“Amarapura”
©
“Amarapura”

“Amarapura”

Former Burmese royal capital near Mandalay, known for weaving workshops and U Bein Bridge over Taungthaman Lake.

Amarapura -- the “City of Immortals” -- was the royal capital of Burma from 1783, home to 200,000 people at its peak. Today fewer than 10,000 remain, most of them cotton and silk weavers working at looms in workshops you can visit along the main road.

The main draw is U Bein Bridge, a 1.2-kilometre teak footbridge built around 1850 that stretches across Taungthaman Lake on salvaged palace timbers. At sunset, when monks and locals cross in silhouette against the water, it is one of the most photographed scenes in Myanmar. Get there early or late to avoid the tour groups. The Mahagandhayon Monastery houses around 1,500 monks and its midday meal procession is one of the most remarkable sights in Myanmar. Pahtodawgyi Pagoda — forever unfinished on royal orders — and the Amarapura Palace ruins fill out a half-day visit. The silk and cotton weaving workshops along the main road are among the best places to buy traditional Burmese cloth. Amarapura sits about 10 km south of Mandalay and is easily combined with the other ancient capitals of Inwa and Sagaing.

Guide

Getting There

Amarapura is about 10 kilometres south of Mandalay city centre and easily reached by taxi, motorcycle taxi, or hired bicycle. The drive takes 20 to 30 minutes depending on traffic. Most visitors come as part of a circuit of the ancient capitals south of Mandalay — Inwa (Ava), Sagaing, and Amarapura can all be covered in a single day with an early start and a hired car or motorbike.

Bicycle hire in Mandalay is inexpensive and the road to Amarapura is largely flat, making it possible to cycle the distance in about 45 minutes. Trishaws and taxis from Mandalay city charge fixed rates for a half-day or full-day circuit of the southern capitals; negotiate before you get in.

There is no dedicated bus service to Amarapura from the Mandalay bus terminal; local shared pickups run along the main road but are slow and infrequent by tourist standards.

Guide

Things to Do

Amarapura's appeal is concentrated but intense. The town was four times a royal capital of Burma and its teak bridge, ancient pagodas, and weaving workshops pack into a compact area that can be covered in a half-day visit from Mandalay, though the light at sunset justifies arriving earlier.

Guide

When to Go

The cool dry season from November to February is the best time to visit Amarapura. Temperatures are comfortable, the light is clear, and U Bein Bridge at sunrise or sunset is at its most photogenic when morning mist rises from Taungthaman Lake.

The hot season from March to May is harsh — temperatures above 40°C are common and outdoor sightseeing becomes uncomfortable by mid-morning. The monsoon from June to October brings rain and humidity but the lake fills and the surrounding landscape turns green; the bridge experience is quieter and the light more dramatic on overcast days.