MANDALAY

The last capital of the third Myanmar Empire, Mandalay is situated in central Myanmar 668 km due north of Yangon. It is the largest city after Yangon and is both a bustling commercial center and a repository of ancient culture. With the remains of the old Royal City and many old monasteries, Mandalay is a show case for Myanmar art and architecture of the 19th century. It is also noted for woodcarvings, silverware, tapesteries, silkcloth and other traditional craft products.
The main attraction of Mandalay are:

Myanansankyaw Golden Palace

It was the first palace to be built in Mandalay, by King Mindom when he shifted his capital from Amarapura in 1861, to fulfillan old prophecy. It was built of teak wood on raised brick plinth guilded with gold and vermillion.

Top

Maha Muni Pagoda

Located at the southwest of the town, the Mahamuni Buddha Image is highly venerated. The 4m high-seated image is cast in bronze and weigh 6.5 tons, on which a crown is decorated with diamonds, rubies, and sapphires. Maha Muni Buddha Image was being cast in front of the Buddha himself and some say that Maha Muni Buddha Image is the most look-alike portrait of Buddha himself. The image has completely covered with 15cm thick gold and original shape is distorted.

Top

Mandalay Hill

It is 230 meters in elevation and commands a magnificent view of the city and surroundin gcoutnryside. The legand 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.

Top

Kuthodaw Pagoda

King Mindom 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”.

Top

Amarapura

Situated about 11km south of Mandalay, lies on the left bank of the Ayeyarwaddy River. Amarapura is one of the capitals of the third Myanmar Empire. A 1208 meter long wooden bridge built by Alderman U Pein spans Taung thanman lake, and its farther end is Kyauktawgyi pagoda.

Top

Innwa

In-wa, built in 1364, is another ancient capital, and for a time, Myanmar was known to early travellers as Innwa. It is noted for the Maha Aung Mye Bonzan (Ok Kyaung), one of the few monasteries built in brick.

Top

AROUND MANDALAY

Mingun

Mingun, located about 11 km upriver on the western bank of the Ayeyarwaddy River, Mingun Pahtotawgyi : Over 20, 000 workers toiled for twenty years on the construction of the Pahtodawgui Pagoda, which was infortunately abandoned due to the death of King Bodawpaya in 1819. A 15 feet miniature model of the pagoda is in close proximity. It was completed to a height of 162 feet. Up to the first terrace is less than one third of the final height. This unfinished structure was badly damaged with cracks by the earthquake of 1838 but it is still the largest brick base in the world.

Mingun Bell: It is a huge bronze bell near the Mingun Zedi on the west bank of the Ayeyarwaddy River. It weighs 55555 viss (100 tons). It is the world’s biggest ringing bell. Myatheindan Pagoda: Built by King Bagyidaw in 1816, three years before he succeeded Bodawpaya as a king. It was built as a representation of the Sulamani Pagoda which, according to the Buddhist plan of the cosmos, stands atop Mount Meru.

Top

Sagaing

Sagaing lies 21km south-west of Mandalay on hte opposite bank of the Ayeyarwaddy River. The Sagaing Hills are noted as a religious retreat and has over 400 monasteries and nunneries, about 10 km from sagaing is the Kaunghmudaw: an enormous domeshaped pagoda built by King Thalun in 1636. Ominthonesal Pagoda: It has many Buddha images in a crescent shaped colonnade. Mural paintings in th Tilawkaguru cave temple, built in 1672. At the nearby village of Ywataung, one can see silversmiths making silverware by traditional methods.

Top

Pyin Oo Lwin

The principle hill station and summer retreat of the colonial period. Pyin Oo Lwin is 67 km away from Mandalay.

It is over 1000 meters above sea level and has a pleasantly cool weather all year round. The 142 hecter Botanical Garden, Pwekauk Water Fall and Chinese Temple are places worth visiting. Nearby are Peik Chin Hmyaung Cave and Gokteik Rail Bridge.

Top

Monywa

About 136 km to the west of Mandalay is Monywa, the commercial center of the northwest. Thanboddhay Pagoda: First built in 1303 by Monywa Sayadaw, the solid section of the monument is said to enclose 7,350 relics and other holy materials. Po Win Daung Cave: The caves and surrounding hills are named after U Po Win. Caves themselves contain Buddhist statues and murals dating to the 17th and 18th century.

Top

Shwe Bo

It is 64 miles north of Mandalay on the motor and railroad to Myitkyina. It can be reached by car or rail from Mandalay under four hours. The ruins of ancient culture can be seen at Hanlin, a few miles south of Shwe Bo.

Top

AROUND MANDALAY

Tour MaMa Travels & Tours Co., Ltd.