Destinations : Mandalay Division
Location
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Mandalay Division is situated in central
Myanmar, adjoining Sagaing Division in the North, Shan State
in the East, Bago Division and Kayin State in the South, and
Sagaing and Magway Divisions in the West. The area of
Mandalay Division is 14,295 square miles. |
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Population |
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Mandalay Division is the second most populous
state/division in Myanmar with almost 1.2 million residents. |
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Tribes |
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The majority of the
population is Bamar, followed by small
number of Shan, Danu, Lisu and Palaung
tribes residing in the eastern area.
There is also a small population of
Leway and Pyinmana tibes living in the
Plain Chin (Asho Chin) region of
Mandalay. National races such as Kachin,
Kayin and Chin also live in the
division. |
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Religion |
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Mainly Buddhists; but there are also Hindus,
Muslims and Christians within the region. |
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Dialect |
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The Myanmar language is mainly spoken. |
Things to See
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Maha Muni Pagoda |
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This Pagoda has a Buddha
image with a gold crown decorated with precious gems
including diamonds, jade, rubies, sapphires and emeralds.
Originally located at the old capital of Amarapura, the Maha
Muni was relocated to Mandalay after the 1884 fire. |
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Shwe In Bin Kyaung (Monastery) |
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This large and graceful
wooden monastery was built by two wealthy Chinese merchants
in 1895. The wood carved ornamentation along the balustrades
and roof cornices is exquisite, and it is one of the most
beautiful monasteries in Mandalay. |
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Royal Palace |
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King Mindon, Myanmar's second
last king, shifted his capital from Amarapura to Mandalay to
fulfill an old prophecy. He built this palace on a site
carefully chosen by astrological calculations. It was known
as the Golden Palace and built of teakwood on a brick
platform covered with gold and vermilion. |
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Maha Law Ka Marazein or Kutho-Daw Pagoda |
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In literal Myanmar, Kutho-Daw
Gyi means the Great Royal Bounty. This pagoda was
constructed in 1857 by King Mindon and it is similar to the
Shwezigone Pagoda in Bagan (Nyaung U). It also has the
world's largest book of Buddhist scripts. |
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Mandalay Hill |
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Mandalay Hill is a natural
focus for the city, offering a panoramic view of Mandalay
and surrounding plain. Most people begin their visit to
Mandalay by climbing the hill. |
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Sanda Muni Pagoda |
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The Sanda Muni contains a
bronze image of Buddha cast in 1802 under the patronage of
King Bodaw (AD 1782-1819). King Mindon brought the image
from Amarapura to Mandalay. |
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Atumashi Kyaung |
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The Atumashi Kyaung means
Incomparable Monastery, and it was built about the same time
as the Kuthodaw pagoda. This monastery is famous for its
many ecclesiastical conventions. |
Kyauk Taw Gyi Pagoda
King Mindon gained merit by having
the huge Buddha image in this pagoda carved from a single piece of
white marble from the Sagyin hills. The King wanted this image to be
similar to the one in the Ananda Pagoda in Bagan.
Mandalay Palace Cultural Museum
Opened at the west Zaytawom Hall, in
the Myanansankyaw Shwe Nandaw, in 1996, this museum mainly displays
articles and artifacts relating to the royalty and the Konbaung
Dynasty.
Around Mandalay
Innwa
Formerly known as Ava, Inwa is
half-hour car drive and ferry crossing. In Inwa transport is mainly
by horse cart.
1. Htupayon Pagoda
The King Narapatigyi (1443-1469)
built this pagoda and also a temporary wooden bridge across the
river for the thousands of citizens to attend the pagoda's Hti-hoisting
ceremony.
2. Aungmyekawka Pagoda
This sandstone pagoda was built in 1783 to resemble
the Shwezigone Pagoda of
Bagan (Nyaung U).
3. Datpaungsu Pagoda
The sacred relics of the former pagodas were removed
by the British to allow construction of railway lines. Those pagodas
were then placed at the Datpaungsu pagoda. Datpaungsu means
collection of relics in Myanmar.
4. Maha Aung Myae Bonzan Monastery
King Bagyidaw and his queen built this monastery in
1818 for the royal abbot, Nyaung Gan Sayadaw. The monastery is built
brick and stucco, unlike most monasteries which were built of wood
and prone to destruction by fire.
5. Inwa Bridge
The original Inwa bridge across the Ayeyarwaddy River
on the road to Sagaing was one kilometer long. The bridge was opened
in 1934 but demolished in 1942.
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Amarapura |
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1. U Bein (or U-Pein)
Bridge
The Atumashi Kyaung means Incomparable Monastery, and it was
built about the same time as the Kuthodaw pagoda. This
monastery is famous for its many ecclesiastical conventions. |
2. Kyauk Taw Gyi (Amarapura)
In 1847 King Bagan erected this
pagoda, which is a reproduction of the Ananda Temple in Bagan. The
Buddha's image in this pagoda is carved from a single block of
marble.
Mingun
1. Mya Thein Dan Pagoda
In 1816 King Bagyidaw built this pagoda in 1816 before he acceded
to the throne. He built it as a memorial to of his late chief queen,
Hsinbyume.
2. Pahto Daw Gyi
Before overthrowing the former king and seizing the
throne, King Bodawpaya took refuge at Mingun. There made a vow that
he would implement four religious projects once he became a king,
and established this pagoda.
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3. Mingun Bell |
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Although King Bodawpaya did
not complete the construction of his pagoda in his lifetime,
he did complete the construction of the Mingun Bell. The
local people donated metal utensils from their homes to help
provide the bronze needed to smelt the bell. |
Sagaing
1. Soon-Oo Ponnyashin pagoda
This pagoda is located on one of the 37 hilltops of
Sagaing. The hill is named Nga-Pha hill because it resembles a frog.
U Ponnya who lived in the Pintaya dynasty under King Tazeeshin
Thihathu built this pagoda.
2. Thabyedan Fort
This fort is located near Inwa Bridge on the Mandalay
side of the Ayeyawady River. It was the last fort built to defend
Mandalay during the third Anglo-Myanmar war.
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3. Sagaing Hill |
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This fort is located near Inwa Bridge on the
Mandalay side of the Ayeyawady River. It was the last fort
built to defend Mandalay during the third Anglo-Myanmar war. |
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