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Monywa & Its Environment

Monywa
About 136 km to the west of Mandalay is Monywa, the commercial
center of Chindwin velly. Situated on the eastern bank of Chindwin River,
136km from Mandalay. Monywa is now the second biggest city in Upper
Myanmar. The ancient Cave temples of Po Win Taung, the
Shwethalyaung Reclining Buddha, Bodi Tahtaung (Over thousand
Botrees) and Moenhyin Thanbodkde Pagoda with over 500, 000
Buddha images are especially famous, Ledi Kyaungteik Monstery
where Buddhist scriptures are inscribed on 806 stone stabs and
Kyaukka Village known for its own style of Lacquerware.
It is located on the east bank of Chindwin river, some 86 miles or 3
hours drive from Mandalay, and also the gate-way to west region, Naga

land and Chin-hills. The economy of the region is mainly based on timber- extraction and cultivation of pulses,corn, jute and
cotton so on, blanket industry of Monywa should be studied.

Kyaukka village
It is largest lacquerware production centre in Myanmar, next to Bagan. In Konbaung period, Monywa’s environs largely
produced dried-lacquer Buddha-images but plain-lacquerware today. Also, Shweguni pagoda with its Buddha-images could
be enjoyed.

Thanbuddhe Temple
It is a unique architecture surprisingly ercted by the design of Ven.Moenyin Sayadaw
and local masons, no professional architects. The structures and designs are closely
similar to Indian architecture. The square banner-post and various sizes of
Buddha-images in their respective recesses are of curious.

Bodhitahtaung
Over a thousand of marble or plaster Buddha-images are resting under their Bo trees
in a spacious compound. A large recling Buddha-image on the mountain-slope and
tower of toddy palm trunk, will also be enjoyed.

Po-Win and Shweba hills
These are of natural hlllocks composed of volcanic rocks and beautifully adorned
with man-made caves. About a total of 800 caves having over 1300 Buddha-images

with striking mural panting on the walls Naturally, these architectural remains should be highly regarded as the major glory of
Monywa and environs.

Khin-Mon village
It is lied by the Mandalay- Monywa Road. Aungmyaylawka pagoda, Yokesone monastery and other monuments at the
village retains last mural paintings and other arts of late Konbaung period, some about 200 years ago. They are very little
known, even to local people.

ShweBo
Shwebo is situated 114km north-west of Mandalay. It served as a Royal Capital from 1760 to 1764 under King Alaung
Paya. The Local economy depends on the trading of nuts, rice and sesame cultivated on the surrounding plains.