Monywa

Monywa is a city in Northern Myanmar. A thriving, picturesque town on the Chindwin River, only a three hours’ drive from Mandalay. The departure point for adventurers heading north up the Chindwin River.

Thanboddhay Pagoda built between 1939 and 1952. It has a large number small sculptures of Buddha (estimated to be more than 500,000). Boddhi Tataung has 3 big statues of Buddha and a golden pagoda which makes a pretty amazing sight. One Buddha is standing, another is lying on its side and also a smaller one (sitting with a cobra snake in the back).

Some of the most unusual temples seen in Myanmar.

Cross the river to the Po Win Taung caves have over 400,000 ancient Buddha images and statues and murals. Dating from the 14th to the 16th century.

The western hills are now the site of the country’s largest open-cast copper mines.