Mandalay & its Environs
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Maha Muni Pagoda
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Kuthodaw Pagoda
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Shwe Nandaw Kyaung |
Mandalay Palace |
Among the religious items and pagodas found in
Mandalay is the Maha Muni Pagoda, Kuthodaw Pagoda
which is known as "the world's largest book"- featuring
the Buddhist script in Pali and the Shwe Nandaw Kyaung
monastery just east of the Mandalay Palace.
As a cultural center, the Mandalay Palace
only about 2km/sq give insight into the splendors of King Mindone's
Kingdom.
| Mandalay Hill is stepped in history
and provides as extraordinary view of the city and the plains from
above. Taungpyone around 20km north of Mandalay is
the main focus festival of Spirit or nat pwe that take place in
August for 8 days where it is held. |
Mandalay Hill |
Mandalay & its Environs
In the environs of Mandalay are several places worth visiting. The
ancient cities are reminders of the city's glorious part.
The ancient cities of Amarapura, Sagaing,
Mingun and Innwa are just a stone's throw away
from Mandalay.
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Amarapura: 12km from Mandalay, famous
for its main cotton and silk weaving business, it is still largely
done by traditional methods on hand looms. The city is known for
bronze casting.
A little south of Amarapura is the famous
U
Bein Bridge. 12km in length and made of teak wood, it is over
200 years old and crosses the lake Taungthaman. |
U Bein Bridge |
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A short journey from Amarapura is the ancient city
of Innwa. Several monuments and ruins still stand at the royal city
including the Nanmyint Watchtower and the Maha
Aungmye Bonzan Monastery.
To the north lies the famous
Innwa Bridge
which was built by British in 1934. |
Maha Aungmye Bonzan |
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Sagaing: was an ancient capital. It
is still very much the living center of Buddhist faith in Myanmar. The
most famous pagoda in Sagaing is the Kaungmudaw Pagoda
10km from the city on the far side of the Sagaing Hill. |
Kaungmudaw Pagoda |
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Mingun Bell is the largest ringing
bell in the world can be found in Mingun, 90 tons in
weight, 3.7 meter in height and 5 meters across. |
Mingun Bell |
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The monument of Mingun Pagoda is an
in complete pagoda that can be seen from as far away as Sagaing Hill. |
Mingun Stupa |
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Sagaing Hill: Stand some 100 meters
south of Mingun Bell and played an important role in Myanmar history
in the 18th century. |
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A former British hill station to cool our self away
from harsh Mandalay heat in summer.
Its cooler and milder climate makes it a popular tourist destination.
The newly re-opened National Park, some
175 hectares or 430 acres in area is a "must-see" in Pyin Oo lwin. Horse
drive cart are a charming mode of transportation in Pyin Oo Lwin.
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Driving to Pyin Oo Lwin
Botanical Garden |
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The names of that beautiful recreation centre are varied to five;
- May-Myo honour to the founder of the city for a
century ago.
- Terraced-City buildings and gardens are set in
terraces like pattern.
- Hill-Station Locating on the hill-side of the Shan
Plateau.
- Pyin-Oo-Lwin City on a Plateau with fresh environ,
may be generally defined.
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The countryside west of Mandalay has a rugged frontier
flavor to it. Sprawls across the dry central Myanmar plain between the
mighty Ayeyarwaddy and Chindwin River System.
Monywa is Sagaing Division's largest city. A dusty
Chindwin River port city about 135km west of Mandalay.
The Phowintaung area was home to pre
Myanmar Hanlin cave dwellers. The caves at Hpowintaung became such as
important repository of religious art. The scope of the artistry is
awesome. Some of the art apparently dates from the 17th and 18th
centuries.
Visitors to the region cross the Chindwin River by
ferry boat and then ride about 10 inches west of the river. It takes about
three hours to travel to and from Monywa and see the main sights at
Powintaung and Shwebataung.
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Near to Monywa are two other unique pagodas.
Thanboddhay Pagoda, about 12km back toward Mandalay on the
main high way, is a magnificent repository of more than half a million
Buddhist images. The original pagoda is built in the year 1303 but its
present form dates only from 1939. |
Thanbodday Pagoda |
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Directly behind the Thanboddhay pagoda is
Bodhitataung (1000 Banyan trees) Pagoda. A huge reclining
Buddha statue, completed only in 1995, crowns the low hill behind the
temple. |
Bodhitataung |
About a 7 hour drive north of Mandalay, Mogoke is
famous for the beautiful rubies and sapphires mined there. Located at 1170
meters in picturesque natural surroundings, Mogoke also enjoys a temperate
climate. Visitors may observe the mining techniques by which these
precious stones are taken from the Alluvial limestone gravel and may also
shop at the mamy gemstone markets.
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