So after a short trip in Yangon, we took a bus ride for 7-8 hours. We left at exactly 10 pm in Yangon and arrived at 5 am in Chan Mya Shwe Pyi Highway Station. Good thing the Grab app is working, we booked a grab “tuk-tuk” to our hotel and got some rest before heading to these 5 interesting destinations in Mandalay, Myanmar.

Mandalay is one of the economic centers of Myanmar and the second largest city after Yangon. It is also considered the center of their local culture and is located in central Burma next to the Irrawaddy River.If you’re wondering and want to wander to this amazing city of Mandalay, read along.

1. Shwenandaw Monastery

This monastery is known for its wood and teak carvings. Buddhist myths are engraved on its walls and roofs. It was built by King Thibaw Min in 1878. He used this place for meditation because of its serene surroundings. You can still see the meditation couch inside which he always sat on. 

2. Kuthodaw Pagoda / The World’s Largest Book

Kuthodaw Pagoda is known as the “World’s Largest Book” for its stone scriptures. It has 729 individual marble slabs and a small pagoda inside each slab. The entire book of Tipitaka (the traditional term for the Buddhist scriptures) is inscribed on each slab.

Isn’t it stunning and unbelievable? Imagine, how much time it took them to inscribe each part of the book to each slab. So don’t miss to visit this spectacular place. 

3. Mahamuni Pagoda

This temple is a major pilgrimage site in Mandalay. Mahamuni means “The Great Sage”. There’s a legend about Mahamuni Pagoda, that during the time of Gautama Buddha, the Buddha paid a visit to Dhanyawadi city of Arkan to cast an image of him as the King insisted for the people to worship it.  

We weren’t able to get in as there were a lot of people worshipping at that time. Having said that, I was only able to take a photo of its façade. I had a glimpse of the image as I passed by the main entrance of the Pagoda.

4. Mandalay Hill

The next stop is the Mandalay Hill or the holy mount. It is 240 meters high (790 ft.) giving the people a stunning view of the Mandalay and the surrounding countryside. To all the visitors out there especially the sunset chasers, this is the perfect spot to catch a photo of the fascinating sunset. A very prime viewpoint.

5. Royal Palace of Mandalay

Lastly, the Mandalay Palace. Well, I thought in the first place I was in Korea. Because to be honest, it’s like the ancient palaces in Korea I’ve seen on television. Hahaha. But, it’s in Mandalay, Myanmar.

It’s one of the major tourist destinations here in Mandalay and the last royal palace of the Burmese monarchy. Most parts of the whole complex were damaged during the Second World War. It was later rebuilt in the 1990s. 

Having various and diverse numbers of monasteries, Mandalay became the cultural and religious center of Buddhism in Myanmar. This remarkable city of Mandalay is truly impressive and rich in history. Staying here for 2 days is not enough and I know that it still has a lot to offer and things to discover. I had a fantastic experience here and will surely return in the future.

If you have some other places in Mandalay you can recommend, feel free to comment below and share your experiences. You can also email me at jk.lumayno@juanjourneyofficial.com or message me on Meta or Instagram for more information about my whole journey.

Once again, thank you, and keep those comments coming! See you!