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.
British Burma’s Summer Capital (Pyin Oo Lwin) Mandalay and Mingun
Once the summer capital of British Burma, Pyin Oo Lwin is a small town located 70km east of Mandalay at an altitude of just over 1000 metres. Often referred to as Maymyo after the British commander Colonel May who was stationed here in 1886, this former hill station enjoys cool...
Living Irrawaddy Dolphin Project (Full Day)
Operated in conjunction with the Living Irrawaddy Dolphin Project, this full day experience will see you set sail north of Mandalay to explore the lower section of the government protected Irrawaddy Dolphin conservation zone; established in 2005, this currently spans...