Mahagandhayon Monastery is Amarapura's most visited sight after U Bein Bridge. Each morning between 10:00 and 11:00, the monastery's monks file into the dining hall for their midday meal — the only substantial meal they will eat. The procession forms a long saffron line that moves in silence from the dormitories across the courtyard. Visitors are permitted to watch from a respectful distance; photography is allowed but intrusive behaviour is not.
The scale of the monastery is striking up close: hundreds of young monks, many of them teenagers or children who have entered novitiate early, go about their studies in long wooden halls that open onto central courtyards. The teaching facilities, libraries, and meditation spaces are extensive. The senior monks' quarters are more ornate and set somewhat apart from the student blocks.
The best time to visit for the meal procession is between 10:15 and 10:45. Arriving earlier allows time to explore the outer buildings and the compound. Dress code is strict — shoulders and knees covered; shoes removed at the main gate. The monastery is easily combined with U Bein Bridge in a single morning excursion.