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Pathodawgyi Paya, Mingun
PathodawGyi paya
Tapestry work in Mandalay
Marionettes with Tapestry Costume

Local Art in Mandalay and a River Journey to Mingun

From

$65.00

Tapestry making | Lunch at local tea shop | Daily life of local people | River journey to Mingun | Hands-on experience of Myanmar Marionettes (optional)

Who would love this tour?

Couple, Friends, Senior, Solo, Family
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Duration

10 hrs

Departure

8:30 am

Pickup Place

Hotel in Mandalay

Tour End

6:30 pm

Highlights

Local Art in Mandalay and a River Journey to Mingun

  • Study the 1000-year old art of tapestry making with a local, talented designer
  • Explore the historical relics of Mingun on the banks of the Irrawaddy River
  • Enjoy lunch like a local at a tea shop serving traditional snacks and curries

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Mandalay, the centre of the culture and arts in Myanmar, the last stronghold of the early Burmese kings, also said the country’s origin of traditional arts and crafts. There have many art forms like Zat troupe, Anyeint, Puppets, Myanmar dances, Traditional music, and many festive performances.
The best way to get a feel for how hardy traditional artists become the most influential citizen in Myanmar under the impression of the past royal culture. So, this is experiential travel to sign up for popular culture in Mandalay, just to the backstage of the traditional artists.

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Extension Tours you would love:

We preferred to provide the extraordinary 4 days experiential trips together with historical sight seen of Mandalay and around that are on offer to every day individually but in a responsible way to respect the cultural traditions of our destinations and aim to improve the quality of life for our visitors and the local people.

Explore more Experiences >>

 

Destinations in this tour

Pathodawgyi Paya, Mingun

Mingun

Kuthodaw Pagoda

Mandalay

Itinerary

Morning:

Visiting the Artists

Mandalay is the traditional centre of art in Myanmar and the city’s status as the last royal capital adds to this significance. There is no better place in the country in which to study the traditional methods of tapestry-making with the artists themselves and this is exactly what you will be doing during the morning of this tour.

Visit a tapestry workshop to learn about gold embroidery (‘Shwe chi hto’ in Burmese, ancient art of needlework used to make tapestry). Gold- and silver-embellished tapestries adorned the palaces of many royals during the long history of monarchy in Myanmar, as well as the homes of upper-class families, in the past. Nowadays, ‘Shwe chi hto’ is confined to the work of fashion designers selling their high-quality products in Myanmar and abroad, although the detailed art dates back 1,000 years. You will meet one of these fashion designers to see up-close the intricate work that has withstood the test of time. Your visit will contribute to the preservation of this culture for future generations.

Following this educational visit, we will stop at a local tea shop for lunch. On offer, to begin with, will be a selection of snacks of Indian-origin, such as samosa, paratha, and dosa, all very popular among local people here. For the main course you can choose from tea leaf salad and a range of meat curries served with white rice. Wash the meal down with a delicious cup of Myanmar sweet tea or a soft drink.

Afternoon:

A River journey to Mingun

After lunch, we will drive to Mandalay jetty and take a boat to Mingun village, 11km away on the banks of the Irrawaddy River. After a 45-minute scenic ride, you will arrive at Mingun pier from where you can view the Mingun Pahtodawgyi, an enormous stupa which would have been the biggest in the world if it was completed. Take some time to look around this magnificent site and then walk to the Mingun Bell, the world’s largest ringing bell, which is believed to weigh some 200,000 pounds. Crawl underneath the bell to crouch beneath this massive structure if you dare. Then continue on foot to the white-washed Hsinphymae Pagoda with its notable architecture and history. This is one of the best places in the country for photography and wedding couples often come here to take their pre-wedding photos, a tradition in Myanmar.

On the boat trip back to Mandalay enjoy watching the sunset until you arrive at the jetty for a short transfer to your hotel.

Optional Activity: We can arrange for traditional Marionette artists to join you for the boat ride to and from Mingun. The traditional art of puppetry is one that is slowly dying so help safeguard this tradition and enjoy an extraordinary display. The artists will also teach you their skills.

Note: The additional charge for this activity puts money directly into the hands of the local artist (15,000 Kyats per artist – there are usually four artists).

 

 

include & exclude

What is included in this tour?
Items that are included in the cost of tour price.

 

  • Hotel pick up and drop off service
  • Professional English speaking tour guide
  • All transfer and boat ride to Mingun
  • Arrangement of visiting the traditional art workshop
  • Local lunch at the tea shop
  • Water and towel
What is not included in this tour?
Items that are not included in the cost of tour price.

 

  • Entrance fees in Mingun and camera fees
  • The honorarium for artists on the boat (15000 Kyat-per/artist – mostly 3 or 4 artists)
  • Other sightseeing does not mention above

FAQ

What is the cancellation policy for this tour?

This tour can be cancelled up to 2 days (48 hrs) before the travel start date for a 90% refund and if you cancel less than 2 days before the travel start date or no-show there are no refunds. The Government Tax (5%) is non-refundable.

Does entrance fees include in the price?

Usually, the Combo tickets (Zone fees/ Entrance fees) for this tour are not included in our price in case you already bought a Combo ticket before your tour. If so, we recommend you to bring your Combo ticket with you at all times during your visit (or) our guide will assist you to buy this.

Can I book this tour last minute?

We say yes, and but it is subject to the availability.  We have set up the booking cut off time in 2 days and if you want to book less than 2 days please contact us via email (office@myanmarupperland.com). Then we can get back to you with the information to help you book the tour.

What do I need to bring with me to do this tour?

We suggest you carry slipper and something to protect from the sun and the dust. Shorts or sleeveless tops and shoes are not allowed to enter the place of Pagodas and Religious area.

I am solo travel, can I book this tour?

We operate this tour in privately as we, MUL considered to the privacy of the travellers and not sharing with other travellers. But solo traveller can still book for this tour if you choose 2 pax in the booking. In a certain condition, you may also request for the (solo) price by email.

Is a vegetarian option available for this tour?

Yes, Vegetarian option is available, please advise at time of booking if required.

Maps

Local-Arts-in-Mandalay

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