MYANMAR has the most Buddhist temples of any South-East Asian country. There are said to be a million pagodas and stupas! In the rural village of Bagan alone, there are over 3000 structures on a plain of 42km2, the site of the first Burmese kingdom between the 11th and 13th centuries. In each city, town and remote village, there are pagodas to be found. Fascinatingly, although hundreds are now in ruins, countless are still places of active worship and the centre of community life. In addition, hundreds of Buddhist temples are being built, to add to the existing vast numbers. I saw new construction – with bamboo scaffolding – as well as restoration, in each place I visited. Donating money to build a pagoda on temple grounds, or to support a monastery, is one of the most popular ways to earn merit (kutho), believed to allay illness and misfortune and secure a better rebirth in the next life. The wide practice of Theravada Buddhism in Myanmar permeates the daily life of the people, ranking them as the world’s most generous country, along with the US. I experienced the renowned hospitality when I was invited off the street into a private […]
Vesākha (Pali; Sanskrit: Vaiśākha), also known as Buddha Purnima and Buddha Day, is a holiday observed traditionally by Buddhists on different days in India, Sri Lanka, China, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Nepal, Tibet, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Indonesia, Singapore, Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia and Myanmar and in other places all over the world. Sometimes informally called “Buddha’s Birthday”, it commemorates the birth, enlightenment (Buddhahood), and death (Parinirvāna) of Gautama Buddha in the Theravada or southern tradition. The decision to agree to celebrate Vesākha as the Buddha’s birthday was formalized at the first conference of the World Fellowship of Buddhists held in Sri Lanka in 1950, although festivals at this time in the Buddhist world are a centuries-old tradition. The resolution that was adopted at the World Conference reads as follows: That this Conference of the World Fellowship of Buddhists, while recording its appreciation of the gracious act of His Majesty, the Maharaja of Nepal in making the full-moon day of Vesak a Public Holiday in Nepal, earnestly requests the Heads of Governments of all countries in which large or small number of Buddhists are to be found, to take steps to make the full-moon day in the month of May a […]
The World’s Largest Book The Kuthodaw Pagoda or Maha Lawka Marazein Paya is located at the base of the southeast stairways to Mandalay Hill and was built by King Mindon at the same time he was constructing the Royal Palace. Its central stupa is modeled on the Shwezigon at Nyaung U near Bagan. The Charity Group of the Hotel by the Red Canal, Mandalay painted the campus of the Kuthodaw Pagoda, known as World’s Largest Book Heritage site on 11.11.2016.They announced at the Hotel social media page that anyone who wishes to join them in helping preserve one of the most important monuments in Mandalay. The stupa itself, connected to the outside entry by means of a long corridor, is set in the middle of a thirteen acre field of 729 pitaka pagodas or shrines (Dama Cetis). Each shrine contains a marble slab, inscribed on both sides with the Pali script text of a portion the Tipitaka (Pali spelling, or Tripitaka, in Sanskrit), Theravada Buddhism’s sacred texts. Taken together, they contain the entire text of the Tipitaka and thus form “the world’s largest book.” The slabs were carved from white Sagyin Hill marble found just a few miles north of […]
Hospitality to any visitor or guest is a Myanmar Tradition. Without expecting any presents or cash in return for their hospitality, they are only proud of being able to host the guests. This is not just Myanmar custom anymore, now, it becomes the custom of Asia.Myanmar people take concern for any visitors who have no acquaintances or relatives to stay for the night. So, they have built the Zayats, the rest house, for any visitor to stay. A Zayat is a kind of hotel in Myanmar style, where anyone can stay or take a rest for free charges. Geographically, Mandalay lies at the center of Myanmar. Visiting Myanmar on business or just for pleasure, Mandalay and its surroundings are the most interesting sites. King Mindon may have selected Mandalay as his capital for it’s flat and vast land for beautiful surroundings.There are many beautiful scenarios and cultural edifices around Mandalay. By staying Mandalay, we can visit to many tranquil and quiet places.Mandalay is also located as the central city for commerce and tours. It is reasonable to think that the kind had chosen this place for his capital of this fact. Thudhamma Zayats at the footage of Mandalay Hill are […]
The charity group of the Hotel by the Red Canal, Mandalay performed cleaning of the campus of the Sandamuni Pagoda on 29.09.2016 at 3:00pm. This group wishes to help preservation of the most important monuments and historical heritage sites in Mandalay! The Sanda Muni Buddha Image is situated to the South-East of the Mandalay Hill.It was commissioned by King Mindon Min in 1874 as a memorial to Mindon Min’s younger brother, Kanaung Mintha, who was assassinated along with 3 princes, Malun, Saku, and Maingpyin, during the 1866 Myingun Prince rebellion. This pagoda contains the graves of the Kanaung, Sagu Mintha, Malun and Maingpyin Princes. It also contains an iron image of the Buddha cast by Bodawpaya in 1802, and removed from Amarapura by Mindon in 1874.The statue reportedly weighs 40,924.8 pounds (18,563.2 kg).
Mandalay is located 716 km North of Yangon. It was the royal capital of the last two kings of Myanmar, and is the cultural and religious centre of Buddhism. The city is also famous for its traditional crafts. Mandalay has a tropical wet and dry climate. The Mandalay streets are laid out in a grid system, and are numbered east to west (up to 49th) and north to south (over 50th).Addresses show the block where the building is located by giving the main street which it is on and the streets which is between: for example, 56th (between 19th and 20th Street). There are Six Townships, namely Aung Myae Thar San, Chan Aye Thar San, Mahar Aung Myay, Chan Mya Thar Si, Pyi Gyi Tagon and Amarapura. Moreover, Mandalay is well known for its pagodas and historical buildings; Maha Muni Pagoda, Maha Thatkya Thiha Pagoda, Shwe Kyee Myin Pagoda, Sanda Muni Pagoda, Kutho Daw, Atu Mashi Monastery, Golden Palace Monastery, Mandalay Hill, Yankin Hill and U Bein Bridge. The heart of the city dominated by Zegyo market. The Clock Tower, built in 1903 to commemorate the diamond jubilee of Queen Victoria. Eain Daw Yar Pagoda, a very popular pagoda known […]
Countries will surprise you. Like people, you think you understand their identity based on stories you read or images you view. Whether forming opinions from a 19th-century novel or a scandalous modern day tell all, an impressionist oil painting or series of poorly focused Trip Advisor member photos, humans have been unfairly judging places and each other, before we get to know them personally, for centuries. It’s an imperfect system. Yet it’s the one we have for making decisions on where we go, what we eat, and who we’ll see. And so it was for me with Myanmar. I thought I needed to go to this Asian country formerly known as Burma before the Chinese builders decimated any remaining “authentic” local character by rapidly tossing up bland, soulless construction projects to meet the surge in tourism. I thought Myanmar lacked the supermodel good looks of the California coast or the scenic gravitas of the Swiss Alps, but the chance to witness an intact culture before its inevitable full and tragic transition to all things Western, would provide worthwhile balance. Once I decided to go, suddenly I was in a rush to get there before it was “ruined,” but then wondered […]
Mandalay is the last stage of our fabulous trip in Myanmar. After visiting Yangon, treking in Kalaw mountains, meeting so many lovely local people, exploring Lake Inle and the temples of Bagan, we end in beauty our exploration of beautiful Myanmar in Mandalay, staying at Hotel By The Red Canal. A final step in Burma in a haven of peace The Hotel By The Red Canal is the perfect place to relax in an idyllic cocoon especially after two weeks of travel in an vibrant country like Myanmar. Hotel By The Red Canal in Mandalay is an institution and, in our opinion, the most relaxing and most comfortable option in the city. We tell you why. Mandalay is quite noisy and dusty with the traffic jams and habitual agitation so characteristic of the main cities of Southeast Asia, but the hotel By The Red Canal is a haven of peace, an urban oasis. Upon arrival we are charmed by the lush garden well maintained and the small pool that give a very exotic touch to the hotel. Flowers are everywhere ! After a warm welcome, we feel like being at home. We visit the hotel By The Red Canal and […]
Having a birthday abroad can be a tricky one. You conjure up images of exotic cockatils, being pampered and washing sand out of your hair in the evening but in reality it can be hard when you wake up and realise your friends and family aren’t there and you can’t giggle into an empty wine glass with your best friends. But I needn’t have worried because I was staying at The Hotel by the Red Canal in Mandalay for my recent birthday. After waking up in my delightful little room (with so many gorgeous finishing touches like the beautifully packaged bathroom amenities – earplugs were wrapped in rustic brown paper with a string bow around them!) I was in for a day of treats. As I padded downstairs for a delicious birthday breakfast I was greeted by one of the hotel’s smiling members of staff who handed me a beautiful bouquet of flowers and told me I had been booked in for a massage in the afternoon – a present from a wonderful colleague of mine who had contacted the hotel to arrange a surprise. Being hundreds of miles from home I was so touched. But the real treat came in […]
Had a great day going from the hotel out of town to Mingun and Inwa. Beeing in Inwa in the afternoon was a pleasant experience, even when it was a rough ride with the horse cart – which actually is part of the fun, being town around. Really, I liked it a lot! Mingun pagoda is about one hour drive from Sagaing, but well worth going there. Great view from the broken pagoda, and more pagodas around there. Possible to go there by boat or road!