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Cities, Towns and Areas of Myanmar |
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Amarapura |
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Ava
The area around Mandalay contains several older, abandoned capital cities. In the 15th century, Ava was chosen as the kingdom's new capital and it remained so until well into the 19th century, when the kingdom vanished. The old city walls can still be traced.
Inlay Lake
Inlay Lake on the Shan
Plateau is famous for its floating gardens and leg-rowing fishermen. Lots of
good photo opportunities along the shores of this lake.
Kalaw
This region of the country offers the visitor
opportunities for walking and rock-climbing, and the various hill stations, such
as Kalaw, provide a pine-forested escape from the heat and humidity of
Yangon.
Mandalay
This old royal
city is rich in palaces, stupas, temples and pagodas. It is also the main center
of Buddhism and Burmese arts. Taking its
name from Mandalay Hill (rising about 240m/787ft to the northeast of the
palace), the city was founded by King Mindon in 1857, the old wooden palace
buildings at Amarapura being moved and reconstructed.
Sights of interest include the huge Shweyattaw Buddha, with its outstretched finger pointing towards the city; the Eindawya Pagoda, built in 1847 and covered in gold leaf; the Shwekyimyint Pagoda containing the original Buddha image consecrated by Prince Minshinzaw during the Pagan period; and the Mahumuni Pagoda or which houses the famous Mahumuni image.
Covered in gold leaf over the years by devout Buddhists, this image was brought from Arakan in 1784, although it is thought to be much older. The base, moat and huge walls, are virtually all that remain of the Mandalay Palace which was an immense walled city of mostly timber construction. It burned down in 1942 but there is a large-scale model that gives an indication of what it must have been like.
The Shwenandaw Kyaung Monastery was at one time part of the palace complex and was used as an apartment by King Mindon and his chief queen. This wooden building, just like the palace, was once beautifully gilded. There are some extraordinary carved panels inside and also a photograph of the Atumashi Kyaung Monastery, which was also destroyed by fire. The ruins can be seen to the south of the Kuthodaw Pagoda which is called "the world's largest book" because of the 729 marble slabs that surround the central pagoda. There are some excellent craft markets and there are thriving stone-carving workshops and gold-leaf industries.
Maymyo
This charming British hill station has attractive waterfalls and a pleasant
climate, primarily because of the high altitude of Maymyo.
Mingun
Close to Mandalay, and reachable by a pleasant river trip, is Mingun. It is
here where you can see the famous Mingun Bell,
supposedly the largest uncracked, hung bell in the world. It was cast in 1790 by
King Bodawpaya to be hung in his giant pagoda, which was never finished, due to
the king's death in 1819. The base of the pagoda alone is over 150 feet.
Myinkaba
Outside the
capital, places worth visiting include the Naga-Yone enclosure near Myinkaba,
with a Buddha figure entwined and protected by a huge cobra - a combination of
Buddhism and Brahman astrology; Kyaik Tyo and its "Golden Rock
Pagoda." It was built to almost 20 feet and placed on a gold-plated boulder atop a
cliff.
Pagan
The areas around Pagan is one of the
greatest historical areas in the country. Try to plan your visit for either sunrise or
sunset as this is when it can best be appreciated.
More than 13,000 pagodas were once spread over this dry plain during the golden
age of the 11 great kings. this reign concluded with the
threat of invasion by Kublai Khan from China.
Today there are fewer than 3,000 pagodas. The actual village of Pagan has a museum, market and places to eat and stay. Within walking distance of Pagan you will find some nice lacquer ware workshops and an attractive temple. There are dozens of open temples in the Pagan area and the places of special interest would include the Shwegugyi Temple, built in 1311 and noted for its fine stucco carvings; the Gawdawpalin Temple, badly damaged in an earthquake in 1975 but still one of the most impressive of the Pagan temples; and the Thatbyinnyu Temple, which is the highest in Pagan.
Pegu
Outside the
capital, Pegu is one of the places worth visiting. Pegu was founded in 1573 and
is the location of the golden Shwemawdaw Pagoda. Just
northeast of Pegu is the Shwethalyaung Buddha, revered as one of the most
beautiful and lifelike of reclining Buddhas, which was lost and totally
overgrown by jungle after the destruction of Pegu in 1757. It was rediscovered
during the British Era during the construction of a railway line. There is also
a fine market here you should visit.
Pindaya
This region of the country offers the visitor
opportunities for walking and rock-climbing. The caves and lake at Pindaya are
famous. They caves contain
thousands of Buddha images.
Rangoon
Yangon, also called or
Rangoon, is the capital of Myanmar. It is a city of Buddhist temples, open-air markets, food
stalls and some fine, if ill-repaired, colonial architecture. It has a population of over two
million. Although most of the city has been built in the last hundred years, and
although it suffered considerable damage during the Second World War, there are
still several examples of a more ancient culture. These include the golden Shwedagon
Pagoda, one of the most spectacular Buddhist shrines in Asia and reputedly
2500 years old (although rebuilt in 1769); the Sule Pagoda, also over
2000 years old; the Botataung Pagoda, hollow inside with a mirrored maze;
and the Maha Pasan Guha or "Great Cave."
Sagaing
The area
around Mandalay contains several older, abandoned capital cities. Sagaing
is easily accessible to the visitor, and contains interesting pagodas at Tupayon,
Aungmyelawka and Kaunghmudaw. Sagaing was for a time the capital
of an independent Shan Kingdom.
Yangon
Yangon, also called or
Rangoon, is the capital of Myanmar. It is a city of Buddhist temples, open-air markets, food
stalls and some fine, if ill-repaired, colonial architecture. It has a population of over two
million. Although most of the city has been built in the last hundred years, and
although it suffered considerable damage during the Second World War, there are
still several examples of a more ancient culture. These include the golden Shwedagon
Pagoda, one of the most spectacular Buddhist shrines in Asia and reputedly
2500 years old (although rebuilt in 1769); the Sule Pagoda, also over
2000 years old; the Botataung Pagoda, hollow inside with a mirrored maze;
and the Maha Pasan Guha or "Great Cave."
Yengan
This region of the country offers the visitor
opportunities for walking and rock-climbing. Near the village of Yengan are the
Padah-Lin
Caves, containing prehistoric paintings.
