FOCUS ON: Mandalay Region

Mandalay, or “the Golden City” was founded relatively recently in 1857 by King Mindon to coincide with an ancient Buddhist prophecy.

 Tradition has it that Gautama Buddha visited the sacred Mandalay Hill site, and proclaimed that on the 2400th anniversary of his death a metropolis of Buddhist teaching would be founded there.

 Upon completion of what was now the new Royal  capital of Konboung, or Upper Myanmar, King Mindon moved hie entire government and 150,000 people from nearby Amarapura. It was common in Burmese history to move capitals upon the ascension of a king.

 It was the last city to fall into the hands of the British invasion of 1885;  and for this reason it still has great importance as a cultural centre.

 King Thibaw was reigning at the time, but after he handed Mandalay over to the British General Prendergast, both he and his queen went into self imposed exile.

Mandalay Today

Mandalay is located on the central rice growing plains of the Upper Ayeyarwady area.

About 600km north of Yangon, only 80 meters above sea level,  on the banks of the 2000km long Ayeyarwady River.

Is Myanmars second largest city with an estimated population of around one million.

Mandalay is often dusty and quite hot, lacking the green swathe of shade synonymous with Yangon.

However;  to the Burmese it is Mandalay, not Yangon that is the true representative of Burmese life, history, culture and the centre of Buddhist learning. There is always something happening on the busy streets of the former Upper Burmese capital.

Attractions

Mandalay is home to many famous places of interest: the Maha Muni Pagoda, the Atuma-shi Kyaung, the Mandalay Hill, U Bein Bridge, the Kutho-daw Pagoda, the Royal Palace, the Yankin Hill, the Zegyo Market,  Amarapura, Saiging to name but a few.

Amarapura 

or “the City of Immortality” was the ancient capital of the Myanmar Monarchy, 7 miles south of Mandalay, Amarapura’s attractions include the Pa-hto-daw-gyi Pagoda, U Bein Bridge, Stone carving and silk weaving industry. A  river trip is necessary to visit.

Mandalay Royal  Palace

King Mindon Min ordered the construction of this imposing walled palace come fortress in 1857.

The palace forms a perfect square, with a flowing moat. The outer walls face the four cardinal directions and the 12 gates thereon are named after the signs of the Zodiac.

Sadly it was severely damaged in 1945 during fierce fighting between the British, Indian and Japanese forces. Formerly made to teak it has been reconstructed using concrete. Views differ as to how visitors receive the renovations, personally I found the visit worthwhile as the restorations were fine, although obviously missing the romance that teak can only provide the buildings gave a sense of scale from a kingdom that aspired to construct massive symbolic buildings.

 Immediately behind the old palace is;

Mandalay Hill.

Once visited by Gautama Buddha, and indirectly solely responsible for the construction of Mandalay, the hill provides an unparalleled view of the entire pagoda studded Mandalay region with the might Ayawadee in the background.

Shwenandaw Kyaung

Once part of King Mindon’s palce, this wooden building was moved shortly after his death and converted into a monastery.

It remains an impressive example of Burmese Teak crafting, and architecture.

Today it is one of few such buildings surviving, as extensive bombing during WW II, destroyed most of Mandalay’s wooden buildings.

Market Town

In the centre of the city is Zegyo (Zei gyo) Market where you can find anything here available in Yangon as well as local handicrafts.

By day it is filled with the bustle of colourful locals, and skilled craftsmen plying their trades.

By night the area comes alive with bars and restaurants.

A brief Trishaw ride across town to 66th street, will take you to the Manadaly Marionettes. A theatre with nightly shows at 8.30 pm The puppet controllers, part of a dying breed) are amongst the world’s best marionette masters. A show is much more than child’s entertainment and a must see in Burma.

Mandalay Region:  Pyin Oo Lwin & Inle Lake

From Mandalay there are many day and overnight excursions to other parts of this breathtaking region.

Pyin Oo Lwin (Maymo)

The former British Hill Station, previously named Maymyo, is a timeless colonial serenity.

Pyin Oo Lwin ,is a scenic and cool highland 1100 metres above sea level and only 2 ¼ hours by jeep; 

42 miles east of Mandalay, nestling in the Shan Plateau foothills.

The inspirational views of the Mandalay Plains once influenced  Rudyard Kipling’s  the road  to Mandalay.

Little seems to have changed since Kiplings travels over 100 years ago.

This resort of beautiful colonial architecture, stage coaches, bustling market places, and the fresh and lush bloom of colourful flowers, is worth a visit.

Visit the spacious and verdant hectares Botanical garden with its cherry blossom in December and January, and do not miss the nearby Pwekauk Waterfalls, the recently opened limestone grotto and the underground stream known as Peik-Chin Myaung

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