Amarapura

Amarapura means city of immortality. It is not very far from Mandalay city and accessible by car. It was the capital city of Myanmar, during the Konbaung Dynasty. Visitors can still see the many tombs of past kings and can ask the local people to guide them to through the many astonishing mausoleums dedicated to these kings. The city is also famous for the silk weaving industry.

Inwa

Inwa lies 21 km (13 miles) south of Mandalay and is only a 30 minute drive. It is the old king city and capital of Oberburma, formerly known as Yadana Pura. It is located at the confluence of the Ayeyarwaddy and Myint Nge rivers. A canal dug to join both rivers cut off the capital as an island, making it safe from enemy attacks. The ruins of the palace, the massive fort walls and moat reflect the splendors of the past, when the city had been the capital for more than four and half centuries.

Mingun

Mingun is located on the western bank of the Ayeyarwaddy River, approximately 11 km (7 miles) north of Mandalay. It is reached by ferry boats across the river and takes one hour to go up-river and 40 minutes down-river. It is famous for many Buddhist shrines, monasteries, meditation centers and monuments of historical and cultural importance. A boat trip to Mingun is pleasant with plenty of life on the river to see. It is about 18 km (11 miles) from Sagaing, by road it takes about 30 minutes to get there.