Mandalay


The name of the city is reminiscent of the famous poem by Rudyard Kipling “Road to Mandalay”. Mandalay, last capital of Myanmar’s Kingdom, is the second-largest city of Myanmar and lies on Ayeyarwaddy River. In its center is the restored Mandalay Palace from the Konbaung Dynasty, surrounded by a moat. Mandalay Hill provides views of the city from its summit, which is reached by a covered stairway. At its foot, the Kuthodaw Pagoda houses hundreds of Buddhist-scripture-inscribed marble slabs. Mandalay truly deserves to be one of the top cultural cities of Myanmar. Not only the city itself, but also the surrounding towns Mingun, Sagaing, Ava, Pyin Oo Lwin, and more are major attractions and worthwhile to spend a few days.