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Nay Chi LaminTravel & Tours
Mandalay, for clients who interest to see Myanmar arts & culture, recent history of 19th century, you have to visit Mandalay in your travel. Mandalay is the second commercial capital of Myanmar and the last capital of Myanmar King in 19th century. Old city wall and moat still exist. It is the center of Myanmar culture. Wood carvings, Stone carving and bronze casting and most of art works are famous in Mandalay. Interesting places are Mandalay hill, Shwenantaw, Kuthodaw pagoda, Sandarmuni pagoda, Kyauktawgyi buddha, Mahamuni Buddha image, Ze-cho market.
Shwenantaw Monastery This monastery is the only one building which was left from the Mandalay Palace of 1853. This beautiful monastery was originally inside the palace compound and the room of King Mindon. It was also the place where the King Mindon passed away. When the King Mindon died, his son the King Thibaw moved this building to its present site in 1879 and donated to the monks as monastery. As the palalce of the king, fully decorated with finest wood carvings and coated with pure gold.
Mahamuni Buddha Image Like Shwedagon Pagoda, Mahamuni Buddha image is the most famous Buddha image in Myanmar. Buddhist people believe that Mahamuni Buddha image is the alive Buddha image. It was cast in Rakhine kingdom during the visit of Buddha. In 18th century, the king from Mandalay brought this Buddha image from Rakhine State to Mandalay. Being the most revered Buddha in Mandalay, the early morning ritual of washing the face of the Buddha’s image draws a daily crowd of devotees.
Kuthodaw Pagoda is one of the famous pagoda in Mandalay. It was built by King Mindon in 1857. Kuthodaw pagoda is also known as the world’s largest book because of its 729 monoliths of white marble on which the Tripitaka have been inscribed. Those inscriptions were made during the Fifth Buddhist Synod convened at Mandalay in 1871. It is said it took 2400 monks six months to recite the entire text.. Each slab has a small temple erected over it, making the Kuthodaw a vast and venerable pagoda.
Mandalay Hill Every visitors to Mandalay won’t be forget to enjoy the nice sunset from legendary Mandalay Hill. Actually, now we call the city Mandalay. But, in fact the name of the city was not Mandalay when the King Mindon built. “Mandalay” is the name of hill and the name of the city was “Yatanabon”. In later the city also known as Mandalay. From the top of Mandalay hill you can see the hazy dotted pagodas and monasteries.
Mingun Mingun, a charming village located about 11 km upriver from Mandalay on the western banks of the Ayeyarwaddy river. The places or village of the biggest bell in Myanmar, the second largest bell in the world. mingun pagoda is cracked because of earthquake.It takes about an hour from Mandalay by boat. The way to Mingun can get experience about the ways of life of local people along the river.
Mingun Pagoda was built in 1790 and the King intended to be the World’s largest one. If pagoda finished, will be 150 meters high. But could not finished it for reasons. In 1813 stop the construction and only the square base was finished. Because of the earthquake in1838, the pagoda collapsed and cracked. The visitors can walk up the top of pagoda and enjoy the landscape of the region till last few years ago and now is not allowed to go up to the top.
Mingun Bell is the biggest in Myanmar and also the biggest ringing bell in the world. This 90 tons bell also the symbol of Mingun. In 1838 earthquake, broke down the teak pillar on which the bell was hung up and replace with iron beam now.
Myatheintan Pagoda built by The King Bagyidaw in 1816 as memory of his queen. The pagoda is circular construction and seven concentric terraces designed to represent the seven mountain ranges surrounding Mount Meru. Four stairways in four sides brought you up and from the top of terrace you have a panoramic view of Mingun.
Sagaing
One interesting place and a short visit from Mandalay is Sagaing. Sagaing is one of the ancient capital site before Mandalay. Sagaing lies 21 kilometers (about 40 minute) south west of Mandalay, beside the Ayeyarwaddy river. Not like Mandalay, Sagaing is charming and peaceful town with dotted pagodas on the Sagaing hills along the river. There are 500 monasteries and meditation centers, a retreat for some 6000 monks and nuns. Interesting places to visit in Sagaing are Pon nya shin pagoda, Umin thonese pagodas, Kaung Hmu daw pagoda and silver smith workshops, pottery making house.
Umin Thonese (Thirty Cave) Umin Thonese ( 30 images in 30 caves) was built by Padugyi. Thirty Buddha images are housed in a crescent-shaped building on the side of Sagaing Hill.
Ponnyashin Pagoda The main and most famous pagoda in Sagaing. Was built by U Ponnya, minister of Sagaing in 13th century. Accourding to legendery, the spirit of the minister Ponnya still does his daily down offering food at the shrine earlier than anyone, and so if you go there to offer at down, you will find that someone has already been there before you.
Amarapura
Amarapura, just 11km south of Mandalay is the town of Amarapura. It was the capital during the reign of King Bodawpaya in 1783. Also the first city of the British embassy in Myanmar. Amarapura was as the palace for two times and was finally displaced by Mandalay. Not many left from Amarapura palace. The royal palace tower, the royal treasury building, and tombs of King Bodawpaya and Bagyidaw still exist. U Bein teak bridge, Kyauktawgyi pagoda, Mahagandayon monastery, Cotton and silk weaving factory are famous to visit in Amarapura.
U Pein Bridge was built by the former town mayor named U Pein and it was constructed with thousands of teak pillars which were left when the king move the palace from Ava to Amarapura. It’s the longest teak bridge in the world, is about 1.2 km in length crossing the Taungthaman lake. It takes about 20 minutes to walk it and there are many sampans to go back from the other side of the bridge. There are many local restaurants around the bridge and like a relaxation place of Mandalay.
Mahagandaryone Monastery This monastery is the the biggest and famous one in Amarapura to study the Buddhist lecture. In that monastery, can learn the daily life of the monks, disciplines of Buddha, and ways of meditation. There are about 1500 monks live and study in that monastery.
AVA (Inwa)
During your travel around Myanmar, Ava is only place where you have to visit with traditional horse cart. Ava was another palace site around Mandalay. It was founded by the King Thado Minbya in 1364 AD. It remained the capital for more than 300 years until King Bodawpaya moved over to nearby Amarapura. Then the King Bagyidaw who is the grandson of Bodawpaya moved his capital again to Ava. Ava was on an island between the Ayeyarwaddy river and Myitnge river. The name “Ava” actually means “lake’s entrance. In Ava you can still see the city wall, Bagayar monastery, Nanmyit watch tower, Maha Aung Mae Bonzan monastery just near by the Ayeyarwaddy river. Now Ava is just a small quite & charming village with plantations, horse carts, bamboo houses with teak pillars and nice to enjoy the different feelings from busy and crowded city Mandalay.
Monywa
Another interesting place not very far from Mandalay is the town, Monywa. It’s about 136 km to the west of Mandalay. Monywa is the main commercial centre and the biggest town in the North-west of Myanmar and connect with India border. Accourding to research, the surrounding areas were the dwelling places of mankind as long ago as a million years. Around Monywa we can visit Alantayar Buddha images, the huge standing buddha image (600 feet height), and reclining buddha image of 450 feet long. Famous Than Boddhay temple which has about 600,000 Buddha images, Poe Win Caves, Boddhi Tahtaung images.
Alantayar Image the huge standing buddha image (600 feet height), and reclining buddha image of 450 feet long. During your Myanmar travel, that standing and reclining Buddha images from monywa will be the biggest.
Poe Win Caves Pagodas The caves of wonders in Monywa region is called Poe Win Caves Pagodas. Poe Win Caves means caves which were built by U Poe Win or the name “Poe Win” is believed to have evolved from a term meaning ‘the powerful state of an ascetic’s mind’,. Legend has it that those seeking supernatural powers had once meditated there. The temples in Poe Win hills are not particularly high but are black with age. There are about 790 caves around the hill. Many of those are true caves. The interior walls of the caves are thickly covered with wall paintings from the 17th century. To go to Poe Win cave, you can go direct by car from Monywa or you can cross the Chindwin river by ferry boat and from the other side village, take car to Poe Win Caves.
