Taungthaman Lake, Lake in Amarapura, Myanmar.
Taungthaman Lake in Amarapura stretches across the Mandalay Region with a 1.2-kilometer wooden teak footbridge connecting its shores. The water body is shallow, surrounded by banks that shift with the seasons and local land use.
The lake became notable in the mid-1800s when U Bein built his wooden bridge using materials salvaged from Ava's former royal palace. This structure turned into a lasting landmark of that era's craftsmanship.
Fishermen and monks shape daily life here through their work and spiritual routines. The shores serve as a meeting point between religious practice and traditional livelihood.
The lake is best reached by tuk-tuk or taxi from Mandalay, with the journey taking around 20 minutes. The area has many places to stay nearby and is easiest to explore during early morning or late afternoon.
During dry seasons, water levels drop sharply and parts of the lakebed become rice fields cultivated by local farmers. This seasonal transformation reveals how closely the lake ties to rural life and farming cycles.
Location: Mandalay Region
GPS coordinates: 21.89778,96.05944
Latest update: December 6, 2025 19:08
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
11.2 km
U Bein Bridge
736 m
Mahamuni Buddha Temple
6.3 km
Mahamuni Buddha
6.3 km
Shwenandaw Monastery
12.8 km
Bagaya Monastery
2.4 km
Irrawaddy Bridge
7 km
Sandamuni Pagoda
12.9 km
Atumashi Monastery
12.7 km
Mahagandhayon Monastery
1.1 km
Kyauktawgyi Buddha Temple
12.8 km
Ava Bridge
7.5 km
Yadanabon Zoological Gardens
12.8 km
Mandalarthiri Stadium
6.5 km
Bahtoo Stadium
10.4 km
Kyauksein Pagoda
6.1 km
Amarapura Palace
1 km
Shweinbin Monastery
7.7 km
Salin Monastery
11.2 km
Umin Thonze Pagoda
7.3 km
Sacred Heart Cathedral, Mandalay
9.8 km
Taiktaw Monastery
11.8 km
Man Myanmar Plaza
9.5 km
Tawagu Pagoda
10.7 km
Maha Min Htin Monastery
6.8 km
Mogaung Monastery
12.2 km
Shwekyimyint Pagoda
10.1 km
Man Thida Park
10.2 kmReviews
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