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 The
modern centre of Buddhism and Myanmar arts, the old royal
city of Mandalay, 670km north of Yangon, is also the home
of traditional artisans - including wood and stone carvers,
silversmiths and weavers - and for the production of gold
leaf. The former capital, prior to British rule, and the second
largest city in the country, it takes its name from the nearby
240-metre Mandalay Hill, and is rich in monasteries and pagodas.
 Shwe
Nandaw Kyaung Temple Grounds - Within the grounds is the
sole remaining building of the once sumptuous moated palace.
King Mindun's former apartment, built mainly of teak, is decorated
with beautifully carved panels and a photograph of the Atumashi
Kyaung Monastery, destroyed by fire in 1890.
Mahamuni
Pagoda - The 'Great Pagoda' houses the revered Mahumuni
image. The image was brought from Rakhine in 1784, and is
thickly covered in gold leaf from years of worship by devout
Buddhists.
Fort
Mandalay - Formerly the grounds of the ancient royal palace,
surrounded by a wall and a ditch, it now serves as a military
garrison. Visitors require a special permit to enter the Fort.
Eindawya
Pagoda - Built in 1847 and covered in gold leaf.
Shwekyimyint
Pagoda - Contains the original Buddha image consecrated
by Prince Minshinzaw during the Bagan period.
Mandalay
Hill - Stairways lead up to temples and a panoramic view.
Shweyattaw
Buddha - Close to the hill. The statue's outstretched
finger points towards the city.
Pyin
Oo Lwin - The former British hill station of Maymyo, 67
km east of Mandalay, stands about 1,000 meters above sea level.
Though the town was damaged during World War II, several of
the old English houses were spared. This is also the centre
for Myanmar's small but burgeoning new coffee industry
Mandalay's abandoned
cities
There are several abandoned former capitals around Mandalay.
Amarapura
- Some 11km south of Mandalay. It became the capital of the
Konbaung Dynasty in 1783 during the reign of King Bodawpaya.
Places of interest are Pahtodawgyi Pagoda, U Bein Bridge across
the Taungthaman Lake, Kyauktawgyi Pagoda, Nagayon Pagoda,
Mahagandayone Monastery and cotton and silkweaving cottage
industries.
Inwa
(Ava) - Known as the Kingdom of Inwa during the Second
Myanmar Empire, today it is a small town south of Amarapura.
The sights to see in In-wa include Nanmyint Watch Tower, Maha
Aungmye Bonzan Monastery, Bagaya Monastery, the lacquerware
factory and Inwa Bridge spanning the Ayeyarwad River.
Sagaing
- Once an ancient capital, Sagaing lies 21km south west
of the Ayeyarwad 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 village (home of the silversmiths' guild) are
places worth visiting.
Mingun
- A delightful river trip from Mandalay is required to get
to this marvelous unfinished temple. Famous for the 90-ton
Mingun Bell, supposedly the largest hung bell in the world,
it was cast in 1790 on the orders of King Bodawpaya, who wished
for it to be installed at the top of his planned giant 150
metre-high pagoda. Due to the king's death in 1819, however,
the pagoda was never completed.
Note: Information
on this page supplied by the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism,
Myanmar
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