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Myanmar’s penultimate royal capital, Amarapura means ‘City of Immortality’, though its period of prominence lasted less than 70 years (from 1783). In 1857 King Mindon began dismantling most of the palace buildings, shipping them 7 miles north to Mandalay, which was to become the new capital in line with a Buddhist prophecy. These days leafy Amarapura is essentially a spread-out suburb of Mandalay, attractively set on a wide, shallow lake, named for an ogre who supposedly came looking for the Buddha here.

The wide roads and twisting alleyways make Amarapura feel less aggressively modern than Mandalay, and spending a day here is a pleasant undertaking. The main attraction is an iconic wooden footbridge that crosses the lake. Several other minor sights are widely scattered – you'll need a bike or taxi to see them all.

Best time to visit

Myanmar has a dry and a rainy season and when you visit depends on the kind of weather you prefer. The dry season lasts from January to May and it can be very dusty and fiercely hot in Amarapura at that time. The wet season is from June to October and it can rain every day which can make a visit rather damp. If you want to visit when the weather is stable and cool then November and December are good picks.

Check the below table for the general idea of Amarapura weather throughout the year.

Month Avg. High (°C) Avg. Mean (°C) Avg. Low (°C)
Jan 30.1 22.9 15.3
Feb 33.3 25.5 16.7
Mar 37.2 29.9 21.6
Apr 38.7 32.1 25
May 37.2 31.9 26.4
Jun 35.8 31.4 26.7
Jul 35.4 31.1 26.6
Aug 34.3 30.2 26
Sep 34.3 30.1 25.8
Oct 33.2 28.8 24.4
Nov 31.9 26.8 21.2
Dec 29.4 23.2 16.5

Amarapura’s current weather and 7-day forecast

AMARAPURA WEATHER

U Bein Bridge 

The U Bein Bridge is the biggest highlight in Amarapura. Stretching 1.2km (0.7mi) long, it's the largest teak wood bridge in the world.

The bridge is beautiful at any time of day, but is at it's most stunning at sunset. For the best photos, get off the bridge in the middle and stand in the fields to capture the bridge’s silhouette against the fiery, orange-red sky.

Local fishermen will be happy to take you out on the Taungthaman Lake by boat – for a small fee. Just know that early morning and late afternoon are the busiest time of day for local commuters.

Kyauktawgyi Pagoda

Built to model Ananda temple in Bagan, Kyauktaqgyi Pagoda is a beautiful white Buddhist temple. Located near the U Bein bridge, it’s best known for the frescoes decorating the interior and the Buddha statue inside, which is said to be carved from a single block of marble. 

Weawsana Jade Pagoda

Located just outside Amarapura, Weawsana Jade Pagoda is made entirely of (you guessed it) Jade. Its appearance gives it an otherworldly feel – which has been jokingly likened to kryptonite.

Pahtodawgyi Pagoda

A beautiful Pagoda in the southern section of Amarapura, Pahtodawgyi was built in the early 1800s and modelled after the Mahazedi of Sri Lanka.

If you venture up to the highest terrace, you’ll be rewarded with a beautiful panoramic view over the countryside.

Mahar Wai Yan Bon Thar Monastery

Be sure to visit this five-story Buddhist monastery, which was built with the traditional tiered roofs featured in Burmese architecture.

There are over 20,000 wooden carvings in the temple, 500 images of Buddha within the grounds, and ancient manuscripts written on palm leaves within the library.

Amarapura Palace Ruins

Amarapura was once the royal capital, and although the palace of the ancient city is in ruins, you can still catch a glimpse of its former splendor.

The treasury building, watch tower, and tombs of two of the kings can still be seen here today.

Silk Weaving Workshop

Weaving industry is one of the main professions of the Amarapura people. Over one hundred looms are used to obtain beautiful and intricate design and patterns as silk are worn in very special and ceremonial occasions. As being a famous and interesting cottage industry, this is another place for visitors to have a look.

Though there is a small town at Amarapura, and there are a few hotels, none are licenced for foreigners. Amarapura is usually visited on a day trip from Mandalay.

You won’t find a huge selection of food choices in Amarapura, particularly compared to neighbouring Mandalay, although there are some pleasant options for when you are in town.

As with many Burmese towns, you will find a central market here and you can also find cheap street food snacks such as barbecued meats along the waterfront in Amarapura. If you want a choice of international, Thai, and Burmese fare then Renaissance Cafe is a good choice and is also part of a rattan shop that sells furniture. They have set meals which cost between MMK 7,500-13,000.

How to get to and from Amarapura

Amarapura is located around 10 kilometres away from Mandalay and you can take a regular taxi to the town for around MMK 18,000 which is a good choice for anyone traveling in a group.

Many people make their way to Amarapura as part of a guided tour from Mandalay which also takes in Inwa and Sagaing and these usually last from around 9 am to 5 pm and can be a good way to see all the sights quickly and easily.

If you do want to explore Amarapura on your own then you can get a pick-up taxi from Zegyo Market in Mandalay which costs MMK 300 and is a great option if you are on a budget.

How to get around Amarapura

The sights in Amarapura are rather scattered around the city and as such you will need some form of transport if you want to explore properly. The best thing to do is hire a motorbike taxi or a normal taxi which will take you around Amarapura.

Contact us to get more information

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