Mandalay & its Environs

Mandalay

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.

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 & 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

The monument of Mingun Pagoda is an in complete pagoda that can be seen from as far away as Sagaing Hill.

Sagaing Hill: Stand some 100 meters south of Mingun Bell and played an important role in Myanmar history in the 18th century.

Pyin Oo Lwin

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.

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.

Monywa

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.

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.

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.

Mogoke

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.