The old capitals of the Burmese kingdoms in Upper Myanmar

*WS 152 – The old capitals of the Burmese kingdoms in Upper Myanmar*

The old Burmese kingdoms had their capitals within and around present day Mandalay in Upper Myanmar. We visited this region in 2015.

Mandalay, the main city and economic hub in Upper Myanmar, was a former capital in the mid-1800s. Shown the perimeter wall of the Old Palace and the most important temple here, the Mahamuni Paya where the Buddha statue is considered a "living image". Shown pilgrims pasting thin gold foils on the Buddha statue. 

The Shwenandaw Kyaung is one of 2 famous temples built with teak wood in traditional Burmese architecture, with decorative elements and Buddha statues all in teak. Then the Kuthodaw Paya. Each of these 729 stupas houses a stone slab inscribed with Buddhist scriptures. The whole place is known as the World's Biggest Book.

At the southern edge of Mandalay is the town of Amarapura, an old capital too, where we find the U Bein Bridge. Built around 1850 and at 1.2 km this is the oldest and longest foot bridge in the World built with teak wood. 

Inwa, a small town further south, was a former capital of the Burmese kingdoms for 360 years from 1365 to 1842. We had a morning tour of the ruins seated in the 2-seater 1-horsepower Ferrari. Shown a ruin.