Mandalay

Mandalay City, A center of Myanmar Culture

Mandalay is the second largest city and the last royal capital, founded at the foot of Mandalay Hill in 1857 by King Mindon as his royal capital surrounded by a moat. King Mindon of the Konbaung Dynasty, created this capital out of the wild woodlands at the foot of Mandalay Hill. King Mindon was a deeply religious monarch who made Mandalay and the neighboring town of Sagaing important centres of Buddhism, with many great pagodas and hundreds of beautiful monasteries and nunneries.

The original building of palace was bombed flat in WWII and the palace was rebuilt in the 1990s. With its royal palace and impressive moat sitting at the foot of a high, pagoda-topped hill, Mandalay still evokes images of a romantic, bygone era. It remains the principal cultural and economic city of upper Myanmar. Located on the banks of the Ayeyarwady River, Mandalay also lies within easy striking distance of former colonial hill stations, ancient cities and other cultural attractions.

How to get there:  As Mandalay is the second commercial city after Yangon; there are rail station, International airport, river jetty and a hub of road transportation. We can reach Mandalay by train, by flight, by road and by river.

Things to do:  Unique experience of trishaw ride, Full day sightseeing tour, Visiting local handicraft workshops, exploring community and meet artists, Walking tour

Lifestyle & people:  An ever-growing number of motorbikes and cars clog the roads, too, making for a sometimes smoggy city. But Mandalay has its own charm since there are splendid markets, traditional old monasteries, Indian temples, mosques, gold workshops, teahouse and traditional culture and music troops. People are friendly and hospitably.

Foods:  There are many restaurants and available Burmese foods, Thai foods, Chinese foods, Indian foods, and other. Local foods can be easily bought on the road side. Mohinga and Moti are famous foods of Mandalay.

Festival: Pagoda festivals and seasonable fesitvals (see more)

Souvenir to buy: As Mandalay is center of culture, various types of handicrafts are the popular products of the city. Traveler can learn at the workshops and buy souvenir for their family.

ClimateTropical Wet and Dry climate

Region Size:      37,024 sq km / 14,295 sq miles

Population:  1.7 million (2014)

Best Seasons

All year round

Popular Locations

Kuthodaw Pagoda, Golden Palace, Mahamuni Pagoda, U Bein, Mandalay Hill

TOURS AROUND Mandalay

Biking throughout Myanmar
Explore central Myanmar’s natural and cultural beauty by mountain bike. Travelling between famous destinations such as Mandalay and Bagan on two wheels gives you a unique perspective of the people and places of…
This classic tour with a twist is ideal for families with children aged 8-16. We will visit Myanmar’s most famous cultural and natural destinations in a manner that is not only suitable for children but also enjoyable
Local art in Mandalay
Tapestry making | Lunch at local tea shop | Daily life of local people | River journey to Mingun | Hands-on experience of Myanmar Marionettes (optional)| meet with local artists | Tour guide service for tour
Local market in Mandalay
Take in the morning atmosphere at a local market that is far off the tourist trail. Get a ‘behind-the-scenes’ experience at a nunnery in Sagaing to see what everyday life is like for the nuns there.
Cycling east and and west edges of Mandalay
Cycling tour on the outskirts of Mandalay | Local market | everyday life of local people | Local tea shop | Village life | Green paddy fields and canals | Local lunch | Positive impact on local communities | Sunset
Sunset of Mandalay Royal Palace
Explore the architecture and local culture of Mandalay on two feet, by trishaw and private vehicle. The city’s historic past will be brought to life with visits to monasteries and pagodas. Experience the local life of the city’s

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Travel & Booking Information of Myanmar Upper Land