Mandalay is an amazing place that deserves more attention than the trickle of tourists that go there. Burma itself is only just opening up to tourism, and Mandalay is probably the most popular place to visit in Burma, so I recommend going before the hordes spoil it.
I went to Mandalay in March and boy was it hot! Mandalay is very dusty, dirty, and sundrenched. It also has all the character that the capital Yangon lacks.
Any trip to Burma means checking out the temples/pagodas and Mandalay has some of the most impressive in the world. And when the setting sun sets them alight, they really come to prominence.
The Kuthodaw Pagoda – the world’s largest book is the most impressive. At the entrance of the pagoda is an ornate, gold and red gate adorned with sculptings of deities and animals from Buddhist and Hindu mythology. The temple is made up of 729 marble slabs offering the complete Buddhist scriptures. You can walk among them and read them if your Burmese is up to scratch.
With its rows of white coloured supas, it’s an eye-catching monument. And even more impressive when the setting sun is burning ochre and radiating through the towers bringing forth a terraced hue that is both relaxing and enlightening.
The Sandamuni Pagaoda is very impressive, too. This pagoda has 1774 shrines with white marble slabs disseminating Buddhist offerings. Very similar to the Kuthodaw Pagoda, but the Sandamuni is bigger and has a large golden zedi at its centre. With the golden white infusion from the setting sun, the terraced towers offer yet another ambient mise en scène.
There are many other pagodas and monasteries that are worth visiting too, Shwenandaw Monastery is one, and the Mahamuni Pagoda offers some beautiful tiled walkways with a big golden Buddha shrine, but back to the sunsets of Mandalay.
Mandalay Hill is a very impressive place to watch the sun setting. With panoramic views across the whole city and some fine modern Buddhist architecture, it makes for a nice place to visit. The sun setting is another wonderful offering and with many monks up there wanting to practice their English, it’s a great way to learn about someone’s completely different outlook on life.
Sunsets are synonymous with Mandalay, and almost every evening you spend there you will be mesmerized. The pagodas and panoramic views are second-to-erm, actually, they are second to something: the U Bein Bridge setting.
The U Bein Bridge spans the Taungthaman Lake just down by the Irrawaddy River. At 1.2km long and being constructed in 1850, it’s the longest and oldest teak bridge in the world and a walk across it can be a little precarious at times, but it’s a beautiful setting.
The crowds go there for the sun set, obviously, and you can see why. The setting sun paints the lake golden and the silhouette of the bridge in the background makes for an unbelievable setting. The best way to experience it is by getting a local to take you out on their rowing boat and just sit back, crack a beer or three open and become part of one of the most natural tableaus you have beheld.