Staff Writer
Mandalay is the second largest city in Myanmar and was the country's last Royal capital. Construction began in 1857 on the command of King Mingdon, the country's penultimate reigning monarch. The king chose to shift his capital from Amarapura to Mandalay in 1861, when the work had been completed, in order to fulfill a prophecy.
Thibaw Min, Mingdon's son, took to the throne during 1878-1885, but was forced to abdicate and went into exile in India following defeat by the British in the third Anglo-Burmese war.
High and mighty
Located to the northeast of downtown Mandalay, the 240-meter-high Mandalay Hill provides a natural focus for the city, so many visitors choose to start their sightseeing program here due to the panoramic view of the city and its surrounding plain.
From the south, two covered stairways, known as saungdan, rise up the hill and meet about halfway up. Another path climbs more steeply from the west. It's an enjoyable climb with plenty of places where you can stop for a rest. Visitors should note that they are prohibited from wearing shoes on the walkways. The hill is also accessible to those who lack mobility or cannot climb the stairs thanks to a one-way road, which leads to an escalator and then a lift to the pagoda at the summit.
The hill is renowned for its abundance of Buddhist pagodas and monasteries, which has meant that it's been a major pilgrimage site for Burmese Buddhists for almost two centuries. U Khanti, a hermit monk, is credited with inspiring the construction of many of the complexes located on and around the hill.
One major attraction is U Khanti's dazaung (prayer hall), where the Peshawar Relics (three fragments of bone of the Gautama Buddha) were kept from 1923 until the end of World War II (1945) when they were moved to a site at the foot of the hill where they are no longer on display.
Further up near the summit, a gigantic standing image of the Buddha points towards the city with its right hand. It's thought that the Buddha visited Mandalay Hill and predicted that in the Buddhist year 2,400 a great city would be built at the foot of the hill where his teachings would flourish. The year in question represents 1857 in the (western) Georgian calendar, and this explains King Mingdon's decision to build the city.
At the summit of Mandalay Hill sits Sutaungpyei Pagoda, from where you can get a magnificent panoramic view of the Mandalay plain. The pagoda is said to fulfill the wishes of those who manage the 1,700 steps required to reach the top. Sunset over the Irrawaddy and the western hills as seen from Mandalay Hill provides a truly amazing experience, so it's quite common to find numerous other visitors enjoying the spectacle during the late afternoon and early evening.
If you descend Mandalay Hill on its northern slope, you'll soon arrive at the Mwegyi Hnakaung (Two Great Snakes) Pagoda. The snake images are of huge cobras that were thought to have visited the hill to pay their respects to the Buddha. Seated above the snakes are two nats (spirits) the cobras are said to have become when they died. Pilgrims often stuff banknotes into the snakes' mouths and then pray.
Palatial splendor
King Mingdon chose the site of Mandalay Palace (Mya Nan San Kyaw Golden Palace) based on predictions and astrological calculations. Although it was built from teak on a brick platform, it became known as 'the Great Golden Royal Palace' due to the extensive use of ornate gilding.
Exquisitely planned and built to minute detail, construction took five years (1857-1861). The compound, which covers a huge area, includes: a court house; a mint; fortified walls with parapets; a moat; water channels; roads; recreational parks; swimming pools; security posts; halls for devotional purposes; cavalry quarters; as well as impressive gardens featuring numerous tamarind trees. The artistic workmanship and handicrafts featured at the palace are widely praised, depicting “the glory of a golden age”, as one admirer put it.
At the center of the palace grounds is a perfect square, while the city that surrounds the palace is also based on a square, grid-like system. Legend has it that the palace's moat, which affords the palace excellent protection, was once filled with water from a muddy canal. It's said that although the water was originally reddish, it soon turned crystal clear.
Visitors to the palace regularly praise the reflection of the city that can be seen in the palace's eastern moat. Although the palace was destroyed by fire during World War II after the British used it to store munitions, a perfect replica was built (during 1989-95) and the site continues to be one of Mandalay's premier tourist attractions.
Spoiled for choice
Mandalay remains the center of the country's art and culture to this
day, and is blessed with numerous historical and religious landmarks,
including many interesting temples and palaces.
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One of the city's most popular destinations, particularly among Burmese
Buddhists, is the huge Buddha image known as Maha Muni (The Exalted
Saint), or Paya-gyi (Great Buddha) among locals. The Maha Myat Muni
Pagoda, which houses the Maha Muni, is located at the southwest of
Mandalay and is one of the city's most popular attractions.
 Once
housed in a large temple in former capital Amarapura, in 1884 the
temple caught fire, although the image was saved. It was then was
transported overland from Rakhine State in 1784 by the son and heir of
King Bodawpaya (1782-1819). Part of the journey was undertaken by boat
along the Ayeyarwaddy River, while it also had to cross large areas of
mountainous terrain.
While it appears to be made of
gold, it was actually forged in an alloy. Its golden sheen is due to
the fact that one ton of gold leaf has been affixed to it over the
years by devotees. The crown sitting atop Maha Muni is also studded
with numerous gems, including diamonds, emeralds, jade, rubies, and
sapphires, which were also generously donated by pilgrims.
It's been said that the image was cast during the visit of a living
Buddha, who breathed on it, therefore blessing and consecrating it
personally. In Rakhine, a religious-related document states, “in the
year [A.D.] 146, a King named Candrasuriya came to the throne [of
Rakhine State]. During his reign a metal image of the Buddha was cast”.
The Maha Muni is one of Mandalay's most popular destinations since it
is an object of fervent adoration among Buddhists worldwide.
For those who love history, culture and the arts, Mandalay is
definitely a 'must see' destination. Among the leading traditional
industries carried out in the area are silk weaving, tapestry, jade
cutting and polishing, stone and wood carving, the forging of marble
and bronze Buddha images, temple ornaments and paraphernalia, as well
as the decorative use of gold leaf and silver.
As well as its wealth of artistic, cultural, and historic treats,
Mandalay is also interesting from a more current perspective. Over
recent years, the city has become the major trading and communications
center for northern, central Myanmar, and beyond. Much of the country's
external trade with China and India, for example, passes through the
city, so a visit to Mandalay also gives a casual visitor a feel for how
Myanmar's business and economic spheres are currently developing.
Transport connections:
Air: Mandalay International Airport is about a one-hour flight from
Yangon. Air Bagan, Air Mandalay, Myanmar Airways, and Yangon Airways
all operate regular daily flights.
Train: The rather slow (14-hour) journey by 'express' train from Yangon
is nevertheless an interesting and worthwhile trip assuming you have
sufficient time.
Bus: Express coaches service Mandalay from Yangon. The journey takes about 12 hours.
If traveling the 700-km journey by a private vehicle, it's possible to
break up the journey with a stop in Taungoo (280-km from Yangon) or
Meiktila (540-km from Yangon). There are plenty of hotels located in
those cities should you opt for an overnight stay.
Accommodation options:
Mandalay City Hotel
Tel: +95 (2) 61700 to 61704
http://www.mandalaycityhotel.com/
Mandalay Hill Resort Hotel
http://www.mandalayhillresorthotel.com/
Sein Sein Hotel
Tel : +95 (2) 31617
http://www.seinseinhotel.com/
Mandalay Swan Hotel
Tel: +95 (2) 35678
http://www.mandalayswanhotel.com/
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Indochina & Myanmar 
Indochina & Myanmar
The Indochina region and Myanmar are rich in cultural heritage and just one step away from Thailand. From Angkor Wat to Yangon, the Annamites to the Plain of Jars, find out about destinations and keep abreast on events with our guides and news articles.
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