HomeAsiaSouth East AsiaMyanmarMandalay Solo Travel – Ancient Cities of Upper Myanmar & Hsipaw DIY Trip By Marcos Detourist on April 10, 201330+ photos from five days in Upper Myanmar: Bicycle tour in Mandalay, scenic train to Hsipaw, and adventures at the ancient cities of Mingun, Amarapura, Innwa, and Sagaing.Yet another long night bus brought me to Mandalay, 3rd stop on my 14 day backpacking trip around Myanmar (Burma). P, a Thai traveler I met in Bagan was also headed the same way, perfect! because that meant we wouldn’t have to travel alone again for, at least, a few more days.Mandalay: last royal capital of BurmaI and P rented bicycles and explored a few sights within Mandalay city center, including the former Royal Palace, Mandalay Hill, and the Central Railway Station, where I bought my train ticket to Hsipaw. The weather was perfect especially the beautiful sunset looking over the whole city from Mandalay Hill.Mandalay Royal Palace surrounded by tall brick walls, ornate watchtowers, a big moat, and peaceful tree-lined boulevards.A compact view of the Royal Palace Watchtowers with Mandalay Hill in the background.The Bee Throne one of the grand thrones displayed inside the Mandalay Royal PalaceBurmese ladies, probably from Pa-O tribes of Shan state, in matching colorful headdress.Glittering reflection of the golden sunset bouncing off the mirror mosaic column of Sutaungpyei Pagoda, located at the summit of Mandalay HillOverlooking view of Mandalay from the 240-meter high summit of Mandalay HillSoft dusk sky at Mandalay HillDelicious and affordable Burmese food at Smile All 81 (81st). Highly entertaining Engrish menu!Hsipaw: Train Ride through Rural BurmaI traveled solo during my overnight trip to Hsipaw, while P decided to explore sights nearer to Mandalay and wait for me to come back.Experiencing the train ride from Mandalay to Hsipaw was actually the main reason why I ventured north of Bagan. There were a lot of interesting places to visit in and around Mandalay but after reading about the Mandalay-Hsipaw train ride as one of the best railway journeys in the world and seeing jaw dropping photos of it online, I got obsessively excited.I loved that the places and people seemed to be stuck in a bygone era. The whole experience was like being in a movie. The locals were very friendly, especially the group of old monks that never failed to smile whenever I walked past or chatty conductor that broke the lull moments of the 11-hour train ride.The best part was definitely when we reached the long-span bridge over the massively beautiful gorge in Gok Teik.Locals sleeping on the Train from Mandalay to Hsipaw.A glimpse of life in the Burmese countrysides. Burmese women selling local food during the train stopover.Framed view of the thick forest and steep cliffs at the picturesque gorge along the Mandalay-Hsipaw train routeQuick selfy while the train slowly crossed the 102-meter high Gokteik ViaductWide angle view while crossing the Gok Teik Viaduct along the Mandalay to Hsipaw train rideHappy locals on the happy train. Very lucky shot :)Rushing to the summit of Sunset Hill after arriving in HsipawChili Seller at the Hsipaw Central Market. Woke up early morning for a photowalk at the morning market.Young monk apprentices on a break from their morning alms-giving ritualAdorable apprentice walking barefoot along a dirt road in HsipawAncient cities of Upper MyanmarP and I met again in Mandalay on the last day of his trip. He shared a lot of useful tips about going about the rest of my trip in Mandalay.I only had two days left to visit as much as I can of Greater Mandalay also called the ancient cities of Upper Myanmar. The ancient cities include Mandalay and surrounding settlements of Mingun, Amarapura, Innwa (Ava), and Sagaing.I started with a half-day trip to Mingun, which involved a scenic wooden boat ride along the mighty Ayeryarwady River. Then, rented a bicycle again to explore more sights within Mandalay City Center.Touring around major sites of Amarapura, Innwa (Ava), and Sagaing was doable in just one day. Instead of hiring a motorcycle from Mandalay, I decided to break away from the usual routine by taking local pick-up commute.Village life along the Ayeryarwady River. Views aboard the ferry from Mandalay to Mingun.Burmese fisherman on a wooden boat at the Ayeryarwady RiverWooden slow boats docked at the ferry landing in MingunGiant elephant statue in front of massive and unfinished Mingun PagodaBeautiful structural patterns of the white washed Hsinbyume PagodaMonk apprentice eager to pose for a photo at the Hsinbyume PagodaMingun Bell, one of the world’s largest and heaviest working bellShwe In Bin wooden teak monastery in Mandalay. A monk be-friended me while I got lost around the area and wandered into a monk university. He led me to the Shwe In Bin monastery, which was actually just around the corner.Giant gold leaf covered buddha at Maha Myat Muni Pagoda, holiest Buddhist site in MandalayView of Sagaing Hills from U Min Thonze PagodaBreast-shaped golden mound of Kaung Mu Taw Pagoda in SagaingMaha Aungmye Bonzan Monastery in Innwa (Ava)Moat surrounding the ruined royal palace of AvaAmarapura’s Ubein Bridge, the longest wooden teak bridge in the worldBurmese school children crossing the Ubein BridgeSunset at Mandalay with the maze of stupas at the Sandamuni PagodaTwilight outside the fort walls of the Mandalay Royal Palace You can view more details of this particular trip on my Mandalay Itinerary Notes or discover more Myanmar Travel Notes @DiyDetour.Don’t leave yet. There’s more!6 Days Mandalay Itinerary — Mingun, Amarapura, Sagaing,…2 Weeks Myanmar Itinerary — Central and Northern Burma2 Days Hsipaw Itinerary — Burma Railway Journey2 Weeks Myanmar Itinerary - Burma Solo Backpacking Tips4 Days Bagan Itinerary — Temple Run from Sunrise to SunsetIndochina Itinerary: Wanderings in South East Asia's…Comments AC | I Wander saysMarch 3, 2013 at 9:59 pmLovely photos! I skipped Mandalay during my visit to Myanmar. Now thinking of going back after seeing the things I missed. wanderlust saysMarch 9, 2013 at 5:21 pmHello! How did you go back to Mandalay from Hsipaw? How long did it take you to reach the gorge? I’m planning to skip Inle Lake for a short Mandalay-Hsipaw trip. Love your pic at the gorge by the way :) Marcos saysApril 10, 2013 at 6:24 pmThe train left Mandalay around 4am, reached the Gok Teik Viaduct (over the massive gorge) around 11AM, and finished crossing after around 8 minutes.I took the bus thinking I’d be able to enjoy sights on a different route on my way back. Turns out there wasn’t much of a view along the bus route. It was much faster though.Posted details about my itinerary here: http://www.diydetour.com/hsipaw-itinerary/ glezie saysApril 11, 2013 at 11:28 amI love the photos, and how you captured those moments. “Walang tulak kabigin” ika nga. ;) Riz saysApril 16, 2013 at 2:48 pmAwesome Photos Mig! Myanmar sounds interesting! I wanna go! :) baskog ang glitters sa pagoda kag ang view sa bridge. :) Tanda ka mga pix! :) Poi Austria saysMay 6, 2013 at 7:54 amIt’s only now that I bumped into your blog and I must say that your blog is just awesome. You’ve got tons of lovely photos especially in this post, I just became curious on who is P, maybe I’ll just need to read some of your previous post. lol. Your blog is so informative and inspiring. JhaypeeG. saysJune 6, 2013 at 11:00 amWow! This is an interesting travel. I like your pictures so much. Marcos saysJune 13, 2013 at 7:41 pmThanks JhaypeeG! Keith saysAugust 9, 2016 at 2:31 pmHi, is it possible to do Mingun in the morning then Amarapura, Innwa (Ava), and Sagaing in the afternoon? Thank you! Posting of new comments is disabled temporarily.Connect with Marcos on:Detourista.comMarcosDetourist.comFacebookInstagramTwitterDetourista.comDiscover more travel guides and blogs about the Philippines and beyond by Marcos DetouristChoose your next destination: Cambodia, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Laos, Macau, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam
AC | I Wander saysMarch 3, 2013 at 9:59 pmLovely photos! I skipped Mandalay during my visit to Myanmar. Now thinking of going back after seeing the things I missed.
wanderlust saysMarch 9, 2013 at 5:21 pmHello! How did you go back to Mandalay from Hsipaw? How long did it take you to reach the gorge? I’m planning to skip Inle Lake for a short Mandalay-Hsipaw trip. Love your pic at the gorge by the way :)
Marcos saysApril 10, 2013 at 6:24 pmThe train left Mandalay around 4am, reached the Gok Teik Viaduct (over the massive gorge) around 11AM, and finished crossing after around 8 minutes.I took the bus thinking I’d be able to enjoy sights on a different route on my way back. Turns out there wasn’t much of a view along the bus route. It was much faster though.Posted details about my itinerary here: http://www.diydetour.com/hsipaw-itinerary/
glezie saysApril 11, 2013 at 11:28 amI love the photos, and how you captured those moments. “Walang tulak kabigin” ika nga. ;)
Riz saysApril 16, 2013 at 2:48 pmAwesome Photos Mig! Myanmar sounds interesting! I wanna go! :) baskog ang glitters sa pagoda kag ang view sa bridge. :) Tanda ka mga pix! :)
Poi Austria saysMay 6, 2013 at 7:54 amIt’s only now that I bumped into your blog and I must say that your blog is just awesome. You’ve got tons of lovely photos especially in this post, I just became curious on who is P, maybe I’ll just need to read some of your previous post. lol. Your blog is so informative and inspiring.
JhaypeeG. saysJune 6, 2013 at 11:00 amWow! This is an interesting travel. I like your pictures so much.
Keith saysAugust 9, 2016 at 2:31 pmHi, is it possible to do Mingun in the morning then Amarapura, Innwa (Ava), and Sagaing in the afternoon? Thank you!