Mandalay Travel Guide
Mandalay is the second largest city (only after Yangon) in Myanmar and is considered the center of Burmese culture. Located on the east bank of the Ayeyarwaddy River, it lies at the center of mainland Myanmar. The city was founded at the foot of Mandalay Hill in 1857 by King Mindon as his royal capital.
Mandalay is hailed as Burma's cultural and religious center of Buddhism, which boasts numerous monasteries and more than 700 pagodas. The core of the city includes Mandalay Palace, Mahamuni Buddha Temple, and Kuthodaw Pagoda. Mandalay Hill, whose slopes are studded with pagodas, is a popular destination to visit while you are in Mandalay. U Bein Bridge and Mahagandayon Monastery in Amarapura are not to be missed sites near Mandalay. From Mandalay, a boat trip across the Ayeyarwaddy River will take you to the ancient city of Mingun for the Great Mingun Pahtodawgyi and Mingun Bell.
Top Attractions in Mandalay
Come and visit the palace of the last two kings of this country. Surrounded by a moat and bastions, it was a stronghold a long time ago. Now it is the memory of the lost Burmese monarchy. The pity is that the palace is not the original building. The original one, built in 1857-1859, was destroyed during WW2, and what we see now is the reconstruction in 1990-1995. Strolling around this royal palace, you may find most of the structures are wood, climb up to the wooden watchtower and get the whole scene of the Mandalay Palace.
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MAHAMUNI PAGODAThe Mahamuni Pagoda is sacred to the locals. Buddha made only five likenesses in his lifetime. The statue in Mahamuni Pagoda is one of them. The figure is cast in the Arakan Kingdom. However, after Arakan lost its place, it shifted to Mandalay. It is a place to memorize the glory of the Burmese monarchy. The dazzling architecture is worth seeing, and you can visit the small museum around the temple and buy religious souvenirs.
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Itineraries including Mandalay
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