Mandalay is the second-largest city and the last royal capital of Myanmar (Burma) and capital of Mandalay Division. The population has one million.
Mandalay is a transportation hub for upper Myanmar. The visitors may go to Pyin-Oo-Lwin, Taung Gyi, Inle Lake, Ka Chin State, Chin State, Sagaing Division, Magwe Division, and even to Border of China from Mandalay.

Location

It is located on the east bank of the Irrawaddy River and 445 miles north of Yangon.

Climate

The highest temperature is as high as from 45.6°C to 5.6°C. The weather is very hot and dry in April and May. From May to October is rainy season. In December and January the temperature is very low.

History

It was called as Yadanabon when capital of Royal Kingdom. King Mindon was founded in AD 1859. After 26 years, in the reign of King Thibaw, the city was under the British Colonies.

Ten generics of Myanmar Arts & Crafts

Myanmar (Burma) has its own arts & crafts by handmade.
Pa-dein    : the art of gold smith or silver smith
Pa-bae        : the art of black smith
Pa-din        : the art of making items cast or wrought from bronze, copper or brass
Pa-pu        : the art of carving wood or ivory
Pa-put        : the craft of a wood turner; turnery
Pa-chi        : the art of painting
Pan-yun    : the art of making lacquer
Pan-tot        : the art of making decorative work in relief with stucco
Pan-ta-mot    : the art of making stone sculptures
Pa-yan        : the craft of a mason
Other than that, there are also Gold Leave Work, Bamboo Paper Work, Silk Weaving, Glass Mosaic, Gold embroidery, Tapestry, Marionette or Puppet, Alms Bowl, and Pagoda Umbrella.
When King Mindon established the town, he is made up of divisions according to the vocational arts. The visitors can see those kinds of Myanmar Arts and Cultures in one town that is Mandalay.

Attractions in Mandalay

The top attractions are Mahamuni Pagoda, Mandalay Palace Fort Wall & Moat, Mandalay Zay Cho Market, and Mandalay Hill.
Pagodas

1) Mahamuni Pagoda

The pagoda is major site for pilgrim. It is in southwest of Mandalay. It is also known as “Payagyi” or “The Great Pagoda”. The Mahamuni Buddha image is originally came from Arakan, Rakhine. The image height is 12ft 7inches, the waist is 9ft 6inches, the arms are 4ft 11inches.
The Pagoda is used to call “Mahamuni Movie Pagoda” because it was believed that the dimensions of Mahamuni Pagoda are growing even though people gild with gold leaves every day. That kind of holiest place is only one in Myanmar (Burma).
In the early mornings around 4.30am, the Buddhist monks start to wash the face with fragrant scented water and clean the teeth. Sayadaw Buddhanta Panya Vamsa and Htilin Monastery and Pitaka Kyaung initiated that daily Face-Washing Ceremony.
Around the pagoda compound, there are a lot of shops selling Myanmar traditional souvenir and the visitors can see working environment of 10 arts & crafts. And also interesting statues (lion, elephant and human) from Cambodia also have.
Address:
South of 45th Street
Corner of 84th St and 46th St

2) Mahalawka Marazein Kuthodaw Pagoda

It was built in the reign of King Mindon. The pagoda is famous for world’s largest book. That means that there are 729 marble slabs regarding about the entire Pali Canon of Buddhism. It will take time 5 months and 3 days to complete the entire book when 2400 monks read 24 hour and it will take time one year and 3 months when a man read 8 hours a day.
Nobody can steal or destroy due to Natural Disasters. It is over 100 year life. 
Address:
Foot of Mandalay Hill
Corner of 11th St and 63th 

3) Mahathakyamarazein Kyaukdawgyi Pagoda

It was built in the reign of King Mindon in AD 1864.

Address:
South of Mandalay Hill
Between 10th St and 12th St

4) Sandamuni Pagoda

It was built by King Bodawpaya in 1874 or later for King Kanaung’s memory. The pagoda visited to Innwa, Mandalay and Amarapura several times. There are a lot of pagodas and 1774 marble slabs describing that Buddha’s literature.
Address:
Southest of Mandalay Hill
Between 10th St and 12th St

5) Eaindawyar Pagoda

Address:
Corner of 28th St and 89th St

6) Shwekyeemyin Pagoda

Address:
Corner of 82th St and 24th St
8) Yankin Taung Pagoda
Address:
East of Mandalay Town
About 5 miles East of Nan Shae

7) Yadanamyintzu PagodaAddress:

Myo Patt Road
Between 18th St and Innwa Street

8) Mahathayathiha Pagoda

Address:
31st between 85th St and 86th St

Other Attractions

1) Mandalay Palace Fort Wall & Moat (Mandalay Nan Myo Yo & Kyone)

The palace was last royal of Myanmar Kings. It was built by King Mindon. The wall, the gates and the moat are really interesting things to see. Inside the compound, there are a lot of amazing Myanmar culture and architectures buildings.

a) Mya Nan San Kyaw Golden Palace
It was built in during AD 1857 to 1859 by King Mindon. It was within the palace compound. It contains 114 buildings.

b) Shwenandaw Kyaung (a) Shwe Kyaung

It was home of King Mindon. King Thibaw donated to monastery in 1879. It is a masterpiece of Myanmar old days.

c) Atumashi Kyaung

It was built in AD 1857 by U Bo Hlaing in the reign of King Mindon. It is near around Shwe Kyaung. It was constructed with 108 feet high 246 teak posts.

d) Nan Myint Watchtower
It was within the palace compound. The height of watchtower is 180feet. A lot of buildings can view from that tower.

e) Palace Museum

f) Tomb of King Mindon

g) Cultural Museum

h) Hluttaw

i) Glass Palace

Address:
Between 12th St and 26th St
Between 66th St and 80th St

2) Mandalay Hill

Mandalay Hill is situated to the north of Mandalay and the height is 240meters. There are 1729 stairs.  It was built by King Mindon in AD 1859 and renovated 1901 by U kandi.
The whole city can view from the Hill. In the east, there is Yan Kin Hill; to the North West is Sagaing Bridge, and then Min Wun Hill also.
There are Mandalay Taung Pagoda and Standing Buddha Image are on the top of Hill.

3) Mandalay Zay Cho Market

Zay Cho Market is the largest and busiest market in upper Myanmar. It was built in 1897 in the reign of King Mindon. It was renovated in 1903, 1994. The Myanmar Language in “Zay Cho” means cheap or reasonable prices. You can find anything like retail markets.

4) Myadaung Kyaung

Address:
Southeast of Man Myo Yo, 35th st

5) Mandalay Zoological Gardens

Address:
East of Man Myo Yo
Corner of 12th St and 73th St

6) Yatanabon Swimming Pool

Address:
North of Man Myo Yo, 10th St
Opposite of Yadanabon Zoological Garden

7) Yatanabon Teleport

Address:
Between Mandalay and Pyin Oo Lwin

8) Shweman Taung Golf Resort

Address:
West of Mandalay Hill, 73th St

9) Thudamha zayat

Recommendation from a poet

Even famous British’s writer, poet Rudyard Kipling composed about our wonderful Mandalay in 1890. Here it is.

MANDALAY - by Rudyard Kipling

By the old Moulmein Pagoda, lookin' lazy at the sea,
There's a Burma girl a-settin', and I know she thinks o' me;
For the wind is in the palm-trees, and the Temple-bells they say:
"Come you back, you British soldier; come you back to Mandalay!"
            Come you back to Mandalay,
            Where the old Flotilla lay:
            Can't you 'ear their paddles chunkin' from Rangoon to Mandalay?       
            On the road to Mandalay,
            Where the flyin' fishes play,
            An' the dawn comes up like thunder outer China
            'crost the Bay!
 
'Er petticoat was yaller an' 'er little cap was green,
An' 'er name was Supi-yaw-lat --- jes' the same as Theebaw's Queen,
An' I seed her first a-smokin' of a whackin' white cheroot,
An' a-wastin' Christian kisses on an 'eathen idol's foot:
            Bloomin' idol made o' mud ---
            Wot they called the Great Gawd Budd ---
            Plucky lot she cared for idols when I kissed 'er where she stud!
            On the road to Mandalay,
            Where the flyin' fishes play,
            An' the dawn comes up like thunder outer China
            'crost the Bay!
 
When the mist was on the rice-fields an' the sun was droppin' slow,
She'd git 'er little banjo and she'd sing "Kulla-lo-lo!"
With 'er arm upon my shoulder an' 'er cheek agin my cheek
We useter watch the steamers an' the hathis pilin' teak.
            Elephants a-pilin' teak
            In the sludgy, squdgy creek,
            Where the silence 'ung that 'eavy you was 'arf afraid to speak!
            On the road to Mandalay,
            Where the flyin' fishes play,
            An' the dawn comes up like thunder outer China
            'crost the Bay!
 
But that's all above be'ind me --- long ago an' fur away,
An' there ain't no buses runnin' from the Bank to Mandalay;
An' I'm learnin' 'ere in London what the ten-year soldier tells:
"If you've 'eard the East a-callin', you won't never 'eed naught else."
            No! You won't 'eed nothin' else
            But them spicy garlic smells,
            An' the sunshine an' the palm-trees an' the tinkly Temple-bells;
            On the road to Mandalay,
            Where the flyin' fishes play,
            An' the dawn comes up like thunder outer China
            'crost the Bay!
 
I am sick o' wastin' leather on these gritty pavin'-stones,
An' the blasted English drizzle wakes the fever in my bones;
Tho' I walks with fifty 'ousemaids outer Chelsea to the Strand,
An' they talks a lot o' lovin', but what do they understand?
            Beefy face an' grubby 'and ---
            Law! Wot do they understand?
            I've a neater, sweeter maiden in a cleaner, greener land!
            On the road to Mandalay,
            Where the flyin' fishes play,
            An' the dawn comes up like thunder outer China
            'crost the Bay!
 
Ship me somewhere's east of Suez, where the best is like the worst,
Where there aren't no Ten Commandments an' a man can raise a thirst;
For the Temple-bells are callin', an' it's there that I would be ---
By the old Moulmein Pagoda, lookin' lazy at the sea;
            On the road to Mandalay,
            Where the old Flotilla lay,
            With our sick beneath the awnings when we went to Mandalay!
            On the road to Mandalay,
            Where the flyin' fishes play,
            An' the dawn comes up like thunder outer China
            'crost the Bay!