Mandalay’s Surroundings
Amarapura
Amarapura is famous for silk weaving industry. Most of the Myanmar people are very proud to wear silk Achiek Longyi on special occasion like the cultural ceremonies. These silk Achiek Longyi are mainly produced in Amarapura. Amarapura lies on the left bank of the Ayarwaddy River (Irrawaddy) and is 11km south of Mandalay It is accessible by car. A suburb of Mandalay, it is also known as Taung-myo (Southern Town) or Myohaung (Old City). It was founded by King Bodawpaya in 1783 as his new capital. Amarapura means “City of Immortality”. Amarapura was the capital city of Myanmar during the Konbaung Dynasty. It was founded by King Bodawpaya in 1982 A.D., as the king transferred the capital from Inwa (or Ava). King Bagyidaw, grandson of Bodawpaya shifted the capital back to Innwa in 1823, but King Tharawaddy his successor, again took the capital back to Amarapura in 1837 and it remained as the capital until King Mindon built Mandalay in 1857 and shifted the capital there in 1860. Amarapura is famous for the Silk Weaving Industry, the world’s longest wooden bridge (U Bein Bridge), and Mahagandayon Monastery (one of the Buddhist Universities).
In-wa (Ava)
Inwa was formerly known as Ava and it is located 21kms from Mandalay. Inwa was also known as Yadana Pura. It was first founded as a capital by King Thado Minbya in 1364 A.D. It is located the confluence of the Ayeyarwaddy and Myit Nge rivers. But the king had a canal dug to join the Myit Nge and Myit Tha rivers, thus cutting off the capital as an island, safe from enemy attacks. The ruins of the palace, the massive fort walls and moat can still be seen as the splendour of the past when it had been the capital for more than four and a half centuries. Inwa lies south of Mandalay and takes only 30 minutes by car to reach there.
Mingun
Mingun is located on the western bank of the Ayeyarwaddy (Irrawaddy) River, approximately seven miles north of Mandalay. It is accessible by either crossing the famous Ava Bridge (more than 100 years old) or by ferryboats across the river. It takes an hour when going up-river and 40 minutes for down-river. (If you are in luck, you may be able to see the Ayeyarwaddy dolphins swimming up and down the Ayeyarwaddy River.) Mingun is famous for its bronze bell which is the second largest bell in the world.And the venerable Buddhist monk, Mingun Sayadaw, who was noted in the Guiness World Record Book for was ability to memorize Tri-pitakas (Buddha’sTeachings by heart), was from this same Mingun village. A boat trip to Mingun is pleasant with plenty of life to see on the river. The Pahtodawgyi is a wonderful building in Mingun. It was built by King Bodaw Badon in 1791. From the top of the Mingun Pahtodawgyi, one can view the scene of Mingun and Ayeyawaddy River. You can use the stairs to climb to the top. There are altogether 174 steps.
Sagaing
Once an ancient capital, Sagaing lies 21km south-west of Mandalay on the west bank of the Ayeyarwaddy (Irrawaddy) River. Sagaing became the capital of an independent Shan Kingdom around 1315 after the fall of Bagan. Its period of importance was short, for in 1364, the founder’s grandson Thado Minbya moved his capital across the river to Inwa. From 1760 to 1764, Sagaing was once again the capital. Today, Sagaing is popularly chosen as a meditation centre. Many Buddhists all over the country would visit Sagaing for the purpose of religious retreat. The population of Sagaing Division is 538,000, and the average population density is 139 persons per square mile.
Sagaing Hill
Once you cross the Sagaing Bridge, you can see the hilltops, each crested with pagodas, and banners proclaiming Buddha’s teaching. It is the famous refuge from all ills and tribulations where over 600 monasteries housing monks and nuns are located for Buddhist studies and meditation. The Padamyazedi pagoda dates back from 1300, whilst the Umin Thonze or thirty caves pagoda has many Buddha images in crescent shaped colonnade. Mural paintings can be seen in the Tilawkaguru cave temple which was built around 1672. At nearby village of Ywahtaung, one can see silversmiths in the process of making bowls and other items of silver by traditional methods. The most impressive Soon Oo Pon Nya Shin Pagoda nearby was constructed in 1312. The view of Sagaing from Soon Oo Pon Nya Shin and its approach is really marvelous.
Pyin Oo Lwin (Maymyo)
Over 100 meters above sea-level, Pyin-Oo Lwin is a popular hill- station about 69 km away from Mandalay. It is well known for colonial–style houses with large compound and pine trees, eucalyptus and Silver-oak abound in town. Delightfully cool and pleasant the whole year round, the 175 hectare National Kandawgyi Garden, Pwe Kauk and Ani-sakhan Waterfalls, Gohteik Viduct and Peik Chin Myaung are places of interest.
Monywa
Monywa is a city in central Myanmar, and situated on the eastern bank of the Chindwin River, in Mandalay Division. It lays 136 kms north-west of Mandalay. Monywa serves as a major trade centre for India and Myanmar (Burma) through Kalay Myo by road and by Chindwin River. Moenyinn Thanbuddhe Pagoda is one of the famous Pagodas in Monywa. Tourists can also take a drive across the Chindwin river and visit Phowin Taung where they can enjoy the beauty of statues carved out of rocky mountain sides and also some mural painting. The highest standing Buddha Image in the world is under construction and is nearly completed in Monywa.
The Phowintaung area was home to pre Myanmar Hanlin cave dwellers. The caves at Hpowintaung became such as important repository of religious art. The scope of the artistry is awesome. Some of the art apparently dates from the 17th and 18th centuries.
Visitors to the region cross the Chindwin River by ferry boat and then ride about 10 inches west of the river. It takes about three hours to travel to and from Monywa and see the main sights at Powintaung and Shwebataung.
Near to Monywa are two other unique pagodas. Thanboddhay Pagoda, about 12km back toward Mandalay on the main high way, is a magnificent repository of more than half a million Buddhist images. The original pagoda is built in the year 1303 but its present form dates only from 1939.
Directly behind the Thanboddhay pagoda is Bodhitataung (1000 Banyan trees) Pagoda. A huge reclining Buddha statue, completed only in 1995, crowns the low hill behind the temple.
Mogoke
About a 7 hour drive north of Mandalay, Mogoke is famous for the beautiful rubies and sapphires mined there. Located at 1170 meters in picturesque natural surroundings, Mogoke also enjoys a temperate climate. Visitors may observe the mining techniques by which these precious stones are taken from the Alluvial limestone gravel and may also shop at the many gemstone markets.
Lashio
It is a trading town in Northern Shan State, accessible by road Mandalay. From Lashio, the famous Bumar road, built by the British before WW ll intersects with Ledo Road leading into the Yunnan Province. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mandalay