Built by the popular King Mindon, Mandalay was the last royal capital of Myanmar, until the British completed their colonisation of the country in 1886. No thanks to neglect and a combination of Japanese and allied bombing, in 1942, the city that had taken a thousand years to build was destroyed within hours. The royal palace, which was moved from the former capital of Amarapura back in 1857, was also burnt to the ground. All that survived was the royal mint, the watchtower and the four 2km long palace walls. Whilst a replica now stands in place, one can only imagine what the grounds and interior of the original palace would have looked like if it still stood today. Want to get a better idea of things to do during your time here? Below you’ll find a small selection of our favourite Mandalay experiences.
Three Royal Kingdoms
In Myanmar, the name Mandalay is synonymous with royalty. Not only was the city itself the last royal capital, but just a stone’s throw away, you will also find the ancient royal capitals of Ava, Amarapura and Sagaing. During the course of this full day tour, we’ll aim to...
King Bodawpaya’s Mingun
Opposite Mandalay on the west bank of the Irrawaddy River, you’ll find Mingun, a small town for which King Bodawpaya had incredibly grand aspirations. Paying a visit to the unfinished Mingun Pahtodawgyi aside, there are plenty of things do and see here including striking one of...
A Royal Evening
Start the evening with a traditional Myanmar dinner set at Daung Lann Gyi, a restaurant that’s extremely popular with Mandalay residents and unique in the sense that most dishes are served on large drum-like tray. Finish with a stringed puppet performance at a theatre founded...