 September 2007, 200 monks marched through the streets of Kalay as a part of the 2007 Burmese anti-government protests. Over the next few days, the monks were joined by thousands of people of the Chin ethnic group. On 24 September, students marched from Kalay University with posters and protested, demanding the release of Aung San Suu Kyi and two other political prisoners.
In July 2015, a monsoon rain triggered a natural disaster, and a state of emergency was declared in four regions of the country. The disaster caused a flash flood in Kalay and surrounding areas. Kalay was devastated by the disaster.