Amarapura was the Capital City during Konbaung Dynasty. It was founded by King Bodawpaya in 1783. Meaning of Amarapura is Land of no death in other word, Land of immorality. King Bodawpaya is also well known for his dedicated 4 Great Nobel deeds – Great Bell, Great Lake, Great Lake, and Great Pagoda. The City was founded when founder King Bodawpaya moved the Capital from Innwa ( Ava). However, the Capital City Amarapura was moved back to Innwa in 1823, during the time of King Bagyidaw ( Grand son of King Bagyidaw) and moved back to its place to Amarapura in 1837 when King Tharrawaddy – successor of King Bagyidaw and remained as Capital until King Mindon founded Mandalay.
That is also the reason, Amarapura is called to day Myo Haung ( Old City). It is also known as Taung Myo ( Southern City).
Amarapura is located on the bank of Ayarwaddy ( Irrawaddy) River and closer to Mandalay about 45mins to 1 hour drive. City is surrounded by all waters – Taung Thaman Inn ( Lake) where Boats and even ships can reach to the City Walls when the high tide of water days, Dote Htar Waddy River, Tat Thay Inn.
*** As per the records, at Myanmar Year 1217, Myanmar Month Warkhaung, the British Delegation lead by Mr. Fayer had reached near to Amarapura Royal Plalace
by his fully equipped ship floating through the Taung Thaman Inn.
The tombs of King Bodawpaya and King Bagyidaw. And King Tharrawaddy are still existing. Tomb of King Bodawpaya is located at the north of Shwezaga Pagoda and King Bagyidaw’s tomb can be see at the east of Pyatthat Gyi Village where you will see tomb of King Tharrawaddy at the north of Palace site near the service staff quarter of Electrical and Mechanical Corp II.
The tomb of King Bodawpaya and King Bagyidaw are built in white washed brick mausoleums in Zedi ( Chedi) type enshrining the cremated bones of Kings. The tombs have inscriptions in English and Myanmar. The tomb of King Tharrawaddy is also in Zedi shape enshrining his bones.
Amarapura is very famous for the Silk Weaving Industry producing proudly the Traditional Textile for Royal and Cultural Ceremonies. This place is still remaing as the main production area.
U Bein Bridge
A Longest Live Teak Bridge in the world and proudly maintaing it’s role with the uniqueness of A Two Centuries Old, Three Quarter of a mile long Teak Bridge crossing the Taung-tha-man Inn ( Lake) is one of the most amazing and attracting place and it is a place that you must see not to feeling regret.
The name – U Bein is given after the name of the donor. U Bein was a clerk to the Mayor of Amarapura. All the Teaks used for the bridges were taken from the old planks and post of dismantled houses of Innwa and Saggaing. It took two years to finish..
The bridge has been used constantly and continuously by peoples since it was opened in 1851. It is amazing to see the bridge has been used for over 159 years and it is still performing well. You will find at some points, where were used as drawbridges to allow the royal barges and war boats to go under the bridge to go out to the Ayeyarwadi River in Old days when Amarapura was a King’s Capital.
•Inwa ( Ava)
Inwa known as Ava is located approximately 21Km from Mandalay. Inwas was also known in old days as Yadana Pura and founded by a Shan successor King Thado Minbya in 1364 AD. Inwa is the confluence of Ayeyarwaddy River and Myit Nge River. However, as the King constructed the canal joining Myit Nge and Myit Thar River with the intention to be safe from enemy attacks, left the City as a island.
The Capital Inwa had a lot of wars with Bago. Gradually, the city become weak and moved to Other place. The successors of Inwa shifted the Capital back and forth so many times till King Nyaung Yan, son of Grate King Bayint Naung, re-established the Capital at Inwa in 1596AD.
•BaganAn acient city leaving remarkable grand history about Myanmar. An important Place which you cannot omit to include when talking about Theravada Buddhism as this is the land where making Theravada Buddhism Booming in its Glory. This City was a Magnificent Kingdom Once.
It lied on the east Bank of Ayeyarwaddy River. Approximately 500 miles from Yangon ( to check). You can reach over there by Flight, or by Car, or by Boat, or by Train. There are atleast 2-4 flights everyday from Yangon.
Bagan was founded in A.D 107 by King Thamudarit ( one of the Thorne from Thayaykhittayar) who ruled from A.D 107-152. Bagan Dynasty lasted for more than 1, 000 years ( 1,213 years) under 55 Kings. Therefore, it is one of the longest dynasties in Myanmar History.
Most of the Kings ruled in Bagan Dynasty were religiously built the buildings and monuments to express their heart and belief to Lord Buddha although Buddhism was widely taught to peoples of Bagan by The Great King Anawrahta – 42nd King of Bagan, founder of 1st Myanmar Empire.
The Wise King Anawrahta introduced the Theravada Buddhism to Bagan Peoples after scrutinizing Buddhism with respectable grand monks, the principles of Lord Buddha to become Good True Theravada Buddhist Peoples and to systematically keep it in true version.
Till the time of King Anawrahta, the mis-lead religion was over ruled lead by popes called A Yee Gyi ( who are specialized in Physical exercising like martial art, extreme exercise on wrong way of meditation, etc). King Anawrahta request to have the copy of the Tripitaka ( some times known as Tipitaka) from Tha-hotne which was also in threat of Gyun Solders ( Cambodia). King of Tha-Hton, King Ma-Nu-Har denied to give the Tripitaka script to Bagan King. King Anawyahtar sent the Military lead by Kyan Sit Thar ( who become King later and well known and famous for his loyalty and faithfulness in Bagan Dynasty) and won Tha-Htone.
Brought all the Artist – Mason, Stone Carving Artist, Musician, Dancers, Literatures Scriptures, to Bagan and compromising with Bagan’s own original art finally give the creations of the remarkable amazing historical architectures which we can see till today.
Amazingly, in the Time of Bagan, Bagan peoples extend their existence from this very in-land spot to places around the world. As per the record, they traveled by waterway through Ayerwaddy River to sea. From the sea, they traveled to Thi-ho @ Ceylon ( Sri-lanka) and it surrounding area, traveling at the Marta ban Bay leading to India. They travel by inland way to China, Cambodia, Laos, and Thailand. As the proof, the scripts at Bhud-Gaya, like in place of Bodi ta htaung ( Ma Ha Bo Di Zedi) recorded that Myanmar King Kyan Sit Thar @ King Kyanzitthar ( from Bagan Dynesty) and Myanmar King Min Done ( from Kone Baung Dynesty) donation list including precious Gold and Jewelries.
The wharf of Law Ka Nandar which still exist in Bagan, was the kind of international harbour in that day. The Trade Ships from China, India, Thi- Ho @ Ceylon ( Sri-Lanka), were anchored and doing the trade widely at Bagan.
One stays at The Magnificent Bagan to see or to visit all the Existing Pagodas and Monuments, it will not be sufficient with a month or two. ( Ref. Dr. Thet Lwin, Dr. U Than Tun, Bagan History, Great King of Myanmar, Indian Solders in Bagan Regime, Tharavara Buddhism in Bagan )
Place of Interest
Bagan has un-countable places of interest. However, just to have a over all brief view of visiting Bagan and its scent, the following places are the places you must see once you are in Bagan. Nowaday, we call Bagan which includes the areas of Nyaung U Town, Bagan Town, Myin Ka Bar Village, Thiripyitsayar Village, Min Nan ThuVillage, Phwa Saw Village ( east and west).
Places around Nyaung U
- Shwe Se Gone Pagoda (Most Powerful and Wish fulfilled Pagoda)
- Kyan Sit Thar U Min (Kyanzitthar Tunnel)
- Gu Byuk Gyi (Wat Kyee Inn)
- Kyauk Gu U Min (it is built or carved at the stone cliff of Ayeyarwaddy River. Built for Meditation in 11th Century. Renovated by King Narapati Sithu who ruled 1174-1211)
Places around Bagan
- Hti lo Min Lo
- U Pali Thein
- Tharaba Gate (City Gate of Bagan)
- Ananda Pagoda (most fine art of mason work, and amazing architectural and ventilation system. There is a proverb Art in Ananda, Height in Thatbaynyu, Volume in Damayangyi).
- Pi Ta Kat Teik (Built right after King Ahnawrahtar brought the Tripitaka script from Tha Htone)
- Shwe Gu Gyi
- That Bay Nyu Pagoda (Highest Pagoda in Bagan )
- Damayan-Gyi Pagoda ( Most huge mass)
- Shwe San Daw (One of the Buddha’s hair given to Myanmar was enshrined)
- Kantawpalin Pagoda
- Bu Pya Ya
- Museum (most of the acient items from Bagan history including stone scriptings were stored)
Places around Myin Kabar Village
- Myin Ka Bar Gu Byuk Gyi (Similar to Maha Bodi in BhudGaya)- First Myanmar Scripting on Marbel Slab known as Mya Zedi Kyaut Sar was found from this Pagoda.
- Manu Har Pagoda (Captive King of Tha-hotne expressed his feelings being as be dethrone King who far away from his kingdom)
- Nan Pha Ya
Places around Thiripyitsayar
- Law Ka Nandar Pagoda
Places around Min Nan Thu and Phwa Saw Village
- Su Lar Ma Ni
Places around Bagan
Sa-Lay (Sale)
Pa-Koke-Ku
Popa
