Mandalay

A trip to the center of upper Burma is a exotic experience. 

Here was always the center of the country, the former royal city of Ava is also here. Further to the north is Shwebo and in the south is Bagan all were here before Mandalay was built.  King Mindon reigned from 1853 to 1878, in 1857 he gave the order to move the capital from Amarapura to a new site. 

Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon is the most famous in the country. Every day pilgrim come from everywhere in the country and other countries to pay respect  or are just curious what's up here and get a real surprise since this is huge, read more.

Chosen was a suitable place near Mandalay Hill since according to the legend Lord Buddha had visited "Mandalay Hill" once with his disciple Ananda.

But actually here were some other reasons, first Amarapura simply became too small and the swampy area of the Irrawaddy overspill was full with mosquito's and not healthy at all. 

Anyway the king couldn't enjoy his palace for long time since after a few year the British came and they deported his successor to India. The aftermath was that the country virtually broke apart and to the consequences of British politics suffers the country still.

The fact is that the British brought the hassle to Myanmar, looted the country and when the Japanese came they run away, exactly as they did in what is now Malaysia. Only when the United States defeated the Japanese, the British arrived in the entourage of the US, back for the last round.


Unfortunately everywhere were the British appeared they were "a pain in the a....."

But there are still some positive impact until today. Today Mandalay is a very flat area which makes it easily possible to use bikes and the proximity to China brings plenty of motorbikes imported from there, its difficult to get petrol but somehow it is managed.

Mandalay Palace was bombed by the Japanese in WW2 and reconstructed in the late 198x. The Myanmars were pulled into the war by the British and US, they were not at war with the Japanese.

Mahamuni Buddha, temple and pagoda is most venerated shrine in upper Myanmar.

Sagaing along the Irrawaddy opposite Mandalay is a somehow incredible "Buddhist Disneyland".

Mingun is there with some attractive views.

As everywhere Monasteries are plenty here especially attractive ones made from teak-wood and decorated interior and exterior with wood-carvings.

Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon is the most famous in the country. Every day pilgrim come from everywhere in the country and other countries to pay respect  or are just curious what's up here and get a real surprise since this is huge, read more.