Mandalay - Burma Travel Information

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Mandalay was the capital of Burma?s kingdom during its occupation by the British, but the period of being the capital was short. (The city was built only in 1857). Mandalay area includes several other capitals that served Burma?s kings in different eras, and these days all of them are deserted. Today you can visit 3 of the former capitals in a day tour from Mandalay.

Even today the city has a special historical and religious importance in the Burmese?s eyes. Almost 60% of all the monks in Burma live in the city?s area in many temples and monasteries.

Visitng Mandalay and the Ancient Capital Cities

Costs

The visit in the historical sites of Mandalay requires purchasing entrance tickets. There are 2 types of tickets:

The fist ticket enables a visit in all sites inside Mandalay city and in the ancient capital Inwa. The ticket costs $10 and it is valid for 5 days within purchase day. The ticket is being checked at the entrance of some of the temples. The Trishaw?s drivers (bicycles with sided wagon) will offer you a tour without paying the entrance fee, while avoiding entering the temples where the tickets are being checked. It is worth for those who wish to prevent the money from going to the military government.

The second ticket is to the ancient capitals Mingon and Sagaing. This ticket costs $3 and is valid for 5 days within purchase day.

Kuthodaw Pagoda

This pagoda is defined as the biggest book in the world. The pagoda is an area surrounded by a wall and situated at the bottom of Mandalay Hill. In the area there are 729 stone boards with Tripitaka (the holly book to Buddhists) written on them. Each board is lying in its own small structure.

Sandamani Paya

This temple is situated near Kuthodaw temple. In this temple there are 1774 marble boards with interpretation of the Tripitaka book engraved on them. The boards are protected with dozens of white stone structures that surrounds the main structure.

Maha Muni Pagoda

The Maha Muni Pagoda was built to accommodate one of the most admired Buddha statues in Burma and one of the most important in the world.

The structure itself was first built in 1784 but was ruined in a fire. The current structure is relatively new. The statue itself was moved from the city Maruk U in 1784, and already then was considered as very ancient. Some claims that this bronze statue that rises up to 4 meters height, was already been poured at the 1st century AD.

Along the years believers have covered the statue with 15 cm of golden leafs? layer.

Only men can get close to the statue and attach to it the golden leafs. Those who are not fortunate enough to get close to the statue can look at it through a closed-circuit TV. It is a little bit weird site to see people praying to the TV?

Getting there

The temple is situated a bit far form the city?s center but you can stop there on the way to the capitals that surrounds Mandalay.

Mandalay Hill

The city Mandalay is called after Mandalay hill that rises up to 236 meters at the center of the city. The way to the top of the hill goes through many temples that are scattered along the stairs. The way up takes about 30 minutes, and it has to be done without shoes since the whole area of the hill is holly. It is hard to say that the hill was one of the most impressive places in Mandalay tour?

Daytrip to the Ancient Capital Cities

You can rent a taxi for a day tour to the 3 ancient capitals in Mandalay area.

Route

A typical ancient capital cities tour will include the following places:

Maha Ganayon Monastery
About 1000 young monks in their trainee stage live in this monastery. Around 11 o?clock in the morning all the monks gather for a big parade and quietly walk to eat their breakfast. The food for the monks is being prepared by Burmese?s volunteers.
Kaunghmudaw Paya
This temple is situated about 10 km from Sagaing city and is the most famous among its temples. The temple is built as a huge white dome, 46 meters height and the meaning of its name is ?valuable work?. The temple was built according to Mahesti temple (the big temple) in Sri Lanka. The legend tells that the temple symbolizes the curves of a Burmese queen. The temple was built in 1636. A visit in the temple is not included in the regular tour that is offered by travel agencies in Mandalay, therefore it requires an extra payment.
Sagaing
One of Burma?s ancient capitals situated about 21 km from Mandalay. In the center of the city there is a hill named Sagaing hill, which can be climbed with hundreds of stairs. On the hill there are many temples, some are new and some were built in the 14th century.
Inwa
One of Burma?s ancient capitals. The access to the city is by boat.
U Bein Bridge
The sunset on U Bein Bridge is one of the most beautiful experiences in Burma. The bridge which is made out of teak wood is spread over 1.2 km, which make it the longest teak wood bridge in the world. The bridge that was built in 1784 connects a small island in the center of the lake with the bank. On the island there is a temple which can be reached by crossing the bridge. Towards evening the bridge gets full with monks that pass from the island to the bank.