Maha Muni pagoda
Maha Muni Buddha image was casted in very presence of Buddha. May take that the image is alive with changing facial expressions. The sitting image is 3.8 meters high. King Bo Daw pays brought the image from Rakhine State in 1784. Last crowds are present everyday visiting the pagoda. A must to visit while you are in Mandalay.

Mandalay Hill
Legend claims that Lord Buddha had made a prophecy that a great city would be founded at the foot of Mandalay hill which rises to 240 meters. Magnificent panoramic view of the city and the surroundings can be seen. There is a car road that reaches almost to the hilltop.

Mandalay Palace
The was almost totally destroyed by fire during the World War II but the remains – palace walls, city gates and the moat are still to be seen. Models or replicas of the palace were built recently.

Shwenandaw Monastery
Woodcarvings are a beauty to watch moved to the present site from inside the Mandalay palace was done by King Thibaw in 1880.

Kyauktawgyi Pagoda
Built by King Mindon in 1865, near Mandalay Hill. The image was carved out from a huge single block of marble. Hauled to its present position by 12,000 men. Statues of 80 Arahants surround the image.


Kuthodaw Pagoda
Built in 1858 by King Mindon it has 729 upright stone slabs on which are inscribed complete Buddhist Scripture. This place is popularly known as “the Worlds Biggest Book” for its stone scriptures.

Atumashi Kyaung
The incomparable monastery as it is literally known was built by King Mindon in 1878. There were reconstruction works in 1996.

Arts and Crafts
Myanmar arts and crafts are abundant in Mandalay. On the scene making of tapestry, ivory, wood, marble and stone carving and engravings, silverware and bronze statues according to the time-honoured traditions are abundant in Mandalay. Silk wearing and gold-leaf making can be seen also.

Surrounding Area of Mandalay

Pyin Oo Lwin (Maymyo)
East of Mandalay, a two and half hour drive place is the foothills of the Shan Plateau. Those seeking for escape from the sweltering heat of Mandalay take the travellers to a city that stands 3538 ft above sea level formerly known as Maymyo. Maymyo always known as Pyin Oo Lwin by the natives was renamed Maymyo after Colonel May, a British officer in the Bengal Infantry who was stationed at this hill station. While in Pyin Oo Lwin, places to visit are Botanical garden covering an area over 350 acres; Peikchinmyaung caves and another land mark that left the legacy of the British colonial days in an English country home, known as "Candacraig Hotel". One that you should not miss is a ride on the old horse drawn coach.





Amarapura
Amarapura lies to the South west of Mandalay and north of Inwa. It was founded by the King Bodawpaya in 1785 AD. After forty years of reigns, the capital was moved to Inwa and Amarapura was left desolated. Although the glorious days of Amarapura were short-lived, the great events occurre0d during the reigns. U Bein Wooden Bridge; Bagaya Monastery with a famous collection of Buddha Images and Maha Gandayon Monastery where more than a thousand of monks who take their last meal of the day at 10 am in the morning in total silence are places of interest to visit.

Sagaing
Situated on the west bank of Ayeyarwaddy River about 21 km south-west of Mandalay, Sagaing is famous as a Buddhist retreat where over 400 monasteries for monks and nuns are located for Buddhist studies and meditation around the Sagaing Hill. The dome shaped Kaunghmudaw & Ava bridge is worth seeing. Nearby Ywataung village offer you to see silver ware making by traditional methods. Myanmars of all over the country would visit Sagaing for the purpose of religious retreat.

Innwa
Innwa lies at the confluence of the Ayeyarwaddy and the Dothtavati rivers about 20 miles south west of Mandalay. The King Thadominbya founded the city in 1364 and it flourished for nearly three hundred years bringing forth its culture and literature to the highest pitch. A ride on the pony cart to Bagayar wooden monastery; Winkaba Temple; Watch tower; Menu brick monastery and alms bowls are the best visit. Across the Ayeyarwaddy River, there is a bridge named Innwa Bridge, which is over a km long. Opened in 1934, the bridge was put out of action by the British in 1942 when they demolished two spans in order to deny the bridge to the advancing Japanese. Not until 1954, the bridge was repaired and put back into operation.

Mingun
Mingun is 11 km upstream on the western bank of Ayeyarwaddy River. Huge but unfinished Mingun Pagoda overlooking the Ayeyarwaddy river; the world's largest ringing bell and 45 minutes cruise along the river can view some of the village life of the people on the river banks.