Historical cities of Mandalay

Mandalay, in northern Myanmar, is a collection of many ancient cities (Amarapura, Mandalay, Sagaing, Mingun, Inwa) that sit on the banks of the Ayerwadi River. There are beautiful temples, monasteries and ruins in each city. Visiting these places gives a sense of the grandeur and cultural progressiveness of ancient Burmese civilizations.

Drinking water pots

Horse-carts on the island of Inwa

Amarapura

Monks waiting for the morning meal

Mandalay

Kuthodaw Pagoda - World's largest book. Each of the 729 stupas contains one leaf of the book on Buddhism

Intricate carvings at Shwenandaw Kyaung

Puppets for sale

Interiors of Shwenandaw Kyaung

Sagaing

Bells

Resting place in a monastery

Mingun

The unfinished Mingun Pahtodawgyi 

Inwa

Maha Aung Mye Bonzan monastery

Local kids arranging tourists' footwear at Maha Aung Mye Bonzan monastery

Shaded Buddha statue

Bagaya - old teak monastery

Souvenirs

A local girl with tanaka (sandalwood paste) smeared on her face

Maha Aung Mye Bonzan monastery

The mysterious Bagaya monastery

Herders going home