After breakfast, enjoy an excursion by boat on the Irrawaddy River or Ayeyarwady River, which is a large river and the most important commercial waterway that flows from the north to the south through Myanmar. The boat journey will take you to Mingun, a town in the Sagaing Region, about 11 km (1h) upriver from Mandalay. Your tour visit will start with the Mingun bell, a striking sight of the biggest and heaviest uncracked functional bronze bell in the world since it was dedicated by King Bodawpaya in 1790 to be suspended at the Mingun Temple. It is also known as the Mingun Pahtodawgyi pagoda, a monumental uncompleted stupa due to an astrologer claiming that once the temple was finished, the king would die. The weight of the bell is 55,555 viss (90 tons) and is about 13 feet tall. This number is conveniently remembered by many people in Myanmar as “Min Hpyu Hman Hman Pyaw”, with the consonants representing the number 5 in Burmese astronomy and numerology. As you explore, look for the weight of the bell and its mnemonic words which are written on the surface of the bell in white.

Then, you will continue your journey to Hsinbyume Paya, also known as the “Myatheindan Pagoda”, where you will see a mesmerizingly beautiful snow white structure on the banks of the Irrawaddy River just north of Mandalay and the northern part of Mingun town, a few hundred meters from the massive Mingun Pagoda. It was built in 1816, under King Bagyidaw of the Konbaung dynasty, probably using materials pilfered from Mingun Paya. This stunning pagoda rises in seven wavy, whitewashed concentric terraces describing the seven mountain ranges around Mount Meru, and the mythical pagoda at Mount Meru called the Sulamani Pagoda, a depiction of the mythological mountain which is said to be the centre of the Buddhist universe. As you explore the Paya, you can see all ornamenting representations of mythical creatures in the niches of the shrine like Ogres, Serpents, or Nagas, and the Nats, or the Spirits.

Towards midday of your site tour, you will visit the impressive and unfinished Mingun Paya also known as Mingun Pahtodawgyi or the Mantara Gyi Pagoda on the banks of the Irrawaddy River, built as one of the world’s largest stupas by King Bodaw Paya. It stands as a massive unfinished ancient ruin pagoda in Mingun, approximately 11 kilometres northwest of Mandalay. As you approch, you will see a richly decorated entrance in front of the pagoda facing the river where the remains of two giant Chinthe lions about 29 meters high, guarding the temple and inside the pagoda, you will come across a small shrine with a Buddha image. As you climb to the top of the pagoda using a stairway to the right of the structure, you will have a magnificent view of the area with the nearby Hsinbyume Pagoda, several other pagodas on the Irrawaddy River and the mountains to the back drop of the pagoda.

In the afternoon, after your Myanmar lunch, you will experience the sights and sounds of Mandalay including a visit to one of the most revered religious monuments in Myanmar, the Mahamuni Buddha Temple, the Shwe Inbin Monastery, the Golden Palace Monastery or the Kuthodaw Pagoda.

The Mahamuni Buddha Temple, also known as the Mahamuni Pagoda, is located southwest of Mandalay and was built in 1785 by King Bodawpaya of the Konbaung dynasty. The image of Buddha was brought by his majesty after his invasion; Buddha had visited the Dhanyawadi city of Arakan in 554 BC. Here you will see the most highly revered live expression representing the Buddha’s life in the five images of the Mahamuni or The Great Sage that is defined in the temple which originally came from Arakan, according to the legends. The Mahamuni image is enshrined in a small chamber topped with a seven tiered Pyatthat Burmese style roof. You will see that the 3.80 meter high Mahamuni’s, which is a great image covered with a thick layer of gold leaves, is seated in the Bhumisparsha Mudra posture on a very ornate 1.80 meter high pedestal. Several shops around the temple sell offerings for the Mahamuni Buddha image such as incense sticks, candles and flowers. If you wish, you can purchase these and make offerings to the image.

You will have the choice to visit the Shwe In-Bin Monastery, which is locally known as Shwe In Bin Kyaung. As you explore here, you will witness the pagoda, one of the most attractive monasteries in Mandalay. You will find it gorgeously impressive carved from traditional teak wood, built in 1895 by a pair of Chinese jade and wealthy merchants. The monastery complex, which is held up by a classical teak foundation, has the central building that stands on tree-trunk poles and the interior which has a soaring dark majesty. It has a carved teakwood exterior, balustrades and tiered roof cornices that are covered in stunning engravings and it also has admirable works of art with a surrounding wooden deck. You will find Shwe InBin spectacular and the atmosphere solemn with accommodation for 35 monks. If you wish, you can check for the donation box by asking a monk and put a small share as a donation that can be used for the maintenance of this monastery.

The other option for you would be to visit Shwenandaw Monastery, also known as Shwe Nandaw or Shwe-Kyaung-pyi to the Burmese. It is the only surviving original building from Mandalay’s wooden royal palace which is also commonly known as the Golden Palace Monastery or the Shwenandaw Kyaung, built by King Mindon in the mid 19^th century as it was moved from Amarapura Mandalay and named Mya Nan San Kyaw. You will find the palace well-preserved, and made out of Burmese teakwood architecture, which is covered in a masterpiece of a traditional wood-carver’s art intricately carved figures from Buddhist mythology and this would be a valuable stop for you, if you are significantly looking to absorb Mandalay’s rich history. As you approach the palace, you will see that the outside carvings are in different weathered and restored states, with glimpses of faded gold leaf patches. On the inside, the main hall has a golden interior where you will see the massive teak pillars, the imposing ceiling, the replica of the Lion Throne, the rich carvings displays and the inscripted tales of Buddha’s life. Only men are allowed to enter and worship the Buddha image in the main room, displayed alongside carvings of the nat spirits beings, worshiping the Buddha image.

Note: Read the Notice for Foreigners – no smoking in the wooden monastery, like don’t even think of doing that!

You will have another option which is to continue your day’s journey to the gorgeous and glittering solid Gold Temple of Kuthodaw Pagoda. The true spectacle lays within the stark white stupas that surround its base which is the World’s Largest Book made of 729 marble tablets, on which the entire Theravada Buddhist Pali Canon is inscribed with text, its “Tipitaka” – a phrase meaning “three baskets”, which is a reference to the baskets in which the original teachings of Gautam Buddha were held. While the 730th tablet describes their creation, the book is covered on both sides with dense script.  Each stone tablet depicts one page of the holy book that is arranged around the central golden pagoda which is housed in its own shrine, called “Kyauksa Gu”, with a precious gem on top.

Ancient history reveals, that the Kuthodaw Paya or “Royal merit pagoda” is a Buddhist Stupa that was built by King Mindon Min in 1857 at the foot of Mandalay Hill. It was built to leave a great work of merit for future generations. You will find the pagoda’s entrance gate is an ornate gold and red. The South gate is adorned with sculptures of deities and animals from Buddhist and Hindu mythology and the long corridor leading to the central zedi has mural paintings from the late Konbaung period i.e in mid 19^th century adorn its walls, while towards the end of the corridor is a pavilion enshrining an image of the Buddha.

Later on, as part of the day’s tour, you will visit the Mandalay center for Bamar arts and crafts. You will find endless shops that sell precious stones and gems including jade, ruby, sapphire, jewellery and gold and countless shops selling an abundance of souvenirs such as Burmese handicrafts, sculptures and Buddha images which you can buy for your family and friends. During your market walk, you will take a short visit to see the Kalaga tapestries craftsmen’s shop before proceeding to Mandalay Hill for a mesmerizing sunset view.

A Burmese cuisine lunch and dinner or diet of your own choice will be on your own account. Your overnight stay will be at the Mandalay Hill Resort or a similar type of accommodation with a deluxe room on availability at Mandalay.

Inle Lake, also known as Inle Sap, is a freshwater shallow lake located in Nyaungshwe. It is 14 miles long and 7 miles wide, surrounded by mountains. As magnificent as the scenery is, what you will love most is seeing the unique inhabitants of tribal life and their entire community living on and around the water. The lake and mountains are picturesque and beautiful. The one-legged fishermen steer their one-man boats with a characteristic rowing style, wrapping one leg around their oar while the colourful tribal markets, the stilted wooden houses and the impressive floating gardens will keep you at Inle Lake longer than you would have ever planned.

Wake up as dawn breaks at Inle Lake in Myanmar and you will get to see the entire fishing community making their way through the mist. Though visibility at this hour is zero, their ray of hope is high in the belief that their nets will catch their daily livelihood. This mystic scene remains a possibility as long as you can witness sunrise.

After your breakfast at the hotel, you will be picked-up by our guide at your hotel and be transferred to Khaung Daing Village by a colourful decorated boat, drifting over the smooth ripples of lake water. You will then make an easy walk uphill under the shade of the trees to the wish-fulfilling pagoda overlooking the lake. Then you will cycle through Khaung Daing village, a native village on the northwestern shore of the Inlay Lake in Shan State, known for its production of soybean cakes and noodles. You will come across a few interesting Shan style temples just outside the village and a little north of Khaung Daing is the Khaung Daing Hot Spring. Cycling on the road along the shore of the lake, you will spot Nyaung Shwe. You will witness the unique life of the Intha people as you stop at a fishing site and witness the one legged fishing style like a cross between fishing and ballet and the farming villages on the way. Once you touch base at Nyaung Shwe, you will visit the cultural museum of the Shan Lords, which is housed in a large teak-and-brick mansion with Burmese local artifacts, historical paintings and photographs which are on display. Your day’s tour ends with a transfer back to your hotel by car and/or by boat.

The tour on Inle Lake in Myanmar (Burma) is stunningly crisp. Explore to believe this serene beauty of South East Asia

Note:

Khaung Daing –        Nyaung Shwe 10 km / 7 miles

Cycling hours   –        1 ½ hour

Road condition  –       Partly tarred winding road with pot holes in many places, partly narrow  path ways. Light traffic. Difficult to cycle during the monsoon months from May to September.

Places to see    –      Scenery, villages, agricultural farms, fishing, view point over the lake and market (mornings only on market days).

In the afternoon, you will board a colourfully decorated boat to the western shore of Inle Lake where you will find the beginning of a stair path leading to the well hidden Shwe Indein Pagoda also collectively known as the Shwe Inn Thein pagodas. Located at the top of the hill is a group of Buddhist pagodas in the village of Indein, near Ywama, west of the Inlay Lake in Shan State, Burma. The pagodas were commissioned during the reign of King Narapatisithu and King Anawrahta. Traditionally, these groups of magnificent pagodas were built by King Ashoka, who was also known by the Burmese people as Dhammasoka in the 3^rd century. As you continue your exploration towards the center of the Shwe Inn Thein group, you will find the shrine of the Inn Thein Buddha image and holy shrine which houses a Golden Buddha sculpture in the meditation mudra. You will also find a top element that is shaped like an ornamental umbrella. Surprisingly this is missing at many of the unrestored stupas.

From the top of the hill, visitors will have a mesmerizing view of the Indein village and the surrounding area. Then you will be transferred to your hotel at Inle lake.

Your lunch and dinner will be of your choice that will be pocketed to your own account. Your overnight stay will be at the Inle Priness Resort, a four star Lake house or similar type of accommodation with a deluxe room on availability on Inle Lake.

Note: The day’s Tour has an option available for cookery enthusiasts: Cooking Classes catered by local restaurants.

The diversity of Myanmar’s cuisine has been contributed to by the myriad local ethnic minorities and characterised by extensive use of fish products like fish sauce and ngapi – a fermented fish paste.

Mohinga is a rice noodle and fish soup from Myanmar and is an essential part of Burmese cuisine. It is considered by many to be the national dish of Myanmar. There is also a Burmese salad called Thoke that is centered on one major ingredient, ranging from starches like rice, wheat, rice noodles, glass noodles and other local farm ingredients including ngapi.

The cookery class will be led by a Burmese Master Chef; you can participate actively in the shopping for meat and vegetables at the local market, which are necessary for the menu that they are going to cook. The chef will explain about the ingredients they use. Cooking lessons on authentic Burmese cuisines take place in the private area of the restaurant’s kitchen. At the end, every participant enjoys a Myanmar special meal which you will have prepared together.