Inwa

Inwa (old name Ava) (meaning “The city of Gems”) is 18 km south of Mandalay just south of Amarapura. It was the Royal Capital of Burma four times, in 1364, 1597, 1763 and 1821. Nowadays it is almost like a rural area covered in fields and dotted with little villages and ancient pagodas and monasteries. No trip to Mandalay however is complete without a trip to ancient Inwa.

The area that was the Royal Palace is situate on a man made island bordered by two rivers and two man made canals.

Highlights in Inwa include the serene Yadana Hsemee Pagoda Complex, the ancient teak Bagaya Monastery, the huge Maha Aungmye Bonzan Monastery and the Nanmyin Watchtower.

Most visitors to Inwa take the short boat ride across from the mainland and visit the ancient sites by horse and buggy. A very pleasant way to spend a few hours.