This is particularly true in Mandalay with quite a selection of Read More Shopping in Mandalay is an entirely different experience compared to shopping in Yangon. With one exception Mandalay Read More Our interactive map and satellite views displays all available hotels with photos, facilities and attractions, Read More We try to provide free information that is as up-to-date and accurate as possible.
However, if you are planning to travel it's a good idea to double check specific dates and information to avoid surprises. Most Booked Hotels Rating From. The Strand Yangon 4. Sule Shangri-La, Yangon 4. Chatrium Hotel Royal Lake Yangon 4.
Hotel Grand United Ahlone Branch 4. Mercure Mandalay Hill Resort 4. Sedona Hotel Yangon 4. Hilton Nay Pyi Taw 4. Bagan Lodge 4. Mandalay Attractions Like other cities in Myanmar, Mandalay is home to many pagodas, as Theravada Buddhism is the predominant religion in the Read More Mandalay Activities Mandalay preserves the folk art of puppetry, and showcases this art form to foreigners through marionette shows and Read More When King Thibaw came to the throne he was fearful of the ghost of King Mindon and had the building ripped down and rebuilt outside the palace walls where it was then converted into a monastery.
The image is said to show the Buddha in meditation and some people say that it looks more like an anime image than a traditional depiction. The main reason to come and check out the Buddha is that this image is designed in a modern style which is also very different from many other statues in the region which makes it worth the visit alone.
One of the reasons that visitors usually rave about Mandalay is down to the terrific street food on offer here. This is due to the sheer variety of bites on offer such as the Indian bread stalls that serve roti with dipping sauce. You will also find a number of Chinese restaurants all over town that sell classic dishes like chicken with cashews and the city is also covered in local tea shops that sell drinks and local iconic plates such as tea leaf salad.
Close to Yankin Paya is a newly built monastery in Mandalay which is known for its iconic stupa which is made of brass. Mya Kyauk is known for being the spot of alkaline mineral water which means that it is also a place of worship due to the mineral properties found here. Apparently the waters around Mya Kyauk can cure ailments such as diabetes and gout and you can sample a glass when you visit this unusual and quirky monastery building.
The Peshawar Relics is basically the name for three small shards of bone which are important items in Buddhism.
They were discovered by the British in and what would have been found in a grand stupa in Peshawar which is now in modern day Pakistan. Now you can check out these relics in the U-Khanti Monastery and this is also an important site of pilgrimage for those of the Buddhist faith.
Eindawya Paya consists of a large stupa covered in gold leaf which was built in in the time of King Pagan Min on the spot of what would have been his palace. The complex here is known for its serene atmosphere and you can wander around and soak in all the history of this famous spot. Just make sure to take off your shoes as this became a source of contention in during the British colonial period and several monks were given prison sentences as a result.
For a more modern side of Mandalay, head to Zegyo which is a 25 storey tower which punctuates the skyline. Here you will find a huge number of shops which sell everything you could ever want to buy in Myanmar. Many of the shops sell traditional textiles and there is also an older market just outside that sells towers of local fruit and vegetables as well as snacks like dried fish.
The San Dha Mukhi Statue is a dainty statue that is fashioned in the image of the iconic ogress San Dha Mukhi who is in the middle of offering her severed breast to the Buddha. This is part of a Buddhist legend which says that he was so pleased by this act of self-mutilation that he made sure that she was reincarnated some 2, years later in the form of King Mindon.
If you have had enough of looking at temples and stupas then consider a visit to the main Catholic church in Mandalay. The church was founded in the 19th century and was built in the colonial style which makes it stand out in the rest of the city. Make sure that you tour the interior and soak in the serene atmosphere and the high vaulted ceilings. Mandalay is known for its gold leaf beaters who make sheets of gold leaf which are then used by devotees and pasted to Buddha images.
If you want to know more about this then the best place to come is the Golden Rose Workshop where you can watch the artisans at work and also listen to a free talk in English that will explain the cultural and religious significance of the gold leaf beating process. Once in the confines of the dry taxi, we settled in for the ride to Amarapura.
Along the way we passed numerous intersections filled with standing water with locals wading through as if this happens every day and it might this time of year. Miraculously, we eventually arrived at the monastery without the car being swept away at an intersection resulting in a CNN-worthy rescue attempt. The rain was pounding on the roof of the car but our driver pointed in the direction we should walk and indicated that it was time to get out.
Here goes nothing. Founded in , the Mahar Gandaryone Monastery and religious institute is one of the largest teaching monasteries in Myanmar. More than 3, monks of all ages including some very young novices reside at this center for monastic study and strict religious discipline. But as soon as Angela and I got there, the whole thing just felt wrong. The novice monks were busily setting row after row of tables with bowls of food in the open air dining room.
Yet for some reason tourists are apparently invited to witness this process each day. Eventually, one of the monks who seemed to be in charge came around to the side of the dining hall where we were standing and directed us around to the other side for photographs.
At least then we knew we were in the right place but it still felt strange to just watch them eat. After the meal was done, one by one they reclaimed their discarded umbrellas and returned to their studies. It just reeked of disrespect.
We searched the monastery grounds for a donation box to ease our Nikon-carrying tourist guilt but were unsuccessful. Unsatisfied, we gave up and headed back to the car. Typically, tourists elect to walk across the bridge and then take one of the colorful local boats back. Since it was all we could do not to slide off the bridge in the rain, we decided to skip that part.
After walking a quarter-mile or so across, we returned to shore and the dry interior of the taxi. Unfortunately, after walking through the market stalls for a bit we found everything a local might need clothing, electronics, toiletries and nothing a tourist might want to buy souvenirs, jewelry, gifts.
As it turned out, Mandalay was definitely not the place to go if you were looking to shop. At this point we were technically walking distance from the hotel but the rain continued unapologetically creating newly-formed rivers of water that would make navigating on foot tricky. We almost made it all the way to the hotel without having to submerge our feet in the water until we reached one last intersection where we were trapped.
So we waded in and it was just as gross as I thought it would be. But at least nothing bit me or crawled on me. I considered that a win. The next morning, it was time to leave the rain-soaked streets of Mandalay, and the rest of Myanmar, behind. It was an incredible week in Myanmar. The somewhat lackluster city of Mandalay notwithstanding, the country has a startling number of impressive sights to share with the world.
But despite recent improvements, Myanmar remains a very troubled land. In , a quasi-civilian was sworn in and national hero Aung San Suu Kyi was released from house arrest. For many years the tourism boycott persuaded most to steer clear of Myanmar entirely. While much of the initial cost of your visit will go to the government, once inside the country you still have the choice to spend your money with local guides, at family-run restaurants and on traditional crafts.
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