'Exclusive Travel Experience with Myanmar Tourism Services'

Mandalay & Environments
Sagaing
An ancient capital of royal Myanmar. In the rolling hills are countless hermitages for hermits and monasteries for monks, rest houses for nuns and laymen. It is an ideal place or peace of mind, away from the fast pace of city life. It is sublime to wander in these hills beneath a canopy of green and lush trees, amidst the murmur of religious recitations by monks. White-washed pagodas of different sizes dot the hills-hence Sagaing ridge like the white feather of paddy bird.

Sagaing: Kaunghmudaw Pagoda
Kaunghmudaw Pagoda, built by king Thalun in 1636, is about 10 kilometers from Sagaing. This enormous dome-shaped pagoda stands 46 meters in the shape of a perfect hemisphere. Around the base of pagoda are 812 store pillars, each is 1.5m high. The detailed construction of pagoda is recorded on each of pillar.

Innwa (Ava)
Inwa means the city at the entrance of a lake. It is an ancient capital of Inwa Period. It is just about 30 minute drives from Mandalay. Though no more royal palace, the pagodas still remain. One of the most memorable visits is to Inwa, thrice royal capital of the Myanmar Kingdom. Inwa reigned from 1364 for almost 200 years until it was invaded by mountain tribes in 1527, it later became the capital again, only to be taken by the Mons in 1752.For a third time, it was re-established as the capital until, on the advice of soothsayers, it was moved to nearby Amarapura in1841. Today, there is little to show of this once-grand city. While crumbling ramparts continue to mark out the city's former boundaries, almost all the buildings have long been gone, dissolved in the rice fields. Only an atmosphere of former glory remains. Its highlights are, Nan Myint Tower – known as the leaning tower of Inwa, 27 m high masonry watch tower, okkyaung – a brick aand stucco monastery built by the chief Queen of Bodawpaya in 1818 and Bagaya Kyaung – the Inwa’s finest attraction is the unrenovated monastery built of teak in 1834.

Inwa Bridge
Inwa Bridge which dates back to 1934 is one of the structures that cross the Ayeyarwaddy river.

Mingun
About 11 km upriver from Mandalay, the opposite bank of the Ayeyarwaddy River. It is accessible only by river. 45 minute boat trip is just long enough a trip to give you q pleasant feel for the river and glimpse of river life. Home of Mingun Pahtodawgyi - the enormous and unfinished pagoda and the un-cracked brass ringing the bell, which is the largest one in the world as well as for the most reserved. Tourists never fail to visit there.

Amarapura
Amarapura means the city which dies. It further means an immortal city. It is some minute drive form Mandalay, native people love to call Taungmyo (Southern City) to distinguish it from Mandalay. It was founded by Boawpaya as his new capital in 1782. It was also the site for the first British Embassy in Myanmar in 1795. Major highlights are Maha Gandayon Monastery where you can see several thousand young monks having their last meal of the day in total silent. It is a very enjoyable feast for eyes. And another interest is the 1.2km long U Bein Bridge of teak wood, adjoining Amerapura and Inwa, across the Taung Tha Man Lake.

Amarapura: U Bein Bridge
For over two hundred years, the creaking and rickety teak-wood bridge called U Bein's Bridge has been transporting monks, farmers and enthralled visitors over the Taungthaman Lake. U Bein was the then Mayor, and the bridge was named him. Three quarter mile long teak-wooden bridge connects Amarapura and Inwa across the Tungthaman Lake. Though it has been quite a long time ago, the teak-wood bridge still remains as it was, and that manifest the quality of Myanmar teak-wood.

 

Pyin Oo Lwin
Over 1000 meters above sea-level, Pyin Oo Lwin is a popular hill station about 69km away from Mandalay. It is well known for its 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 main attractions are Botanical Garden, Pwe Kauk Water fall and Peik Chin Myaung Cave. The Botanical Garden was first founded in the year 1915-16 by one British botanist named Mr. Roger who began collecting local plants and trees and cultivating them on 30 acres of land at the present site. Pwe Kauk Fall is about 8km from town. It is also called Hampshire Falls in British times. It's a very pleasant picnic spot.

 

Monywa
The second largest city in Sagaing Division after Sagaing. It is near the confluence of the Ayeyarwady River and the Chindwin Tributary. It has very good communications with other places by land and river. It is a city very prosperous in trade. The Thanbode (a half million of Buddha images), Bode Tahtaung (a thousand Bo trees), a 300 foot long reclining Buddha image, Shwe Ba Hill and Po Win Taung Hill with over 400,000 numbers of 14th to 16th century ancient Buddha images and mural painting are major places for the visitors.