Mandalay

Overview

Mandalay is Myanmar's final royal dynasty capital. You can't miss Mandalay while traveling to Myanmar because it's one of the country's most appealing places. The Mandalay today is a thriving cultural hub for Myanmar and one of its top holy sites, with amazing masonry and architecture. With a wide variety of temples and pagodas, marketplaces, a distinctive culinary culture, and other locations to enjoy the sunset and sunrise, this city attracts a lot of travelers. You'll get a fantastic chance to experience unique religious structures and take in the splendor of the natural surroundings. It would be a really unique experience that you couldn't get anywhere else.

Mandalay's beauty from above

Besides, you can meet friendly locals, who always support you when you have any difficulty. You also can learn more about the daily lives of the locals. Culinary in Mandalay is a feature that contributes to Mandalay's reputation. Come and taste them!

With Myanmar trip by Asia Private Travels, you can enjoy every happy moment in Mandalay with many interesting activities.

What to see and what to do in Mandalay?

Mandalay is filled with historical, cultural and traditional values, so you may feel overwhelmed with what to do and what to see in Mandalay. For a well-prepared Mandalay trip, let’s spend time learning more about it.

Mandalay is well renowned for its various Buddhist religious attractions, including as the Kuthodaw Pagoda, magnificent temples, magnificent palace monasteries, and more! It's a wonderful city to visit for Buddhists and anyone interested in learning more about the religion. Shwe In Bin Kyaung is a beautiful site. It is made of teak and has complex designs carved into it, making it one of the most beautiful structures in the city. Besides, there are still many sacred buildings for you to explore such as Mahamuni Paya, Ta Moke Shwe Gu Gyi, Shwekyimyint Paya, Kyauktawgyi Paya, Shwenandaw Kyaung, Skinny Buddha… Each site has a special design with different meanings. Come and experience by yourselves, you will be impressed right from the first look!

Kuthodaw Pagoda in Mandalay

Continue your Myanmar tour by watching the show at the Mandalay Marionettes or at Mintha Theater. There is no better way to experience Mandalay's local culture than by attending the Mandalay Marionettes. The colorful marionette play that takes place on this small stage frequently tells the tale of old Burmese legends. Mintha Theater is also a good choice for you to learn more about the Mandalay Culture!

Besides, if you want to engage in the local life, you can spend time exploring markets. Mandalay has a wide variety of stores. One of Mandalay's largest markets is the new Mandalay Zay Cho. Acheik (Mandalay silk longyi), cotton garments, hto moat (sticky cakes), laphet (pickled tea leaves), kadipar slippers (velvet slippers), silverware, lacquerware, jewelry, stones, and other items are also available there. Don’t forget to buy the souvenir is the market!

Experiencing Mandalay Zay Cho market 

You may think that Mandalay only has sacred places to visit, you are complete wrong! During Mandalay Travel,  you also have chances to participate in many activities such as visit botanic garden, organic farm, swim at waterfall or hike to Anisakan Waterfall. Pyin Oo Lwin is a small city only an hour and a half from Mandalay, this small city is famous for its botanic garden and organic farm. It is also famous for Dee Doke Waterfall and Anisakan Waterfall. Bring your bathing suit, since swimming in this area is really wonderful!

Experiencing organic farming with the locals in Mandalay

What to eat and drink in Mandalay?

Not only is Mandalay well-known for its rich history and several well-known attractions, but it is also well-known for its distinctive cuisine. No matter where you go, a Myanmar trip is not complete without tasting the local cuisine's street food. Tasting the local food is also a way to engage in their daily lives and their culture.

When thinking of Myanmar's famous street cuisine, Mohinga must be mentioned because it is one of Mandalay's most well-known dishes. It is a rice noodle that is served with a soup that contains shrimp paste and freshwater fish. Mohinga is available across Myanmar, however, the one from Mandalay has a distinctive flavor due to the use of thick fish paste. Mont Di or Myee Shay are also common street foods that you can easily catch them. Kyay Oh, Bow See, Tea Salad or Lemond Fish are also considered as mouth-watering street foods in Mandalay. Most unique, if you want to have a brand new experience, try fried crickets, it may sound strange but fried cricket is quite popular among local people. For a distinctive taste, the crickets are fried with a blend of spices. However, it's only accessible during the winter and wet months. Travel and Tour in Myanmar can’t lack these experiences!

Enjoy Mohinga, a special cuisine in Myanmar

About drinks, tea is a popular beverage in Myanmar, and tea shops are perfect for not just starting the day with a strong beverage but also watching the local's life rhythm. Tea is often served hot with sweetened condensed milk to soften its strong natural earthiness. Additionally, one of the most popular beers in the towns is Myanmar beer. This brand is well-known and appreciated by numerous international tourists. Beer is said to be quite cooling and refreshing, which is ideal in this hot environment. Toddy is another widely consumed beverage in Myanmar; it is a homemade brew that you should try since it has a strong taste of rural Myanmar. It has been traditional to always provide this drink as a greeting to guests.

Enjoy Myanmar beer in Mandalay

When to visit Mandalay?

Mandalay, which lies in the center of Myanmar, has a tropical climate that is hot, wet, and dry. This is a piece of important information before preparing for a Myanmar vacation. 

There are three seasons in Mandalay:

The dry season lasts from November through February. With minimal rain and cool temperatures, it has good weather. As a result, Mandalay's dry season has become the busiest travel period and a great time to travel there.

Typically, the hot season lasts from March through April and is distinguished by scorching heat and little rainfall.

Walking Thinyan Mandalay festival in April

The rainy season lasts from May until October. In May, the southwest monsoon erupts, bringing rain showers to the region. Heavy rains might affect tourism by causing delays on flights, tough travel conditions on the roads, and the ruining of certain views. As a result, you should plan some inside activities.

Although prices will be lower than in the peak season because there will be less tourists, besides, you can explore many famous places without worrying about the crowd!

Tours in Mandalay

It is certainly that Mandalay has many tourist attractions that can make you feel pleasant. To have a better understanding, you can find at Myanmar travel destination. Asia Private Travels will help you to have the best Myanmar Trip.

From Mandalay, you can consider Mandalay Bagan Tour, There are over 2000 pagodas and historic sites spread across Bagan. The monuments are situated between the riverbank and the Turintaung mountain range. Although Bagan is most known for its ancient monuments, it has much more to offer. Visitors can go to surrounding communities and observe people weaving cotton. Bagan is well known for its traditional crafts, especially lacquer. It is renowned for producing palm sugar, processing oil, and painting murals. You shouldn't miss it as it is a worthwhile tourist destination in Myanmar.

Exploring Bagan during Mandalay Bagan tour

Mandalay - Mingun: If you are planning a Myanmar travel, you must see Mingun, one of the four ancient cities located many kilometers up the Ayeyarwady River outside of Mandalay. The stunning temples, rural roads, and a wonderful boat ride will keep you in another tranquil area of Myanmar. Undoubtedly, it is the ideal vacation spot for anyone who wishes to escape city life.

Discovering Mingun in Mandalay-Mingun tour

Excursion to U Bein Bridge: The U Bein Bridge may appear to be just another rickety wooden bridge , but it is really constructed by a royal palace. The resulting bridge may not appear to be royal, but its history certainly is. Hopefully, you will not miss this location on your Myanmar tour and will bring home several amazing images of U Bein bridge to enrich your travel album.

Cycling Tour in Mandalay: As you make your way to the city's northeast, you will pass by vibrant neighborhoods and fresh market areas. After a short ride, you will find yourself in the countryside, where locals go about their daily routines that haven't changed in decades and farmers tend to their crops. Friendly villagers wave from all directions while water buffalo roll about lazily in the mud and goats graze on the vegetation. This is an ideal experience for those who want to escape the hustle and bustle life.

Mandalay morning cycling tour

Hope that this blog can help with a useful guide for an amazing journey to Mandalay, Myanmar. Contact Asia Private Travels for booking or further information!