Amarapura, Historical town in Mandalay Region, Myanmar.
Amarapura extends along the Irrawaddy River bank, featuring ancient temple ruins, traditional markets, and residential neighborhoods across its urban landscape.
King Bodawpaya established Amarapura as Myanmar's capital in 1783, but the city experienced decline after an earthquake in 1839 and royal court relocation to Mandalay.
The town maintains a strong tradition of silk weaving, with specialized workshops producing intricate textiles following techniques from the Konbaung dynasty period.
Visitors reach Amarapura through regular transportation services from Mandalay, located 11 kilometers north, with tours covering major historical sites in one day.
The U Bein Bridge spans Taungthaman Lake using teak wood salvaged from the former royal palace, stretching 1.2 kilometers across the water.
Location: Mandalay Region
Inception: 1783
GPS coordinates: 21.90000,96.04583
Latest update: March 6, 2025 21:25
Myanmar offers photographers an exceptional range of subjects, from ancient temple complexes to natural landscapes. The archaeological zone of Bagan, with more than 2,000 pagodas and temples spread across 40 square miles (104 square kilometers), ranks among Southeast Asia's most significant historical sites. The golden Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon, its central stupa rising 325 feet (99 meters), dominates the skyline of the former capital. At Inle Lake, photographers document the daily life of locals who propel their boats with a distinctive leg-rowing technique, along with floating gardens and villages built on stilts. The country's temple architecture appears in various forms: the white Ananda Temple in Bagan from the 11th century, the Kuthodaw Pagoda in Mandalay with its 729 marble slabs inscribed with Buddhist texts, or the 2,478 stupas at Kakku in Shan State. U Bein Bridge near Amarapura, a 0.75-mile (1.2-kilometer) teak bridge built in 1850, draws photographers especially at sunrise and sunset. Natural formations such as the limestone caves at Pindaya containing thousands of Buddha statues, or the Golden Rock at Kyaiktiyo appearing to balance on a cliff edge, expand the photographic possibilities. Beyond the well-known sites, other compelling subjects emerge: the colonial character of Mawlamyaing, the limestone mountains around Hpa-an, the 2,417-foot (737-meter) Mount Popa with its monastery atop a volcanic plug, or Gokteik Viaduct, a 2,260-foot (689-meter) railway bridge from the British colonial period. The 590-foot (180-meter) reclining Buddha statue Win Sein Taw Ya near Mawlamyaing and the monumental Buddha statues at Monywa demonstrate the scale of religious art in the country. The beaches at Ngapali on the west coast provide contrast to the cultural and historical sites in the interior.
Mandalay Palace
11.6 km
U Bein Bridge
1.5 km
Mahamuni Buddha Temple
6.7 km
Mahamuni Buddha
6.7 km
Shwenandaw Monastery
13.2 km
Bagaya Monastery
2.5 km
Kaunghmudaw Pagoda
11.7 km
Irrawaddy Bridge
5.8 km
Atumashi Monastery
13.2 km
Mahagandhayon Monastery
465 m
Kyauktawgyi Buddha Temple
13.2 km
Ava Bridge
6.4 km
Yadanabon Zoological Gardens
13.1 km
Mandalarthiri Stadium
7.3 km
Bahtoo Stadium
10.8 km
Kyauksein Pagoda
5.4 km
Amarapura Palace
881 m
Shweinbin Monastery
7.7 km
Salin Monastery
11.8 km
Umin Thonze Pagoda
5.9 km
Sacred Heart Cathedral, Mandalay
10 km
Taiktaw Monastery
12.2 km
Man Myanmar Plaza
9.6 km
Tawagu Pagoda
10.9 km
Maha Min Htin Monastery
7.2 km
Mogaung Monastery
12.7 km
Shwekyimyint Pagoda
10.3 km
Man Thida Park
10.6 kmReviews
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