Cultural Delights
Mandalay
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AVA (Inwa)
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Amarapura
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Sagaing
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Mingun
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Pyin Oo Lwin (Maymyo)
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Monywa
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Paik Chin Myaung
Caves
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Yandabo
 The last Royal capital of Myanmar
Kingdom and the cultural center of the
country. It is 668 km north from Yangon,
situated on the bank of the legendary
Ayeyarwaddy River. A visit to Kuthodaw
Pagoda is a must. It is known as the
world’s biggest book for its 729 huge
marble slabs inscribed with Buddhist
scriptures. Mandalay Hill provides a
panoramic view of the city and its
surroundings. Attraction includes
Mandalay Palace, the city wall and moat,
the ancient monasteries, Mahamuni Pagoda
and Kyauktawgyi Pagoda.
AVA (Inwa)
 Ava lies 20 km south west of Mandalay,
founded in 1364. It remained the royal
capital for almost 5 centuries. The
impressive Maha Aungmye Bonzan, a
monastery built in 1818, Nan Myint Watch
tower, Bagaya Teak wood Monastery,
Htilaing Shin Phaya, the workshop making
lacquerware alms bowls for monks and
Inn-wa Bridge, the oldest bridge built
across the Ayeyarwaddy are the
interesting sites.
Amarapura
 Amarapura is an ancient capital of
Konbaung Dynasty, 11 km south of
Mandalay. Phatodawgyi Pagoda, U Bein
Bridge (1208) meters across Taungthaman
Lake built by the Mayor U Bein with teak
planks two centuries ago, Mahagandayone
Monastery, cotton and silk weaving
workshop are places of interest to
visit.
 Once an ancient capital, Sagaing lies 21
kilometers southwest of Mandalay, on the
west bank of Ayeyarwaddy River. The
Pagoda studded Sagaing Hills, a cluster
of low — lying hills, are best known as
a religious retreat and a center of
Buddhist studies and meditation. Nearby
is Ywathaung village of silver crafts
and the famous Thabyedan Fort. About 10
km from Sagaing stands Kaungmudaw
Pagoda, an enormous dome-shaped Pagoda,
built in 1636.
Mingun
 Situated about 11 km up river from
Mandalay on the western bank of
Ayeyarwaddy River, Mingun is well known
for its 90 ton bell, the largest ringing
bell in the world and a mammoth
unfinished Mingun Pagoda. A 45 minutes
boat trip to Mingun is very pleasant
with plenty of lives on the river to
see.
Pyin Oo Lwin (Maymyo)
 Over 1000 metres above sea level,
Pyin-Oo-Lwin is a popular hill- station
about 69 km away from Mandalay. It is
well known for its colonial-style houses
with large compound and pine trees,
eucalyptus and silver-oak abound in
town. Delightfully cool and pleasant the
whole year round, the 175-hectare
Botanical Garden, Pwe Kauk and Ani-sakan
Waterfalls, and Peik Chin Myaung Caves
are places of interest. A ride on a
horse drawn stagecoach through the town
is pleasant indeed.
Monywa
 140 km west of Mandalay, Thanboddhay
Pagoda with over 582,363 Buddha images,
Bodi Tathaung Pagoda (1000 Bo trees),
Kyaukka Shweguni Pagoda and Kyaukka (lacquerware)
village are the major attractions of
Monywa. Also interests are Phowintaung
Caves, located across the Chindwin River
with their sand stone caves containing
Buddha images and interesting frescores
on some of the cave walls.
 Further south from Pyin Oo Lwin are the
Paik Chin Myaung Caves, decorated with
tableaux from the life of the Buddha.
 A place renowned for its pottery
industry is Yandabo, where you can meet
with rural people and closely study
their daily lives.
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