Views from Mandalay Hill

The views from Mandalay Hill won’t really sweep you off your feet if you’re expecting a jungle of skyscrapers. Instead, you will be able to see towering golden stupas littering the city plains. Believe me; you won’t be able to count them all. There are just too many of them – from the plains to hills, cliffs, and mountains.

Views from Mandalay Hill Myanmar
Views from Mandalay Hill (Myanmar).

Also, one of the obvious things that you notice is the greenery below. Mandalay, though an old city, is still covered mostly in greenery. It’s like a city in the middle of the jungle.

Views from Mandalay Hill
Views from Mandalay Hill (Myanmar)

You’d still be able to see trees everywhere in the city streets and the bustling downtown. Hopefully, it stays that way.

elevator Mandalay Hill
This is the elevator at Mandalay Hill. This is to assist those who are physically-challenge individuals.

How to Reach Mandalay Hill

There are three ways to reach there. You can either take a small public “bus”, hire a Grab motorbike or climb through the steps. The small public “bus” is at the main road entrance to Mandalay Hill. You can’t miss the people barking for passengers to get on the bus. It won’t leave unless it’s fully packed. To make your trip to the top easier, hire a Grab motorbike. It’s cheap and reliable, too. If you are up for a hike, take the stairs. Find the two gigantic white Chinthe (half-dragon, half-lion) statues where the steps are. If you don’t find them, ask anyone around you. They will certainly show you the way if they understand what you are asking for. 😀

Views from Mandalay Hill (Myanmar).
Views from Mandalay Hill (Myanmar).

Remember, there are 1,729 steps to the summit. If you think it’s exhausting, you better take them on your way down.

Views from Mandalay Hill (Myanmar).
Views from Mandalay Hill (Myanmar).

What to See Up There

Well, as expected, there are temples/pagodas up there. The most known one is the Sutaungpyei which means “wish-fulfilling.”

Things to do in Mandalay Myanmar
Things to do in Mandalay (Myanmar)

It is said that it was on this hill that Buddha foretold that a great religious city would rise from its base.

Tourist Attractions in Mandalay Myanmar
Tourist Attractions in Mandalay, Myanmar

It was mid-afternoon when I arrived, and the crowd was at its thickest.

Sutaungpyei which means "wish-fulfilling."
Whisper your wishes at Sutaungpyei Pagoda which means “wish-fulfilling.”

I had to sit somewhere for 30 minutes, waiting for the crowd to dwindle. But I was wrong. It got thicker. So, I decided to explore the areas away from the main place of worship.

Sutaungpyei which means "wish-fulfilling."
Things to do in Mandalay, Myanmar.

As usual, there are a few scary statues of ogres.

An ogre statue at the pagoda
An ogre statue at the pagoda.

And no matter how many pagodas I’ve been to in Myanmar, they never fail to amaze me.

Sutaungpyei which means "wish-fulfilling."
Tourist attractions in Mandalay (Myanmar)

Its architectural designs, patterns, and other detailed ornaments always attract me.

Pagodas in Myanmar
Tourist attractions in Mandalay (Myanmar)

Oh yes, donation boxes are everywhere, too! And as expected, they’re put right in front of Buddha statues.

Tourist Attractions in Mandalay Myanmar
Tourist Attractions in Mandalay, Myanmar

But, there’s one statue that is being celebrated here – that of the twin serpents! Legend has it that two snakes used to frequent the pagoda to pay their reverence to the Buddha.

Two snake statues at the Pagoda in Mandalay
The two serpents at the Pagoda on top of the hill.

Pilgrims feed the two cobras with money and pray while touching their heads.

Serpent cobra statues mandalay pagoda
Why? I have no idea. 🙂

The Sunset from Mandalay Hill

It was a mistake to be here in the mid-afternoon. I couldn’t wait for the sunset because I was done in an hour and a half here. I then understood why the place got crowded – because most wanted to see the sunset from here. As for the sunset, I had other things planned out. I went to Kyauk Taw Gyi Pagoda at the base of the hill.

Tourist attractions in Mandalay (Myanmar)
Tourist attractions in Mandalay (Myanmar)

Cheap Hotel in Mandalay

I stayed at the Royal Pearl Hotel, which is 10 minutes walk to/from the Mandalay Palace and 5 minutes walk to the train station.  Hotel Iceland. There are a lot of convenience shops, restaurants, and food stalls in the area. The rooms are clean, and the staff members are nice. You can book it via Booking.

KeepCalmAndWander

A wanderer. A frustrated photographer. Hiker. Lover. Half extrovert, half introvert. Solo traveler.

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