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Amarapura &
Pagodas,
U Bein
Bridge an
Irrawaddy
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We are focused on individual and small group trips
throughout the country, tell us what you want via contact. |
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The name Amarapura is a Sanskrit word, meaning,
Amara (Deathlessness) which entails Deathless City. Being 7 miles (11 km)
south of Mandalay, it is commonly called Taungmyo or Southern City.
Beginning with King Badon, five successive
monarchs ruled from the city. In 1823, King Bodaw’s grandson and successor,
King Bagyidaw shifted his capital to Innwa (Ava). However King Thayarwaddy
(1837-46) moved the capital back to Amarapura and it remained the capital
until King Mindon founded Mandalay.
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There are 12 gates, three each on one
side. Above the gates are wooden pavilions and the banks of the moat are
properly laid with bricks. As the palace buildings have been
dismantled and used in constructing Mandalay City, only part of the old
city walls and some religious edifices remained, the treasury building
and record office can be seen today.
Outside the city, near the south wall, is the
Pahtodawgyi Pagoda
built under King Bagyidaw in 1820, finished after 4 years. It has imposing
height and the three lower terraces with marble slabs on which Jataka
Stories (Buddha’s Birth Stories) are curved in
bold relief. In the precincts, a
stone inscription describing the
golden Myanmar of the pagoda and a
large bronze bell are installed.
Some relevant keywords, U Bein bridge, King Badon,
King Tharyarwaddy, Taungmyo, Amarapura palace, King
Bagyidaw,
Pahtodawgyi
pagoda.
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Bagaya Kyaung monastery,
built during King Bagyidaw, in 1834,
made completely of teak wood.
Considered as the tallest post ever
built with the height of around 60
feet, this monastery shows Myanmar's
typical teak architecture and other
historical relics.
The
monastery
has great decorative feature made
from teak showing
how creative the local people can
be, woodcarvings are also popular
decorative items. |
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Phathodawgyi Pagoda |
Maha Gandayon Monastery
This Maha Ganadayon religious institute is famous for
strict training for young monks in the study of Buddhist Texts. Certain
rules of conduct are outlined to be sternly enforced. It has been founded
since 1914, without being changed or relaxed in giving religious teachings.
The late Maha Gandayon Sayadaw was renowned for his teaching and writings on
Buddhism.
Maha Gandayon Sayadaw, the most reverend and venerable
Abbot of this Buddhist Centre and Institute in Amarapura was adapt and
proficient in delivering Buddhist Teachings and guiding Buddhist Vipassana
Meditation practices. The Rev. Maha Thera was also the author of
multifarious Buddhist Texts and Commentaries whose works are still studied
and followed by many devotees and disciples.
What is more, Sayadaw’s Buddhist Centre is eminent for
giving Buddhist training and study just like Shwe Kyin, Mingun and
other centers.
One could observe how silently and serenely Buddhist students are
taking their meals and learning their lessons when one enters the compound. |
The mighty U Bein
Bridge is the
longest teak
construction |
U Bein Bridge and Taungthaman Lake
Taungthaman Lake lies in between Mandalay and Amarapura, commonly
known now-a-days as Taungmyo. The unique feature of this Lake is that it
completely dries up during the Summer.
There is a teak wooden bridge that spans the Taungthaman Lake which is (1.2 km) long. It is named U Bein’s Bridge, credited to
the builder of the same who was said to be a Town Mayor. The teak framework
was constructed
1849
out of the remains of the dismantled structure of the palace when
the royal capital was shifted to Mandalay by King Mindon.
The U Bein Bridge has
a total of 1086 posts and 482 |
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spans.
During the rainy season, the lake is filled to the brim and
therein are ducks frolicking, fishermen casting their fishing nets,
holiday-makers paddling small boats.
Women used to wear, at that
time, kaukyoe hats (straw
hats) and seen enjoying the
scenic beauty and graceful
and natural environs. U
Bein’s Bridge is more than
200 years old, eloquently
proving the strength and
durability of world famous
Myanmar teak. |
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KYAUKTAWGYI PAGODA
Crossing over U Bein bridge from Taungthaman village, one will
arrive at MAHA SAKKA RAMSI
Pagoda, commonly known as
Taungthaman Kyauktawgyi
Pagoda.
It is not to be confused
with another Kyauktawgyi
Pagoda in Mandalay. This one
is dedicated by King Bagan
being constructed on the
lines of famous Ananda Temple of Bagan.
It
enshrines an alabaster
Buddha image hewn from the Sagaing area,during the
reign of King Bagyibaw.
This seated Buddha statue
measures 11 ft-9 in (3.5 m) at the
base with a height of 17 ft-3 in
(5.5m). It is of historical interest
for those who |
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have an interest in the contemporary
life of Myanmars of that period.
Murals on the walls of the image
chamber and the ceilings of the
covered passage-ways are depicted,
scenes of contemporary buildings and
the dress and life-style of the
Myanmar people of the period. |
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SHWEKYETYET
AND SHWEKYETKYA THE TWIN PAGODAS
These twin pagodas stand on the left
bank of the river Ayeyarwady,
opposite to Sagaing. The pagodas are
said to be built by a King of Bagan
in the 12th century. If you look
from the summit of the hill where
these pagodas are built you will
view panorama of the scenic beauty
of the environs and the white
pagodas on the Sagaing Hill.
THE CHINESE JOSS HOUSE (house of prayer) Since the time of King
Bodawpaya, the Chinese residents of
Amarapura had built a
Temple of Buddha. When King Mindon
shifted his capital to Mandalay, the
Chinese residents preferred to
remain in the city. A street is
named as Tayoketan in honor of
those residents. |
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