Mandalay Google Map, Myanmar

Mandalay As the so-called cultural capital of Myanmar, Mandalay has been many times and in many ways central to the identity of this country. Whether referring to its foreign visitors or casual speech, it is popularly referred to as Mandalay State, but its official name is Mandalay Region which is an administrative region in Myanmar. Mandalay Region being in the center of the country has always been a meeting point of the past, art, and Buddhism as well as thus a land of farming and commerce. Its very name suggests pictures of city capitals of kings, antique monasteries, busy teakwood markets, and rhythmic monarchy of the Burmese language that is spoken with the peculiar central-country softness.

History

History The Mandalay history cannot be discussed outside of the development of the Myanmar as the area has hosted some of the most powerful capitals of the nation. The wider region had been used in the past as a hub of earlier Burmese kingdoms long before the actual establishment of the city of Mandalay. Alongside Ava (Inwa), Amarapura, and Sogaing, which were at one time the strong royal bases, they all were central to the political, cultural, and religious processes during several centuries. Fertile land between the Irrawaddy River and the small hills provided people with a great place to settle and kings to strengthen the power base. The most notable part in the history of Mandalay started in 1857 when King Mindon of the Konbaung Dynasty planted the precursors of Mandalay City at the base of Mandalay hill.

He saw a political and spiritual revival with the focus on the Buddhist values and administration reform. The Mandalay was established according to the Burmese tradition as the 2,400th anniversary of the Buddha enlightenment took place and provided the new capital with some cosmic importance. King Mindon brought about liberal reforms in the fields of taxation, minting and printing; he promoted artisans and scholars and financed such far-occupying pious works as the Kuthodaw Pagoda. Mandalay was a royal capital under a short period, as soon the Konbaung Dynasty was exposed to British expansive intentions of the British Empire. British troops took over Mandalay in 1885 and got rid of King Thibaw, who had been the last king of Burma and ceased centuries of monarchical rule. The Mandalay Palace had been turned into an army headquarters and encountered a sense of cultural pride among artisans and merchants and constant sense of pride in the city. Even with colonial turmoil, Mandalay still had its own traits of a custodian of Burmese culture and attended to its classical performing arts and Buddhist learning.

The war-time destruction in Mandalay was in a lot of measure during the World War II, especially between the fighting between the Japanese and the Allied forces. A great deal of the palace complex was in flames and many religious buildings were destroyed. But the strength of Mandalay was also astonishing; following the independence of the country in 1948, the city rose again and repaired the pagodas, reconstructed monasteries, and extended its economic systems. Late in the twentieth and at the beginning of the twenty first century, Mandalay increased urbanization and migrants began to drift into the city, making it a critical point of commerce between the Upper Myanmar, Lower Myanmar and the nearby nations like China.

Culture

Culture Mandalay culture has been called the most pristine embodiment of the Burmese one, creating the impression brought about by its long period of existence as the center of monarchs, scholars, and religious leaders. There are many monasteries and Budgetary universities in the region and monastic life is a very important aspect of the daily rhythms. The monks walking in silent procession in search of alms is not only widespread at dawn, but also extremely symbolic. The spiritual environment of Mandalay was also characterized by the tall pagodas, elaborately cut teak monasteries and meditation centers which bring followers of all over Myanmar. The art of Mandalay is a very rich one as well.

It can be known best as the origin and protector of the classical arts of Myanmar such as the Yama Zatdaw, commonly referred to as the Burmese Ramayana. The presence of traditional dance, marionette theater and court music are the results of centuries of existence, generations of artists who preserved these traditions. Wood-carving workshops, gold-leaf workshops, and silk-weaving centers at Mandalay also make crafts which are highly appreciated in the whole country. The art of Mandalay marionette puppets particularly delicate puppets that have been brought into life through expressive traditional performances is one of the greatest gifts of the region to the heritage of Burmese culture. The Mandalay culture is mainly centrally depended on festivals. The Thingyan Water Festival, a festival that marks the Burmese New Year, changes the city to a ground of happy celebration whereby water is the sign of cleansing and renewal. Other notable celebrations are the Thadingyut Festival of lights and the full-moon celebrations around pagodas including Kuthodaw and Maha Muni. The religious piety is mixed with the celebrations of the community, demonstrating the openness and friendliness of the social life of Mandalay.

The food is also a characteristic feature of the culture of Mandalay. Though having much in common with the most widespread Burmese food traditions, Mandalay cuisine is also characterized. Different foods that are in the region include Mandalay mont ti, a noodle dish that is characterized by a unique blend of spices and herbs and its diversification of various flavours such as pickles and fermented foods as an example of the innovation of the culinary in the region.

Language

Mandalay (Language) In Mandalay, language is used to show how it has been used in the past as a centre of classical learning in Burma. Although the region speaks a great number of languages, the language of the land is Burmese (Myanmar language) with its clear and rounded pronunciation that is peculiar to central Myanmar. The accent can also be considered to be the standard version of spoken Burmese and this dialect is practiced by most radio panellists, teachers and performers which make their speech refined by Mandalay. The city has been a literary hub since time immemorial and even most Burmese poets, authors and Buddhist thinkers have connection to the area.

Mandalay has always been identified with literacy and learning. In the past, monastic schools were acclaimed to provide critical education to the youths and the region has remained focused on educating its children in universities and special schools. Burmese classical literature, Buddhist literature and scriptures of traditional performing arts are read and archived in Mandalay allowing the area to become a linkage between ancient literature and the modern scholarship.

Geography

Geography Geographically Mandalay Region is located in the central dry zone of Myanmar which is a large region with low rainfall, the presence of large amounts of sunlight and fertile plains created by the major waterways within the country. Myanmar is enclosed by the Irrawaddy River, the longest and the most significant river of Myanmar that is used as a source of water in the agricultural sector, and the river is also a major transportation artery. The banks of the rivers are dotted with small agricultural communities which produce crops of sesame, pulses, beans, sugarcane and cotton.

Ancient and modern irrigation systems help people who grow and maintain their livelihoods on rice. On the east, Mandalay Region is uplifted into the Shan Plateau which is a rising topography of cool hills, tea plantations and picturesque valleys. The landscape changes to low hills and big plains to the west. Mandalay hill, being a small hill, overlooks the whole city and the surrounding areas, and has been viewed as a religious site that has been visited by pilgrims as well as tourist people. The climate in the area is normally hot and dry throughout the season, and is highest during the month of March to May. This results in rainfall during the period of late May to October which are known as the monsoon but even the rainfall in the central dry zone will be much lower than that found in the coastals and delta areas. The capital of the region, Mandalay City, is on a grid-like set up introduced by King Mindon and later on during British colonial rule. The square and symmetrical palace moat is one of the characteristic features of the geography of the city that has been left.

Around these are the districts of Amarapura, Pyin Oo Lwin, Mogok and Nyaung-U which have their own geographical and economic features. Amarapara is home to the U Bein bridge which is the longest bridge in the world made of teakwood, covering Taungthaman lake. Pyin Oo Lwin is a city located in the hills and has cool climate and botanical gardens. Mogok is considered to be the most famous gem-producing region in the world although its popularity is known as the Valley of Rubies. The archaeological site of Nyaung-U which is found at the western side of the area bordering Bagan is situated in one of the most productive archaeological areas in the region of Southeast Asia, though the ancient city of Bagan is under Mandalay Region jurisdiction.

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