 |
 Mandalay, the capital city of the last reigning dynasty of Konbaung Kings, is situated on the eastern bank of the Ayeyarwaddy River in central Myanmar. Towards the east, there are the blue Shan mountain ranges, which give the city a physical dignity. To the west there is Myanmar's life stream, the mighty Ayeyarwaddy flowing by. Also known as the Golden City and the capital of Upper Myanmar. It was founded in 1857 by King Mindon. Today, it is the second largest city boasting its rich cultural heritage. It is also the commercial center with rail, road, river and air links to all parts of the country. |
| |
 |
| |
| Mandalay Hill |
| Mandalay Hill, 230 metres in elevation, commands a magnificent view of the city and surrounding countryside. The legend has it that the Buddha, on his visit, had made a prophecy that a great city would be founded at the foot of this hill. Tourist Information |
| Back To Top |
| |
| Mandalay Palace |
| The whole palace complex was destroyed by fire during the War. The palace walls, the four gates and the moat still stand today as evidence of the majestic Palace City. A number of palace buildings have been reconstructed within the premises. Tourist Information |
| Back To Top |
| |
| Shwenandaw Monastery |
| This beautifully built monastery was originally inside the palace compund. King Thibaw had it moved to its present site east of the palace in 1879 after his father's death. Tourist Information |
| Back To Top |
| |
| Mahamuni Pagoda |
| King Bodawpaya built this Pagoda in 1784 to house the Mahamuni Buddha Image brought from Rakhine State. Being the most revered Pagoda in Mandalay, the early morning ritual of washing the face of the Buddha's image draws a daily crowd of devotees. Tourist Information - Open 6am-8pm everyday
- Entrance Fee : US$ 4
|
| Back To Top |
| |
| Kuthodaw pagoda |
| King Mindon built this Pagoda in 1868, surrounding it with 729 marble slabs inscribed with the Tipitaka text (the Three Baskets of the Buddhist Pali canon). It is often called the "World's Biggest Book." Tourist Information - Open 6am-8pm everyday
- Entrance Fee : US$ 5
|
| Back To Top |
| |
| Atu-ma-shi Monastery |
| Not too far from the Kuthodaw pagoda is the Atu-ma-shi Monastery (the incomparable Monastery), built in 1879 by King Mindon, and partially destroyed by fire in 1890. It was rebuilt in 1996. |
| Back To Top |
| |
| Kyauktawgyi Pagoda |
| Kyauktawgyi pagoda ( the pagoda of the Great Marble Image), also built by King Mindon, stands at the foot of Mandalay hill. Built in 1865, the Pagoda is so called because it houses a large image of the Buddha sculpted from a single block of beautiful Sagyin marble. |
| Back To Top |
| |
| U Bein Bridge |
| South of Mandalay is the famous U Bein Bridge, constructed totally from Teak. During the Dry season the bridge crosses dry land. U Bein was the mayor at the time of moving the city from Innwa to Amarapura and he wisely salvaged materials from the deserted Innwa Palace to build this long footbridge. |
| Back To Top |
| |
| Pahtodawgyi Pagoda |
| In the southern part of Amarapura, the Pahtodawgyi Pagoda modeled on the Mahazedi of Sri Lanka. The foundation of this pagoda was laid by King Bagyidaw and his Queen on 2nd March 1820. The pagoda was completed on 19th February 1824. The base measures 180 feet in circumference, and the height also measures 180 feet. The official title of the pagoda is Maha Vijayaramsi. This well preserved pagoda stood outside the old city walls. The lower terraces have marble slabs illustrating scenes from the Jataka. You'll have a fine view over the surrounding countryside from the upper terrace. An inscription stone, within the temple precincts, details the history of the pagoda's construction. |
| Back To Top |
| |
| Kyauktawgyi Pagoda |
| The Kyauktawgyi Pagoda was built by King Bagan in 1847 on the model of the Ananda Temple at Pagan. It closely resembles the Ananda in exterior form but it falls short of the latter in construction and interior decoration. Unlike the Ananda, which has perfect vaulted roofs, the Kyauktawgyi has wooden rafters and beams, which account for the weakness of the structure. There is one principal image carved out of a single block of Sagyin marble. The walls in the east and south porches are adorned with paintings depicting many religious buildings erected by the donor and other kings in different parts of the country, and scenes from contemporary Burmese life. |
| Back To Top |
| |
| |
 |
| |
| Amarapura |
| Visitors to Amarapura can still see the tombs of King Bodawpaya who died there on 5th June 1819, located to the north of Shwezaga Pagoda, and also of King Bagyidaw, located east of Pyatthat Gyi Village . King Bagyidaw died in Amarapura on 15th October 1846 after being de-throned in 1837. These two white washed brick mausoleums have inscriptions in English and Myanmar. They are actually small chedis (pagodas) enshrining the cremated bones of the two famous kings. There is another smaller chedi enshrining the bones of King Tharrawaddy who died in Amarapura on 17th November 1846. This is located to the north of the palace site close to the present family lines of the 3rd Battalion, Electrical and Mechanical Engineersl Corps II. Tourists can ask the local people to guide them to these mausoleums. Amarapura is famous for the Silk Weaving Industry. Most of the Myanmar people are very proud to attend the cultural ceremonies with Achiek Longyi, mainly produced from Amarapura. |
| Back To Top |
| |
| Palace Ruins |
| Little remains of the old Amarapura palace but you can still find two masonry buildings -- the treasury building and the old watchtower. King Bagyidaw and King Bodawpaya were both buried here and their tombs also remain. The corner pagodas still stand at the four corners of the once square city. |
| Back To Top |
| |
| In-wa (AVA) |
| In-wa is another ancient capital, known as the Kingdom of In-wa during the Second Myanmar Empire. Today In-wa is a small town south of Amarapura. The sites to see in In-wa include Nanmyint Watch Tower, Maha Aungmye Bonzan Monastery, Bagaya Monastery, Lacquerware Industry and In-wa Bridge spanning the Ayeyarwaddy River. |
| Back To Top |
| |
| Sagaing |
| Once an ancient capital, Sagaing lies 21 km south west of Mandalay, beside the Ayeyarwaddy River. The Sagaing Hills are dotted with pagodas and there are over 500 monasteries, a retreat for some 6000 monks and nuns. Soon U Ponya Shin Pagoda, Kaung Hmudaw Pagoda (a copy of the Mahaceti Pagoda in Sri Lanka), and Ywahtaung ( home of the Silversmiths' guilds) are places worth visiting. |
| Back To Top |
| |
| Sagaing Hill |
| Once you cross the Inwa Bridge, you see the hilltops, each crested with a pagoda, the banners proclaiming the Buddha's teaching, the refuge from all ills and tribulations where over 600 monasteries for monks and nuns are located for Buddhist studies and meditation. The Padamyazedi dates from 1300 while the U min Thonze or thirty caves pagoda has many Buddha images in a crescent shaped colonnade. Mural paintings can be seen in the Tilawkaguru cave temple, which was built around 1672. At the nearby village of Ywahtaung you can see silver workers producing bowls and other silver items by traditional methods. The most impressive Soon Oo Pon Nya Shin Pagoda nearby was constructed in 1312. The view of Sagaing from Soon Oo Pon Nya |
| Back To Top |
| |
| Mingun |
| Mingun, located about 11km upriver from Mandalay on the western banks of the Ayeyarwaddy River, is a town well-known for its 90 ton Mingun Bell, the largest ringing bell in the world; a mammoth unfinished Mingun Pagoda; Settawya Pagoda, and Hsinbyume Pagoda |
| Back To Top |
| |
| Mingun Bell |
| King Bodawpaya dedicated a big bronze bell near the Mingun Cedi at Mingun on the west bank of the Ayeyawaddy River, facing Mandalay. The Bell was made of bronze; but it is said that Buddhist devotees inserted gold, silver ornaments and jewellery into the bronze. The Bell measures eleven cubits and four thits (fingers) in diameter at its mouth; 33 cubits, one mit (6 inches) and four thits in circumference and 13 cubits, one mit and four thits in height. It weighs 55555 viss. It is the world's biggest ringing bell. |
| Back To Top |
| |
| Pyin - Oo - Lwin (Maymyo) |
| Over 1000 metres above sea - level, Pyin - Oo - Lwin is a popular hill- station about 69 km away from Mandalay. It is well-known for its colonial-style houses with large compound and pine trees, eucalyptus and silver-oak about in town. Delightfully cool and pleasant the whole year round, the 175 hectare National Kandawgyi Gardens, Pwe Kauk and Ani-sakan Waterfalls, Goteik Viaduct and Peik Chin Myaung Caves are places of interest. |
| Back To Top |
| |
| Monywa |
| About 136 km to the west of Mandalay is Monywa, the commercial center of Chindwin Valley. Sites to see in Monywa are Than-bok-de pagoda with over 500,000 Buddha Images, Bodhi-ta-htaung (one thousand Bo trees), Ledi Kyaungteik monastery where Buddhist scriptures are inscribed on 806 stone slabs and Kyauka Village known for its own style of lacquerware. |
| Back To Top |
Destinations 
