When it was founded in the mid-19th century as a metropolis of Buddhism, Mandalay was called Yadanabon, the “City of Gems”. Today, the last royal capital of Myanmar remains equally precious for historical and cultural travelers. The city is home to monasteries and 700 pagodas, including Kuthodaw Pagoda, home to the “World’s Largest Book” – 730 marble slabs measuring approximately 1 meter wide by 1.5 meters tall on which the Buddhist canon is inscribed. The city is also home to the 1,200 meter-long U-Bein Bridge, the longest wooden footbridge in the world. What you see at the magnificent Mandalay Palace are reproductions, but for a glimpse at the original palace complex, visit the all-teak Shwenandaw Monastery, the only surviving building. To get a perspective on the city – and life itself – climb Mandalay Hill and enjoy the city views from 240 meters in the sky.
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