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The city of Mandalay is situated in the upper part of Myanmar, on the east bank of the Irrawaddy River and about 700 kilometers north of Yangon. This destination is home to the last Burmese Royal Palace, numerous important Buddhist constructions, and peaceful surrounding areas which makes it one of the best places for sightseeing in the Golden Land.
Mandalay overview
Mandalay is situated in the central dry zone of Myanmar, which makes it receive hot and dry weather. The city features 2 seasons: dry and wet. The dry season starts from November to February bringing warm sunlight and less rainfall making the outdoor activities enjoyable. However, remember to bring a lot of water to keep you hydrated, sunblock, and hat when going outside. This time of the year is also considered as the best time to visit Mandalay.
The hottest months fall on March and April which is scorching hot with the highest temperatures reaching 40°C. However, the water festival of Thingyan - Burmese New Year occurs at the beginning of April will offer tourists many interesting activities and unique ceremonies.
The wet season happens from May to October bringing heavy rainfalls to the region. The showers may interrupt your activities, hence, they bring life to the vegetation and the travel cost is much cheaper during this period in comparison to the dry season.
Coming to Mandalay, you cannot miss the following attractions:
Mahamuni Pagoda is a famous landmark in Mandalay not only for its ancient origin (built in 1784) but also for housing a very sacred Buddha image. Rumor has it that the statue is one of the 5 likeliest images in the world depicting the Gautama Buddha's appearance. It is now covered in a thick layer of gold leaf applied by men devotees as a mark of respect. There is a washing face ritual for this image practiced by a senior monk early every morning.
Mahamuni Pagoda
Additionally, the pagoda also has a colorful festival in February celebrating its historical beginning and development. Not only religious activities will be organized in this ceremony but also you can take part in many other cultural, entertaining, and social activities. This is the chance for you to witness the culture and spirit life of the Burmese.
Mandalay City has its name from the famous Mandalay Hill which is one of the most important Burmese religious sites. The destination also serves as a vantage point as it overlooks the city, offering tourists a perfect place to observe the magical sunrise or sunset of the Golden Land.
There are three ways for visitors to reach the top of the hill: climbing up the stairways in bare feet (with many convenient seats along the way up), taking the escalator, or going on a tuk-tuk (finish with a final few steps or continue to take the escalator). Remember to pay special attention to the two statues of giant chinches (half - lion, half-dragon guardian deities) guarding in front of the southern entrance, as well as Su Taung Pyi Pagoda near the top of Mandalay Hill.
Furthermore, you can also pay a visit to some nearby attractions at the foot of Mandalay Hill such as the Royal Palace, Shwenandaw Monastery, and Kuthodaw Pagoda, and the world's largest book.
Have you ever wondered where the thin gold leaf that the locals use to apply on the Buddha statues comes from? Or how the stunning piece of Longyi (Burmese traditional dress) with colorful patterns are made? Take a visit to the local workshops of Mandalay and you will never regret it.
Mandalay is famous for making many beautiful Burmese traditional handicrafts such as gold leaf beating, bronze casting, or silk weaving. Coming here, you can have a great opportunity to observe the skillful craftsmen doing their work and maybe experience the procedures by yourself.
After exploring all the main highlights of Mandalay, hop on a boat trip to Mingun - another former Burmese capital. Once you arrive in Mingun, you will be impressed by the enormous, undone structure of the famous Mingun Pagoda (also known as Mingun Pahtodawgyi or Mingun Paya), as well as the distinctive architecture of Hsinbyume Pagoda nearby. This place is also well-known for Mingun Bell which is the second-biggest ringing bell in the world.
This 1.2-kilometer bridge was built around 1850 from over a thousand teak columns (some have currently been replaced by concrete posts) taken from the royal palace of Ava. U Bein Bridge is now believed to be the oldest teakwood bridge in the world.
U Bein Bridge
The bridge not only plays a significant role as a passageway for the locals but also as a famous tourist attraction that draws waves of tourists every year. U Bein Bridge is most beautiful when the sun casts its mesmerizing glow over the Taungthaman Lake creating a magical scene.
Location: Taungthaman Lake, Amarapura (about 30 minutes drive from Mandalay)
Your trip in Mandalay may be uncompleted if you do not take a horse cart to explore around Inwa (also known as Inwa), a small town situated at the convergence of Ayeyarwaddy and Myitnge River. Needless to say, Inwa has become a popular day trip destination from Mandalay thanks to its timeless cultural heritage. Maha Aungmye Bonzan Monastery, Grand Bagaya Monastery, and Nanmyint Watch Tower are the top attractions in Ava which will definitely give you memorable experiences in this ancient city.
Traveling around numerous cities and tourist attractions in Myanmar, visitors can easily spot Buddha images or stupas gilded with gold leaves. The making process to create gold leaves is completely handmade and very interesting to observe. Mandalay has many gold leaf workshops that own the biggest supply of genuine gold leaf resources. You can pay a visit to King Galon's workshop for a closer look at the gold leaf beating.
Gold Leaf
The rich culture and beautiful architecture of Myanmar are shown on various types of presents. Some of those are Buddhist sculptures and paintings, as well as Marionette – an adorable form of Burmese traditional puppet. These souvenirs can be found in Amar Waddy, Aung Nan Myanmar Handicrafts workshop, or Rocky - one of Mandalay’s most popular handicraft shops.
Do’s
Don’ts
Mandalay, Bagan, Inle Lake, Yangon, Vientiane, Luang Prabang, Pakou Caves, Kuang Si Waterfall
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