Mandalay Cultural Heritage Day Tour

Sightseeing  :  Republic Of The Union Of Myanmar  :  Mandalay  :  Mandalay  :  Day Trips

This full-day private tour gives you a chance to see all the best that Myanmar has to offer: from Maharmuni Pagoda, Golden Monastery, Royal Palace, to small gold-leaf workshops, colorful markets and gorgeous sunset and view from Mandalay Hill. You will be picked up from your hotel at 8am Mandalay city sightseeing tour. You visit starts with Manamuni Pagoda, where the Mahamuni Buddha image is venerated. The Mahamuni Buddha Temple (also called the Mahamuni Pagoda) is a Buddhist temple and major pilgrimage site. Ancient tradition refers to only five likenesses of the Buddha, made during his lifetime; two were in India, two in paradise, and the fifth is the Mahamuni Buddha image in Myanmar. According to the legend, the Buddha visited the Dhanyawadi city of Arakan in 554 B.C. After casting the Great Image, the Buddha breathed upon it, and thereafter the image became the exact likeness of the Mahamuni.

Then, continue to gold-leaf workshop. It is one thing to see temples covered in gold, and another to see the hard labor behind this art and appreciate it after visiting gold-leaf workshop. Men labor long hours pounding gold ingots into micro thin sheets of gold leaf. After, visit Zaycho market - the largest and most important market in upper Myanmar. Stop for lunch at a local restaurant.

After the lunch, continue your visit to Royal Palace. The Mandalay Palace is the last royal palace of the last Burmese monarchy. The plan of Mandalay Palace largely follows the traditional Burmese palace design, inside a walled fort surrounded by a moat. Mandalay Palace was the primary royal residence of King Mindon and King Thibaw, the last two kings of the country. Much of the palace compound was destroyed during World War II by allied bombing; only the royal mint and the watch tower survived. A replica of the palace was rebuilt in the 1990s with some modern materials. Today, Mandalay Palace is a primary symbol of Mandalay and a major tourist destination.

Next, proceed to Kuthodaw Pagoda, a Buddhist stupa, that contains the world's largest book. It lies at the foot of Mandalay Hill and was built during the reign of King Mindon. It houses 729 marble slabs sculptured the teaching of Buddha. Last by not least, visit Shwenandaw (Golden Palace) Monastery, Shwenandaw Monastery is a historic Buddhist monastery, that was originally part of the royal palace at Amarapura, before it was moved to Mandalay, where it formed the northern section of the Hmannan (Glass Palace) and part of the king's royal apartments. The building was heavily gilt with gold and adorned with glass mosaic work. The monastery is known for its teak carvings of Buddhist myths, which adorn its walls and roofs. It is built in the traditional Burmese architectural style. Shwenandaw Monastery is the single remaining major original structure of the original Royal Palace today.

Finally, before returning to your hotel, enjoy the sunset on top of Mandalay Hill and admire the beauty of Mandalay City.