MANDALAY

Mandalay , the last capital of Myanmar Kings , is located in Central Myanmar , 668 km north of Yangon. Also known as Yatanabon – Napyidaw ( meaning Gem City ) It was building 1857 by King Mindon. In 1885 during the rule of King Thibaw , the entire Myanmar fell into British.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.

MA HAR MYAT MUNI PAGODA

King Bodawpaya built this Pagoda in 1784 to house the Maharmyatmuni Budha 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.

KUTHODAW PAGODA

Kuthodaw Pagoda is in the southeastern base of Mandalay hill. King Mindon built in 1868 , surrounding it with 729 marble slabs inscribed with the Tipitaka text (the Three Baskets of Buddhist Pali Canon ).It is often called the "world's Biggest Book".

SHWENADAW MONASTERY

This beautifully built monastery was originally inside the compound.King Thibaw had it moved to its present site east of the palace in 1879 after his father's death. The monastery is not only excellent wood carving but also most significant in Mandalay.

MANDALAY HILL

Mandaly hill , 230 meters 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.

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.

AROUND MANDALAY

AMARAPURA

About 11 km south of Mandalay is the town of Amarapura. It was the capital of Konbaung Dynasty during the region of king Bodawpaya when he moved its capital to Amarapura in 1783.Places of interest are Patodawgyi pagoda , U Bein Bridge across the Thaungthaman Lake , Kyauktawgyi pagoda , Nagayon Pagoda , Mahaganda yone Monastery and Cotton and silk Weaving Cottage industry.

INWA (AVA)

Inwa is another ancient capital, known as the Kingdom of Inwa during the Second Myanmar Empire. Today Inwa is a small town south of Amarapura. The sites to see in Inwa include Nanmyint Watch Tower, Ma Ha Aung Mye Bonza Monastery, Bagaya Monastery, Lacquer ware industry and Inwa Bridge spanning the Ayeyarwaddy river.

SAGAING

Once an ancient capital, Sagaing lies 21 km south west of Mandalay, beside the Ayeyarwady River. The Sagaing Hill are dotted with pagodas and there are over 500 monasteries, a retreat for the some 6000 monks and nuns. Son 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.

MINGUN

Mingun, located about 11 km upriver from Mandaly on the western banks of the ayeyarwaddy River, is a town well known for it's 90 tons Mingun Bell, the largest ringing bell in the world, an unfinished Mingun Pagoda, and Hsinbyume pagoda.

MONYWA

Monywa is a city in central Myanmar and situated on the eastern bank of the Chindwin Rive, Mandalay Division. It lies 136 km north-west of Mandalay along the Mandalay-Budalin branch railway line. Monywa serves as a major trade center for India and Burma through Kalay Myo road and Chindwin river.

The name Monywa comes from "Mon" meaning "cake or snack food" and "Ywa" which is the Myanmar word for village. There is a legend which says that in the old days a Myanmar king fell in love with a seller of cakes from this town and made her his queen. The original name some say, is Mon - thema- ywa or " Village of the woman cake seller". There has been a big village at Monywa from the Bagan Period. The classical name for Monywa is Thalawadi. The chronicles mention that Monywa was one of the places where King Alaungphayar encamped for the night on his campaign to Manipur in 1758. During the Myanmar kings' time Monywa remained just a big village as the administrative centre for the region was at Ahlon. It was only a year after the Annexation of 1886 that Monywa became the Headquarters of the Lower Chindwin District. In the last few years with the legalizing of the border trade with India, Monywa has grown into a bustling trading.

PYIN OO LWIN (MAYMYO)

Pyin Oo Lwin is located on the western bank of the river Ayeyarwaddy, approximately 7 miles north of Mandalay. Over 1000 metres above sea-level, Pyin Oo Lwin is a popular hill station about 69km away from Mandalay.

It is well known for its colonial style houses with large compound and pine trees, eucalyptus and silver-oak abound in town. Delightfully cool and pleasant the whole year round.