Tours and Travels

Mandalay City

Established: around 200 years ago
Location: Latitude:21°58' N, Longitude:96°04' E
Temperature: min 10°C - max 43.3°C
Population: over 1 million

Mandalay, capital of the last Myanmar kingdom has grown a lifestyle
strongly influenced by conservative tradition and culture. It is situated
about 600 kilometers north of Yangon on the bank of the Ayeyarwaddy
River. It is the second largest city in the country. Today, it is a major
trading and communication center in the northern and central Myanmar.
With Buddhism, conservatism, and traditional arts, Mandalay abounds
in historical sites and cultural memorials.

Where to Visit

The world’s largest book, known as Kuthodaw is a 13-acre field of
729 pieces of stone inscriptions, documenting the whole Buddhist
Bible on marble slabs. Mandalay Palace was first built by King
Mindon when he shifted his capital from Amarapura in AD 1861, to
fulfill an old prophecy. It was built of teak wood on raised brick plinth,
gilded with gold and vermillion. This square-shaped palace wall is
quarter mile long on each sides. There are 12 gates, 3 on each side.
The bricks wall is 25 feet high. It was the official capital and royal
Mya Theindan Pagoda, Mandalay
12 Myanmar Travel Information 2010
palace of the last Myanmar King Thipaw, until British captured him in
1885 and took him to India. Some buildings including wooden pavilions
are original and some have been rebuilt as replica. Maha Myat Muni
Buddha, located in the southwest part of the city, is a 4 m-high
seated image, cast in bronze and weighs 6.5 tons. The crown is
decorated with precious diamonds, rubies, and sapphires. This Buddha
image is highly venerated, as it is said to be made in front of Buddha
himself, and thus its face is most revered. The image is completely
covered with 15 cm-thick gold. Mandalay Hill has 230 meters in
elevation and commands a magnificent view of the city and surrounding
countryside. As a legend goes, Buddha, on His visit, made a prophecy
that a great city would be founded at the foot of this hill many years
later. U Bein Bridge was constructed in 1849, crossing the Taungtha-
man Lake is one of the main attractions for visitors. It is the
longest teak bridge in the world. Although a bit rickety in some parts,
it has withstood many storms and floods of over two centuries. The
bridge is named after its donor Mayor U Bein. Atumashi Monastery
in Mandalay is a Buddhist monastery, beautifully decorated with white
and golden paints. Sanda Muni Pagodas are located near the
Mandalay Hill. Sanda Muni is a large collection of slender whitewashed
ancillary stupas on the grounds. The Golden Palace Monastery is
the most significant of Mandalay’s historic buildings, remaining as
the sole major survivor of the former wooden Royal Palace built by
King Mindon in the mid-nineteenth century. It is fragile yet grand

Inle Lake

Location: Latitude:20°46' N, Longitude:97°01’E
Temperature: min 12°C - max 28°C
Population: 80,000
Inle Lake is a huge lake (22 km long and 10 km across) located in
Shan State, over 900 meters above sea-level, and it is outrageously
beautiful. The strangest thing about Inle is native lake-dwellers, living
on ‘floating islands’. Have you ever seen an island in your life which
floats around? This is no magic. No miracle. No joke. It’s real!
Inle Lake is one of the most significant and productive ecological
system supporting an immense variety of plants and animals and
yielding great wealth for Myanmar through its occurrence of floating
islands and the life style of the natives.
Floating islands are collection of floating weed and water hyacinth,
which later piled up and hardened, that vegetation can be grown, and
even houses can be built on top of them. These floating islands can
be cut, dragged by boats, or even be sold like a piece of land! This
vast picturesque lake is one of the main tourist attractions in Myanmar.
Besides, it is the home of some 80,000 Inthars (native lake-dwellers)
in 17 villages. Many Inthars live in their huts and wooden bungalows
on floating islands, while some live by the villages lakeshore. Inle
Leg-rowing boat competition at Inle Lake
Lake, natural and unpolluted, is famous for their amazing lifestyle and
its incomparable scenic beauty. You have to find out why this unique
leg-rowing custom is practiced by Inthars.
Living Legend: Why do they live a harder life on water, and not on
land? There goes a folk tale that today’s lake-dwellers are descendants
of some Myanmar troops centuries ago. They were once sent to exile
by an angry Emperor.
The order of exile was ‘to leave his land’. But these Myanmar troops
were so loyal and smart, that they left Myanmar land obeying the
emperor, by living on water in Inle Lake, but never left the country
they love so much!
Where to Visit
Phaungdawoo Buddha Images are in a set of five, cherished by
Bagan Emperor Alaung Sithu, dedicated to five Buddhas of this planet
Earth. These Buddha images are famous because many prayers
came true, after praying at Phaung Taw Oo. Try yourself.
Nyaung Shwe is the capital town for Inle Lake area. 5-day market,
opened only on every 5th day, is very interesting thing for tourists.
Women from various hill tribes that live in the Inle Lake region come
to sell their home crafts, products, fruits & vegetable in this market.

Bagan

Established: 1200 years ago
Location: Latitude:21°10' N, Longitude:94°51' E
Temperature: min 10°C - max 43°C
Although earliest Myanmar civilizations emerged as Pyu city states
since BC 4000 or so, Bagan actually was the first capital of the first
wholly-united Myanmar Empire (846-1368 AD). Situated on the east
bank of the Ayeyarwaddy River and approximately 90 miles (145
km) southwest of Mandalay, lies the magnificent Bagan. Over 2000
Buddhist shrines, temples, pagodas, and remains of the royal palace
cover the whole Bagan plain of 42 sq km.
Where to Visit
Ananda Temple is the finest and best preserved among all Bagan
temples. The Ananda, built by King Kyansittha (1084-1113AD), is
significantly different in form. The temple is said to represent the
endless wisdom of Buddha. Thatbyinnyu Temple was one of King
Sithu’s (1113-1167 AD) finest legacies to the Bagan region. Located
just inside the southeastern corner of the old city wall, Thatbyinnyu
is Bagan’s tallest temple at almost 200 ft. Shwegugyi, meaning
‘Great Golden Cave’ was built by King Alaungsithu (1113-1167AD)
Panoramic view of Bagan archaeological zone with 4000 ancient monuments
This temple is an early example of a transition in architectural styles
which resulted in airy and naturally well lit buildings, built in 1131. The
Gadawt Palin (Temple of the worshiping throne) was built during the
reign of King Narapatisithu (1174-1211AD) and completed during the
reign of his successor, Nadaung-mya (aka. King Htilominlo, 1211-
1234). Strangely shaped Bupaya Pagoda is situated right on the
river bank of the Ayeyarwaddy. This pagoda has been claimed to be
the oldest in Bagan, dating back to 3rd century AD. The Maha Bohdi
Temple, erected during the reign of King Nadaungmya, is modeled
after the temple of the same name in Bodhgaya, India. It is a 140-
feet-high brick and whitewashed stucco structure characterized by a
large square pyramidal tower and topped by a conical spire and
umbrella. Dhammayangyi Temple, one of the most artistic and
massive shrines, was built by King Narathu, who ensured sole
copyright of artwork of this temple, by killing hundreds of workers
who built it, so that these masons can no more produce high quality
artwork as same as this. First Myanmar Empire collapsed after Mongol
invasion during the reign of King Narathihapati (1256-1287 AD), who
built Mingalarzedi Pagoda. It could be the last pagoda built during
the Bagan era. It is noted for its fine proportions and for the many
beautiful jataka tiles around its three square terraces. A very similar
structure, Shwezigon Pagoda is located in Nyaung Oo, 4 miles to
the northeast of the ancient city of Bagan. It is 160 feet high and 160
feet wide at the base.