Spend a full day visiting Sagaing (former capital) and Mingun (ancient town) across the river from Mandalay, Myanmar.
Start and end at your hotel in Mandalay.
Highlights of this tour:
– See bronze statue making in Shan Lay Kyaun local village (dry season) or Inwa (wet season)
– Visit the golden domed Kaung Mu Taw Pagoda with its unique fish pond
– Visit local silversmith workshop
– Visit beautiful Soon Oo Ponya Shin Pagoda for scenic views from the top of Sagaing Hill
– Visit U Min Thonze Cave Pagoda
– Wander around Mingun’s unfinished huge Pathodawgyi Pagoda
– Stand inside the Mingun Bell and explore the fantastic white Hsinbyume Pagoda
– Watch sunset from Shwe Kyat Kya Pagoda
Your tour starts from your Mandalay hotel between 8.00 – 9.00am. Drive South to the small local village of Shan Lay Kyaun beside the Ayeyarwady (Irrawaddy) River to see local villagers making bronze statues and furniture. Get a glimpse into the life of the local villagers. From here drive to the Yadanabon Bridge to cross the river to reach Sagaing.
Sagaing is the former capital of the Shan Kingdom and the Myanmar Kingdom during the 13-14th Century. Nowadays it is renowned as the religious center of Myanmar because of over 400 monasteries spread throughout the hillocks.
Visit the gigantic dome shaped Kaung (Kyaung) Mu Taw Pagoda. Feed the fish and turtles at the back of the pagoda. Visit local silversmith workshop to see how to make silverwares. Drive up to the top of Sagaing Hill for panoramic views from the Soon Oo Ponya Shin Pagoda and continue to visit U Min Thonze Cave Pagoda. Drive down the hill and take a rest at the restaurant for lunch.
After lunch drive to Mingun village to see the unfinished huge pagoda called Pathodawgyi. See the Mingun Bell, the world largest ringing bell. Explore the unique white beautiful Hsinbyume Pagoda. Leave Mingun and drive back to Sagaing and across the river to see the sunset from Shwe Kyat Kya Pagoda beside the river. After this drop you off at your hotel in Mandalay.