2 Days in Mandalay, Myanmar
I made a 2 day stop in Mandalay, one of Myanmar’s main cities, in February 2017. Two days was long enough really. There’s a few things to do in Mandalay, including Mandalay Hill and the U Bein Bridge, but the city itself is not Myanmar’s best destination. Most people stop in on their way to other places. But if you find yourself in Mandalay for a day or two, here’s some of the sights you can expect.
Mandalay Hill
Mandalay Hill is well worth a visit. It is quite different to other temples in Myanmar, with it’s colourful mosaic walls. If you visit here, make sure to organise a return taxi, as you wont find any lingering at the top (we got stuck and had to take an expensive, crowded local bus back down to the town).
U Bein Bridge Sunset
The U Bein Bridge is the oldest and longest teakwood bridge in the world, and it has the crowds to match. Anyone who is visiting Mandalay is at the bridge just before sunset, so be prepared for a crowd. However, rather than fighting the crowds on the actual bridge, do yourself a favour and walk on the river’s edge a little way from the bridge. From there, you’ll see the sun set behind the bridge and have plenty of space to enjoy it.
Irrawaddy River
I was glad I chose to catch the slow boat from Bagan to Mandalay, which let me see all the sights of the Irrawaddy River. The following photos were a couple of the sights from the Irrawaddy when arriving in Mandalay.