Activities Mandalay

Travel advisory: The US government advises against all travel to Myanmar, and the UK advises against all but essential travel to Mandalay and against all travel to Sagaing and the area north of the city. Fighting, drone attacks, curfews and internet shutdowns continue, and many sites were damaged in the March 2025 earthquake. Check the US State Department and UK FCDO before making any plans.

Mandalay Activities

Mandalay was the last royal capital of Burma. No attraction can currently be confirmed open, and the condition and access of each place below are unconfirmed since the March 2025 earthquake.

History

• Mandalay Palace was home to Burmese royalty. The earthquake damaged its walls and gates.
• Shwenandaw Monastery is a 19th-century teak monastery known for its carvings.
• Kuthodaw Pagoda is known for 729 marble slabs inscribed with Buddhist scriptures. Surveyors reported serious structural damage.

Spiritual sites

• Mahamuni Pagoda houses a revered Buddha image. A building in the compound collapsed in the earthquake. Women and girls may not approach the image.
• Kyauktawgyi Pagoda is known for its large marble Buddha statue.

Local life

• Mandalay’s markets were known for produce, handicrafts and traditional goods. Their trading status is unconfirmed.

Practical notes

• Wear modest clothing at religious sites, covering shoulders and knees.
• Remove shoes before entering temples and pagodas.
• Stay hydrated, especially in the hot season.