King Mindon founded Mandalay on 23rd May
1859 AD. It is the last capital of the
Myanmar Kingdom, the second capital of
Myanmar, both a bustling commercial centre
and a cultural tourism site with the lord
royal city, many old monasteries, showcasing
Myanmar arts and architecture of the 19th
century. It is also the commercial centre
with rail, road, river and air links to all
parts of the country.
Mandalay Hill
One
thousand seven hundred steps uphill will
give you a bird's–eye view of the city. It
will give you a spectacular sight with the
outlaying areas of the Ayeyarwady plains and
the misty Shan hills. You can also take
mini-taxi to the top of the Mandalay hill
and then walk down. Along the stairways are
fascinating and interesting sights along the
way including the souvenir stalls, the
Peshawar Relics Shrine where the Relics of
Buddha is enshrined and the gold-plated
Shweyattaw Buddha image of immense size.
Mandalay Palace
Mandalay
palace was the first palace to be built in
Mandalay, by King Mindon when he shifted his
capital from Amarapura in 1861, to fulfill
an old prophecy. The site was chosen with
the auspicious omen and astronomical
calculations. The magnificent palace was
built of teak wood on raised brick plinth
gilded with gold and vermillion. The queens'
chambers is in order of priority 1 Southern,
2 Northern and 3 lesser queens in the West.
All ancillary buildings for the court, the
fortified high walls with ramparts,
the
moat, water systems, roads, gardens with
shady tamarind trees, recreational
playgrounds, swimming pools, mint, security
ports with infantry, cavalry, archers,
artillery, sheds for royal elephants,
stables, audience halls, throne halls,
religious edifices and monastery and
devotional halls were superbly planned and
executed to minute details. The
implementation and completion of
construction took five years (from 1857 to
61). The artistic workmanship and
handicrafts depicting the glory of the
golden age of the days gone by is still
amazing, awe inspiring and the beholder will
be spell bound with wonder. The entity of
the palace cannot be separated from the
Mandalay Hill, from where the prophecy and
name is dewed. It is located right in the
centre of the palace grounds, which is
meticulously a true square, enclosed within
fortified high walls with ramparts and the
beautiful deep moat all the layout in
perfect squares. So much so the city
surrounding the place too had been laid-out
in blocks of squares enclosed by sheets. The
supply of water to the moat is fed by a
muddy canal. It is surprisingly strange that
the red muddy water turns crystal clear.
This moat water is potable and the source of
home consumption and is free from lime
content. It also serves a double purpose as
a good protection from enemy assault of
those days. The reflection of the Mandalay
on the eastern moat is a beautiful scene to
behold from the south-eastern corner. The
panoramic view of the Palace and the
surrounding areas as far as the Sagaing
Bridge, the Ayeyarwady River and the hill
ranges seen from the Mandalay Hill during
sunset will be an enchanting experience. The
beautiful palace with many other buildings
were destroyed by fire due to the ravages of
been reconstructed in brick masonry from
photographic records, plans and drawings. As
seeing is believing, a practical visit will
confirm an enchanting experience than a
thousand words in theory
Shwenandaw Monastery
This
beautifully built monastery was originally inside the palace compound. King
Thibaw had it moved to its present site east of the palace in 1879 after his
father's death
Mahamuni Pagoda
King
Bodawpaya built Mahamuni pagoda in 1784. In
1884, the original shrine was destroyed by
fire and the current one is comparatively
recent. This Pagoda is also known as Payagyi
(Big paya) or the Rakhaing Paya. The
centerpiece of the shrine is the highly
venerated Mahamuni image that was
transported to Myanmar from Mrauk U in
Rakhaing (Arakan) in 1784.
Atumashi Monastery
Not too far from the Kuthodaw Pagoda is the Atumashi Monastery (the
Incomparable Monastery), built in 1878 by King Mindon, and partially
destroyed by fire in 1890. It was however, rebuilt in 1996.The
"Atumashi Kyaung" (meaning the Incomparable Monastery) is also one of
the worth-seeing places. Built by King Mindon in 1878, it was partially
destroyed by fire in 1890. It was indeed an inimitable one in its
heyday. The reconstruction work on the monastery has been done by the
government in 1996.
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Kuthodaw Pagoda
King
Mindon built this Pagoda in 1868,
surrounding it with 729 marble slabs
inscribed with the Tipitaka text (the Three
Baskets of the Buddhist Pali canon). It is
often called the "World's Biggest Book".
Sandamuni Pagoda
The Sandamuni Pagoda is located to the southeast of Mandalay Hill
and bears a resemblance to the nearby Kuthodaw pagoda. It was built by
King Bodawphaya in 1164 with 11368 vise of cast iron while he was
temporarily on the other side in Mingun, and conveyed to Amarapura. In
1299, King Mindon conveyed it from Innwa to Nanmyay Bontha Palace at
the foot of Mandalay Hill. It is said that in 1275 Hermit U Khanti
while doing missionary work enshrined 1774 slabs of manuscripts of
Athakatha Tika of the Pali version of Tipitakas in 758 cave-like
pyathats there.
Kyauktawgyi Pagoda
Kyauktawgyi Pagoda (the Pogada of the Great Marble Image), also
built by King Mindon, stands at the foot of Mandalay Hill. Build in
1865, the Pagoda is so called because it houses a large image of the
Buddha sculpted from a single block of beautiful Sagyin marble. It was
hauled to its position by nearly 12,000 men and took 13 days to
transport the marble. The statues of 80 Arahants (the Great Disciples
of the Buddha) are around the Image, 20 on each direction. Other
attractions are Sandamuni Pagoda Eindawaya Pagoda, Shwe In Bin
Monastery, Mandalay Museum and Library, Zegyo Market and Silk Weaving
Cottage Industry.
Amarapura
Amarapura
was an ancient capital of Myanmar Monarchy, 11 km south of Mandalay. It
was a capital until 1857 when King Mindon decided to move the capital
to Mandalay. Although there are little remains of the old palace area,
the other attractions include, Patodawgyi Pagoda, U Bein's Bridge and
the silk weaving industry.
U Bein's Bridge
Amarapura,
an ancient capital, is situated about 11km south of Mandalay.
Pohtodawgyi Pagoda, 1208 metre long U Bein Bridge which was built with
teak planks and silk weaving industry are places of interest to visit.
Innwa (Ava)
After the fall of Bagan, Inwa was the
capital of Myanmar Kingdom for 400 years
from 1364 until the shift was made to
Amarapura in 1841. Places of interest are
Nanmyint- where 27m high masonry is, Maha
Aungmye Bonzan and Bagaya Kyaung where one
can witness the art and architecture of
Myanmar.
Pyin Oo Lwin (Maymyo)
Pyin
Oo Lwin is situated on the Shan Plateau about 42 miles to the
north-east of Mandalay. As it is over 3,000 feet above the sea level,
it is cool the whole year round. Pyin Oo Lwin was known as Maymyo in
the past. It was named after Colonel May of the 5th Bengal Regiment,
who established it as a Hill station to enable officers of the British
Army based in Mandalay to go up to Maymyo on vacation. The town became
famous as a hill station and summer resort in the time of British
colonialism and is still so. Pyin Oo Lwin can be reached by road or
rail; it takes
over two hours to travel by car from Mandalay. The road
to Pyin Oo Lwin winds up the hills and there are many hairpin bends
along the way. As one reaches the View-Point at the 21-mile which is
half-way to Pyin Oo Lwin, one can have a bird's-eye view of Mandalay in
the distance below. There are many food shops at the 21-mile station
and cars stop over there to change water in the radiator.
Different kinds of food are available there, and a traveller can take
his pick. Climbing higher from the 21-mile station you can breathe
fresh air from the hills. The climate gradually becomes colder and
colder as you climb further up. The scene everywhere is green and
pleasant. As
you approach the Aungchantha village near the outskirts of
the town, long lines of stalls selling vegetables and fruits can be
seen on either side of the road. There, flowers of different kinds and
colours, fresh and green vegetables and fruits can be bought to your
heart's content. Coffee, damson, strawberry, plum and pineapple are
grown at orchards and plantations on commercial basis. Different kinds
of flowers and many varieties of orchids grow in profusion in Pyin Oo
Lwin. Once a hill station of the British Colonial government, it still
has some offices, houses, bungalows, churches and recreation centres.
Another interesting place
to visit in
Pyin Oo Lwin is the Central Market and the clock tower
nearby. Another place of interest is the Botanical Gardens, which
occupy a land of 432 acres with different kinds of flowers, shrubs and
plants, beautiful lawns, huge trees providing shade, and different
kinds of medicinal plants. You get a thrill in riding horse-drawn
coaches known as "gharry while going on a sight-seeing trip in town.
The Pwegauk Waterfall, known in days of old as the "Laughing Water" is
about five miles north of the town. At this waterfall water flows
constantly throughout the year and there are many spots around the
waterfall where people can relax in the shade of the trees and
everything there is peaceful and quite. There is also the Peik Chin
Hmyaung Cave some 15 miles away from the town. This natural cave has
many springs and Buddha images and pilgrims visit the cave all the year
round. You can also visit the Goehteik Viaduct 42 miles away from town.
Photographers and video and movie producers shoot outdoor scenes in
Pyin Oo Lwin because of its natural beauty spots.
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Peik Chin Hmyaung
The
cave is near Wetwun village 12 miles east of the town and it is three
miles south of the village, easily accessible by car. The cave is at
the entrance to the Peik Chin Hmyaung ravine, with many beautiful
springs. When the rocks in the cave began to form, the place was under
seawater. As lime piled up, the hillock took formation. Geologists
estimate that it could be between 230 million and 310 million years
old. The cave is called Peik Chin Hmyaung (Peik Chin Plants Ravine) as
plenty of Peik Chin plants used to grow there, letting no light inside.
This Great Cave of rock was formed out of a fault. As water seeped and
dropped from rocks and limestone, there appeared stalactites and others
in the shape of chandeliers. On entering the cave you see springs
flowing from different directions. The water at some places is as deep
as five feet. Water seeps from the walls of the rock; and is clean and
cool. It is said that this water cures eye ailments and itching. So,
pilgrims take this spring water home in bottles. The Great Cave covers
an area about 48 acres. Once inside the cave, you shiver with cold what
with the springs and small waterfalls. The Buddha-to-be's life story up
to His Enlightenment is featured at appropriate places. There are also
Buddha images and pagodas in corners and niches. Although the Peik Chin
Hmyaung Maha Nandamu Cave did exist in successive eras in the past with
its rich objects of Buddhism, it remained hidden under bushes unknown
to man until now. As the Cave is now electrified, pilgrims and visitors
from far and near visit often.
The National Garden (Botanical Garden)
The
garden features wide expanses of manicured grass, large flowerbeds, 49
acres of natural forest with walking trails, a rose garden, an orchid
house, a small pagoda on an islet in a pond and several other ponds. It
is very popular with picnicking families on weekends and holdings.
Open-air snack shops are on a slope overlooking the parks. Colonel May
used Turkish POWs to develop this 237-acre garden during World War II.
It opens daily 7:00 AM to 5:30 PM. A nominal admission fee is collected.
Mogok
Situate 128 miles to the northeast of Mandalay with a gem-bearing
area of 1916 sq miles. Residents are mostly Lisu, Shan and Grokha who
make their living predominately by mining, cutting, polishing and
marketing gemstones. Legend brought this faith to the world of fable
valley in the north where beautiful rubies and sapphires lay scattered.
Treacherous swamps and poisonous snakes protected the uninhabited
valley. One day a huge eagle spotted an enormous morsel of bloody-red
meat, swooped down on his prey. This probably was the first ruby of the
world. Mogok-since than and now is the source of the world's most
fabulous rubies and Sapphires. Mogok also produces numerous gems of
lesser quality such as - alexandrite, amethyst, appetite, aquamarine,
black tourmaline, black John, Danbury, fluorite, garnet, green
tourmaline, lapis lazuli, moonstone, period, quartz, rose quartz,
spinal, topaz, white sapphire, zircon. Mogok then and now is a city of
gems, the heart of the gem-zone and the center of the gem trade. It
takes hours by road from Mandalay.
Arts and Crafts
For lovers of arts and crafts, Mandalay represents the largest
repository of Myanmar arts and crafts. It is here that visitors can
observe skilled craftsmen making beautiful articles of tapestry, ivory,
wood, marble and stone carving and engravings, silverware and bronze
statues according to the time-honored traditions of their forefathers.
Besides those, the other arts and crafts workshops of silk-weaving and
gold-leaf making are also places worthy of visiting.
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