Mandalay Fort -- officially Mandalay Royal Palace -- was built in 1857 by King Mindon as the center of his new capital. The complex is surrounded by immense walls eight meters high and two kilometers long on each side, with a watchtower at every corner and a moat 70 meters wide encircling the whole thing.
The original wooden palace buildings were destroyed in 1945 during World War II. What stands today is a reconstruction, but the scale of the walls and moat still impresses. The grounds are largely occupied by a military base, so only parts are open to visitors. The entrance fee is included in the Mandalay archaeological zone ticket. Climb the watchtower near the east gate for views over the complex and the city beyond.