Quick viewing(Text Mode)

Mandalay & Around

Mandalay & Around

©Lonely Planet Publications Pty Ltd

Mandalay & Around

Why Go? ...... 201 For those who haven’t been there – and that list included ...... 224 The Road to Mandalayy author Rudyard Kipling – the men- Ayeyarwady Bridges . . 225 tion of ‘Mandalay’ typically conjures up images of Asia at its most traditional and timeless. The initial reality can be (Ava) ...... 225 a major anticlimax – a traffi c-choked grid of interminable ...... 228 straight roads full of anonymous concrete buildings. But ...... 230 don’t despair. Though it’s a relatively ‘young’, dynamic city, Paleik ...... 231 Mandalay (mNÿel") is ’s cultural capital. It’s easy Yankin Hill ...... 231 to escape the fumes and architectural banalities of the main streets in quarters full of craftworkers and tree-shaded mon- asteries. Temple-topped off ers a welcomed exception to the city’s pan-fl at topography and several mini- Best Religious theatres showcase traditional performing arts. Meanwhile, Structures Mandalay is the ideal transport hub for northern Myanmar and off ers a panoply of easy day-trip destinations, including » Bagaya (p 225 ) three former royal capitals and the site of what would have » Mahamuni Paya (p 208 ) been the world’s biggest , had it ever been fi nished. » Mingun Paya (p 230 ) » (p 225 ) When to Go » Sagaing Hill In the winter tourist season, days are still hot but evenings are (p 228 ) mild and you might need a light jacket if you’re riding a mo- » Shwe In Bin (p209 ) torbike after sunset. By March you may fi nd it hard to sleep without air-conditioning, while April and May really bake with Best Views temperatures sometimes reaching 104°F (40°C) by day and dust caking the trees (and the back of your throat). At such » River scenes from View times, cool down by nipping up to nearby (p 250) . Point cafe (p216 ) or the If you’re not interested in participating in the water- rooftop of Ayarwaddy River throwing fun of Thingyan (see p 16), it’s generally best to View Hotel (p214 ) avoid April, especially 12 to 21 April, when almost all public » Chanthaya Paya and foot- transport stops and shops are closed. Restaurants mostly bridge seen across the lake close too, and those hotel eateries that still serve might from the west (p211 ) double their prices. » U Bein’s Bridge from the In August, Mandalay regional transport can be overloaded lake (p 224 ) for several weeks due to huge crowds heading to and from the vast natt festival at nearby Taungbyone, which culminates over the fi ve days before the August (Wagaung) full moon. To Taungbyone, ‚ Mingun Paya #Ú3 Mataya 200 Mingun e# 06km 02miles

æ#Mandalay Jail Shweta Chaung æ#Mandalay Hill To Mya Mandalay Kyauk Kyaung;

Yankin Paya Ferry to Palace æ# ‚ Mingun2 6Golden #ÿ 19th St f# 2nd St Mandalay R

MANDALAY & AROUND Mya Nandar a ú# Cycling 26th St il Fast Boats Gold w f# Tour #ÿRupar a to Katha Pounders' y f# #æ4 ‚ Mandalar l t i IWT Ferries Yay Ni Canal n District 35 S th e #Ú5 St #7 t h #› o Shwe In Bin Kyaung t S 4 Pyi Gyi Myat

h 8 w Kandawgyi #ÚMahamuni Shin Bus e 6#6 Lake b Paya Station o r Kaunghmudhaw , e ý# v Coffee ú# Lake View M i Paya R Tower y û# Emperor i y #Ú t d k a Smart ú# y rw t i a Garden n y S a e y t A th 4 S 8 h Sagaging Hill t Pahtodawgyi 8 #æ 6 7 2 #Ú Silk æ# Workshops Amarapura Sagaing #æ1 U Bein’s Bridge æ# 'Road to Taungthaman Mandalay' Lake 6Shwe- #Ú jetty 6 Kyet-Yet V# Thabyedan Fort

Inwa Paleik South Snake Village Temple æ# Tadu-U Paleik Village

To Mandalay

International To

‚ Airport ‚ Yangon

Mandalay & Around Highlights 1 Join the dawn monk parade unfi nished stupa reached by a 6 Arrive by 4am at crossing the world’s longest boat ride from Mandalay Mahamuni Paya (p208 ) as bridge, Amarapura’s iconic 4 Escape Mandalay’s big- attendants brush the teeth U Bein’s Bridge (p224 ) city bustle with our cycling of the country’s most famous 2 Look over and tour (p 211 ) buddha image the Ayeyarwady River from 5 Potter around Mandalay’s 7 Discover the wealth of atop Sagaing Hill (p 228 ), an less-known monasteries, crafts being made, including important religious site including the beautiful teak edible sheets of gold-leaf, in 3 Climb Mingun Paya masterpiece, Shwe In Bin the Gold Pounders’ District (p 230 ), a king-sized Kyaung (p209 ) (p209 ) around 36th St

Top View