Mandalay

Mandalay is the second-largest city and the last royal capital of Burma.Located 445 miles(716 km) north of Yangon on the east bank of the Irrawaddy River,the city has a population of one million,and is the capital of Mandalay Region.Mandalay is the economic hub of Upper Burma and considered the centre of Burmese culture.A continuing influx of Chinese immigrants,mostly from Yunnan Province,in the past twenty years,has reshaped the city's ethnic makeup and increased commerce with China.Despite Naypyidaw's recent rise,Mandalay remains Upper Burma's main commercial,educational and health centre.

When it was founded in 1857,the royal city was officially named Yadanabon,the Burmese version of its Pali name Ratanapura which means "The City of Gems".It was also called Lay Kyun Aung Myei;(Victorious Land over the Four Islands) and the royal palace,Mya Nan San Kyaw;(Famed Royal Emerald Palace).

Interesting places in mandalay are-Mandalay Hill,Mandalay Palace,Shwe-nandaw Monastery,Maha- muni Pagoda,Kuthodaw Pagoda,Amarapura,In-wa,Mingun,Pyin Oo Lwin.