MANDALAY, Myanmar (Burma) – Sitting on top of Mandalay Hill, Sutaungpyei Pagoda features a large patio that offers wonderful views over Mandalay City and the Ayeyarwady River.
It’s a long way up. It’s humid. For much of it, there’s no sidewalk, so you’ll be sharing the narrow road with cars and buses. And you’ll have to do a good part of it barefoot. But it’s worth it, especially for the sunset.
Like Sagaing not far away, Mandalay Hill hosts a cluster of monasteries and convents. One, in particular, is a major attraction. Sitting on top of Mandalay Hill, Sutaungpyei Pagoda features a large ornately tiled patio that offers a wonderful view out over Mandalay City and the Ayeyarwady River.
And, because foreign tourists are drawn particularly at sunset, the sprawling patio, in turn, becomes a draw for local monks and novices to converge there to engage the visitors in conversation.
As you go up or down, you’ll pass by several statues related to the story of the Ogress Sandamukhi (also Sandha Mukkhi), including one of her offering up her severed breasts. According to Burmese chronicle tradition, Sandamukhi offered her severed breasts to the Buddha and received a prophecy of royal rebirth. King Mindon understood himself as that foretold rebirth when he founded Mandalay in 1857.
Photos of Mandalay Hill and Sutaungpyei Pagoda
MANDALAY, Myanmar — A painted statue of the ogress Sandamukhi (also Sandha Mukkhi) at Sutaungpyei Pagoda holds her cupped hands forward, depicting the moment she offered her severed breasts to the Buddha — the act that earned her the prophecy of royal rebirth. According to Burmese chronicle tradition, King Mindon understood himself as that foretold rebirth, and built Mandalay at the foot of the hill in 1857 as its fulfilment. Photo by David Coleman / Have Camera Will TravelLicense this image at:DirectlyAlamy
MANDALAY, Myanmar — Visitors gather on the terrace of Sutaungpyei Pagoda at sunset, seen through a mirrored-glass archway whose gold mosaic columns frame the Ayeyarwady plain at dusk. The summit sits roughly 240 m (790 ft) above the city — high enough that in March 1945 the 19th Indian Division’s commander, Maj-Gen T. W. “Pete” Rees, refused an air strike on these very structures to spare the pagodas while his troops fought to clear the hill. Photo by David Coleman / Have Camera Will TravelLicense this image at:DirectlyAlamy
MANDALAY, Myanmar — A white-and-gold Buddha seated in the bhumisparsha mudra — right hand touching the earth — commands the principal shrine at Sutaungpyei Pagoda atop Mandalay Hill, set within walls of mirrored-glass mosaic. The gesture commemorates the moment the Buddha called the earth to witness his defeat of Mara, and it is among the most common poses in Burmese iconography; the white marble-finish figure here is flanked by a smaller gold attendant, both surrounded by the reflective mosaic idiom introduced to the summit complex by the hermit U Khanti in his early-twentieth-century rebuilding campaign. Photo by David Coleman / Have Camera Will TravelLicense this image at:DirectlyAlamy
MANDALAY, Myanmar — Two novice Buddhist monks lean against the railing of Sutaungpyei Pagoda’s summit terrace, the Ayeyarwady (Irrawaddy) River shimmering in the haze beyond the Mandalay plain roughly 240 meters (790 ft) below. This same panorama — taking in the grid of the city, the palace walls, and the river — made Mandalay Hill a prime Japanese observation and artillery position in 1945, seized at dawn on 9 March by Gurkha troops of the 4th Battalion, 4th Gurkha Rifles in a bayonet assault. Photo by David Coleman / Have Camera Will TravelLicense this image at:DirectlyAlamy
MANDALAY, Myanmar — A three-armed lantern post is silhouetted against the sunset beside a mirrored-glass mosaic arch at the summit of Sutaungpyei Pagoda on Mandalay Hill. The reflective glass-tile finish covering the arches and columns is the signature decorative idiom of the early twentieth-century rebuilding campaign led by the hermit U Khanti, who restored the entire hill complex — stairways, pavilions, and pagodas — after decades of fire and neglect. Photo by David Coleman / Have Camera Will TravelLicense this image at:DirectlyAlamy
MANDALAY, Myanmar — Red fairy lights outline the multi-tiered pyatthat tower of Sutaungpyei Pagoda against a stormy dusk sky above Mandalay, with a row of smaller golden stupas visible along the hill’s ridge to the right. That ridge — and the pagodas on it — was the scene of four days of close combat in March 1945, when the 2nd Royal Berkshire Regiment fought south from the summit clearing Japanese troops entrenched in tunnel shelters beneath the very shrines now strung with lights. Photo by David Coleman / Have Camera Will TravelLicense this image at:DirectlyAlamy
MANDALAY, Myanmar — Gilded stupas and a red-neon-lit pyatthat spire of Sutaungpyei Pagoda glow against the blue-hour sky atop Mandalay Hill, 240 m (790 ft) above the plain. The summit’s Burmese name, “wish-fulfilling,” draws pilgrims who ascend four covered stairways past shrines that re-tell the founding legend of Mandalay — the Buddha’s prophecy, realised when King Mindon built his royal capital below this hill in 1857. Photo by David Coleman / Have Camera Will TravelLicense this image at:DirectlyAlamy
MANDALAY, Myanmar — Visitors stand barefoot at the summit railing of Sutaungpyei Pagoda, silhouetted against the Ayeyarwady River plain at sunset from 790 feet (240 m) above Mandalay. In March 1945, this same panorama served as a Japanese artillery observation post until the 4th Battalion, 4th Gurkha Rifles stormed the summit at dawn, taking the “Big Pagoda” from roughly 70 defenders with kukris and bayonets. Photo by David Coleman / Have Camera Will TravelLicense this image at:DirectlyAlamy
MANDALAY, Myanmar — Multiple gilded stupas, a red-and-gold tiered pavilion roof, and a ceremonial column topped by a hintha (sacred goose) crowd the summit terrace of Sutaungpyei Pagoda at twilight. The dense accumulation of shrine structures across the ridge reflects decades of rebuilding by the hermit U Khanti, whose early twentieth-century restoration campaign transformed the hill into the layered sacred landscape visible today — the same ridge that Indian Army troops fought through structure by structure in March 1945. Photo by David Coleman / Have Camera Will TravelLicense this image at:DirectlyAlamy
MANDALAY, Myanmar — Fields and scattered settlements spread across the Mandalay Plain toward the distant Shan Hills, seen from the summit of Mandalay Hill at roughly 240 m (790 ft). This same elevated view made the hill the key artillery observation post in the 14th Army’s March 1945 assault on Mandalay — the reason the Japanese garrison fortified the pagodas at its summit — and it was the plain below that King Mindon chose in 1857 as the site of the last royal capital of independent Burma, citing a tradition in which the Buddha had prophesied a great city would rise here. Photo by David Coleman / Have Camera Will TravelLicense this image at:DirectlyAlamy
MANDALAY, Myanmar — A close-up of the green-faced, fanged Sandamukhi (also Sandha Mukkhi) ogress statue at Sutaungpyei Pagoda on Mandalay Hill shows her gold crown and wide, staring eyes. In the Burmese chronicle tradition, Sandamukhi offered her severed breasts to the Buddha and received a prophecy of royal rebirth; King Mindon invoked that legend to legitimize his founding of Mandalay in 1857, making this fierce face an unlikely cornerstone of the city’s origin myth. Photo by David Coleman / Have Camera Will TravelLicense this image at:DirectlyAlamy
MANDALAY, Myanmar — Two illuminated stupas at the summit of Sutaungpyei Pagoda, Mandalay Hill, rise against a deep blue twilight sky, their tiered bases and elaborately cast metal hti finials sharply outlined by artificial light. The hti — a crown-umbrella traditionally donated by royalty or wealthy donors — signals both the spiritual rank of the stupa and the merit of its patron, the finest examples carrying bells and jewelled pendants that chime in the wind. Photo by David Coleman / Have Camera Will TravelLicense this image at:DirectlyAlamy
MANDALAY, Myanmar — The mirrored-glass mosaic cladding and tiered masonry spire of Sutaungpyei Pagoda glow under warm artificial light against a deep-blue twilight sky at the summit of Mandalay Hill. The reflective glass inlay technique — hman-zi-gyo in Burmese — is the signature surface of the hill complex as rebuilt by the hermit U Khanti in the early twentieth century; it was this fabric that British and Gurkha troops fought through in March 1945 to clear Japanese defenders barricaded in the tunnels and cellars beneath these very structures. Photo by David Coleman / Have Camera Will TravelLicense this image at:DirectlyAlamy
MANDALAY, Myanmar — A white marble-finish Buddha in the bhumisparsha mudra occupies the main shrine of Sutaungpyei Pagoda, the walls and barrel-vaulted ceiling sheathed in gold-and-green mirrored-glass mosaic. The present fabric of the “wish-fulfilling” summit temple is largely the work of the hermit U Khanti, who rebuilt the complex in the early twentieth century — not King Mindon, whose 1857 founding of Mandalay below gave the hill its royal significance. Photo by David Coleman / Have Camera Will TravelLicense this image at:DirectlyAlamy
MANDALAY, Myanmar — Mirrored-glass mosaic sheathes the arched exterior pavilions of Sutaungpyei Pagoda (also Su Taung Pyae), the “wish-fulfilling” sanctuary crowning Mandalay Hill at roughly 240 m (790 ft) above the plain. The reflective fabric is largely the work of the hermit U Khanti, who rebuilt the hill’s structures in the early twentieth century — the same complex that Gurkha troops stormed at bayonet point on 9 March 1945 to dislodge a Japanese garrison of some 70 defenders. Photo by David Coleman / Have Camera Will TravelLicense this image at:DirectlyAlamy
MANDALAY, Myanmar — Glass-mosaic-clad columns carry a sequence of arches through the portico of Sutaungpyei Pagoda, where Burmese-script inscriptions cover the whitewashed vaults above a crowd gathering for sunset. The summit terrace here served as the Japanese garrison’s primary observation post over the city in 1945, and the view through these arches toward the Ayeyarwady plain is the same one divisional commander Maj-Gen “Pete” Rees ordered his troops to take — forbidding any air strike that would bomb the sacred buildings. Photo by David Coleman / Have Camera Will TravelLicense this image at:DirectlyAlamy
MANDALAY, Myanmar — Gilded stucco spires rise above the mirrored-glass mosaic eaves of Sutaungpyei Pagoda at the summit of Mandalay Hill, with strings of electric lights tracing the roofline. The reflective glass inlay — known in Burmese as hman-zi-gyo, a decorative idiom widely deployed in nineteenth- and twentieth-century Burmese temple construction — is largely the work of the hermit U Khanti, who rebuilt much of the hill complex in the early twentieth century. Photo by David Coleman / Have Camera Will TravelLicense this image at:DirectlyAlamy
MANDALAY, Myanmar — A gilded wrought-iron screen and glass-mosaic door jambs frame the entrance to a shrine room at Sutaungpyei Pagoda, with a seated Buddha visible beyond in the lamplight. The elaborate glass-inlay finish covering every surface here is characteristic of early twentieth-century Burmese Buddhist decoration — a style popularized across Mandalay Hill by the hermit U Khanti, whose decades-long rebuilding campaign produced virtually all of the complex’s surviving fabric. Photo by David Coleman / Have Camera Will TravelLicense this image at:DirectlyAlamy
MANDALAY, Myanmar — Crowds of barefoot pilgrims and tourists fill the summit terrace of Sutaungpyei Pagoda at sunset, the glass-mosaic shrine hall and gilded spirelets of Mandalay Hill rising to the left. The terrace’s row of terra-cotta water jars — offered for thirsty pilgrims completing the barefoot ascent up the covered stairways — is a traditional act of Buddhist merit-making still practiced here as it was when U Khanti rebuilt the hill complex in the early twentieth century. Photo by David Coleman / Have Camera Will TravelLicense this image at:DirectlyAlamy
MANDALAY, Myanmar — The gilded stupa of Sutaungpyei Pagoda, framed through an ornate arch at the summit of Mandalay Hill, catches midday light roughly 240 meters (790 ft) above the Mandalay plain. The summit complex — whose name translates as “wish-fulfilling” — is largely the work of the hermit U Khanti, who rebuilt the hill’s stairways, pavilions, and pagodas in the early twentieth century after fire and neglect had destroyed the earlier fabric. Photo by David Coleman / Have Camera Will TravelLicense this image at:DirectlyAlamy
MANDALAY, Myanmar — Gilded metalwork grille on a shrine door at Sutaungpyei Pagoda, summit of Mandalay Hill, its diamond-and-scroll lattice screening a lit Buddha figure beyond. The present fabric of the summit complex is overwhelmingly the work of the hermit U Khanti, who from the early twentieth century raised donations to rebuild the hill’s pagodas, replacing structures ruined by fire — making Sutaungpyei less an antiquity than a living testament to colonial-era Buddhist revival in Burma. Photo by David Coleman / Have Camera Will TravelLicense this image at:DirectlyAlamy
MANDALAY, Myanmar — A gilded standing Buddha flanked by two kneeling attendants stands beneath a bell-hung ceremonial umbrella inside Sutaungpyei Pagoda (also Su Taung Pyae) on the summit of Mandalay Hill, surrounded by mirrored-glass mosaic walls. The grouping echoes the legend central to the hill’s sanctity: a standing Buddha accompanied by his attendant Ānanda, who according to Burmese chronicle tradition prophesied that a great Buddhist city would rise at the hill’s foot — fulfilled, in royal mythology, when King Mindon founded Mandalay in 1857. Photo by David Coleman / Have Camera Will TravelLicense this image at:DirectlyAlamy
MANDALAY, Myanmar — A close-up of the mirrored-glass mosaic wall at Sutaungpyei Pagoda (also Su Taung Pyae) on Mandalay Hill reveals a radiating floral mandala assembled from colored and mirror-cut glass tiles. This reflective decorative idiom — widely used in nineteenth- and twentieth-century Burmese temple interiors — is largely the work of the hermit U Khanti, who rebuilt the summit complex in the early twentieth century; the technique turns the wall surface into a field of scattered light, an effect understood in Burmese Buddhist aesthetics as magnifying the sacred atmosphere of the shrine. Photo by David Coleman / Have Camera Will TravelLicense this image at:DirectlyAlamy
MANDALAY, Myanmar — Burmese-script donor tablets plaster the vaulted ceiling and arched bays of the portico at Sutaungpyei Pagoda (also Su Taung Pyae), atop Mandalay Hill. Each tablet records the name and donation of a benefactor, a permanent stone ledger enacting the Theravada Buddhist practice of *dāna* — meritorious giving — by which lay supporters earn spiritual credit tied to the upkeep of a sacred site. The present fabric is overwhelmingly the work of the early-twentieth-century hermit U Khanti, who rebuilt the hill’s structures through donations raised across Myanmar. Photo by David Coleman / Have Camera Will TravelLicense this image at:DirectlyAlamy
MANDALAY, Myanmar — The illuminated main stupa of Sutaungpyei Pagoda — the “wish-fulfilling” summit shrine of Mandalay Hill — glows against the blue hour sky, a smaller stupa in the foreground. Almost all the fabric visible today was rebuilt by the hermit U Khanti (born 1868), who spent four decades restoring the hill’s pavilions and pagodas after fire and neglect, making this summit the physical anchor of the city’s founding prophecy. Photo by David Coleman / Have Camera Will TravelLicense this image at:DirectlyAlamy
MANDALAY, Myanmar — Visitors line the open terrace of Sutaungpyei Pagoda at sunset, silhouetted against the Ayeyarwady (Irrawaddy) River gleaming across the plain 240 m (790 ft) below. The same elevated panorama that made this summit Mandalay’s finest viewpoint also made it a critical artillery observation post in March 1945, when the 19th Indian Division fought for four days to clear entrenched Japanese troops from the very terraces where pilgrims now gather. Photo by David Coleman / Have Camera Will TravelLicense this image at:DirectlyAlamy
MANDALAY, Myanmar — Gilded spires and mirrored-glass mosaic cladding crown the roofline of Sutaungpyei Pagoda at the summit of Mandalay Hill, 240 m (790 ft) above the plain. The reflective mosaic idiom and present fabric are largely the work of the hermit U Khanti, who rebuilt the hill’s pagodas and stairways in the early twentieth century after fire and neglect had ruined the earlier structures. Photo by David Coleman / Have Camera Will TravelLicense this image at:DirectlyAlamy
More about Mandalay Hill
Mandalay Hill is believed to be where the historical Buddha prophesied the founding of the city of Mandalay.
The climb to the summit features 1,729 steps, which are surrounded by lush vegetation and home to monkeys and various bird species.
The staircases leading to the summit are adorned with colorful mosaic panels that depict scenes from the Jataka tales, stories of the previous lives of the Buddha.
Mandalay Hill is also home to a standing Buddha statue known as Shweyattaw Buddha, which is said to be pointing towards the future location of Mandalay city.
Mandalay Hill’s significance dates back to the time of the Buddha, who is said to have visited the site and prophesied that a great city would be established at its foot. This city would later become Mandalay, which is now the second-largest city in Myanmar and the last royal capital of the Burmese Kingdom. The hill’s spiritual importance has endured over the centuries, and it remains a major pilgrimage site for Buddhists in Myanmar and beyond.
The journey to Mandalay Hill’s summit offers visitors an opportunity to immerse themselves in the rich history, culture, and natural beauty of the region. The staircases are lined with colorful mosaic panels depicting scenes from the Jataka tales, which chronicle the previous lives of the Buddha. Along the way, climbers may encounter friendly monkeys, various bird species, and lush vegetation that creates a serene atmosphere.
Once at the summit, visitors can explore the Sutaungpyei Pagoda and the Shweyattaw Buddha statue, both of which have deep historical and religious significance. The pagoda, with its impressive architecture and decorations, is a testament to the skill of Myanmar’s artisans, while the statue serves as a symbolic reminder of the Buddha’s prophecy and Mandalay’s storied past.
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What’s nearby to Mandalay Hill
Kuthodaw Pagoda: Home to the world’s largest book, inscribed on 729 marble slabs.
Sandamuni Pagoda: Known for its impressive collection of white shrines and the world’s largest iron Buddha image.
Kyauktawgyi Pagoda: Features a colossal Buddha statue carved from a single block of marble.
Royal Palace: The last royal palace of the Burmese monarchy, now a museum showcasing the country’s regal history.
How to get to Mandalay Hill
Mandalay Hill is located in the city of Mandalay in the Mandalay Region of Myanmar. The nearest major airport is Mandalay International Airport (MDL), which offers connections to many regional and international destinations. From the airport, visitors can hire a taxi or arrange private transportation to reach Mandalay Hill and other nearby attractions.
Mandalay, Myanmar (Burma)
What to know before you go
The long walk up is the traditional way to get to the top, but that’s not everyone’s cup of tea. There’s also parking most of the way up. For the last little bit, there are escalators.
I was initially a bit taken aback at first that the monks were so forthright in engaging tourists. In many parts of the world, unfortunately, that often signals an opening for drumming up business, asking for money, or evangelism. But as I soon learned, in this case, they really are asking for nothing more than a chance to practice their English and chat.
Mandalay Hill FAQs
How tall is Mandalay Hill?
Mandalay Hill is approximately 760 feet (230 meters) tall.
How long does it take to climb Mandalay Hill?
It takes approximately 30 minutes to 1 hour to climb Mandalay Hill, depending on your pace and fitness level.
What is the distance of the walk up Mandalay Hill?
The walk up Mandalay Hill is about 1.2 miles (2 kilometers) in distance.
Is there an entrance fee for Mandalay Hill?
Yes, there is an entrance fee of 10,000 Myanmar Kyats (approximately 6 USD) for foreign visitors.
What is the best time to visit Mandalay Hill?
The best time to visit Mandalay Hill is during the dry season, from November to February, when the weather is cooler and more comfortable. Sunrise and sunset are also popular times to visit for the beautiful views.
Is there any alternative way to reach the top besides walking?
Yes, there is an escalator and a lift available for those who prefer not to walk. The fee for using the escalator and lift is 1,000 Myanmar Kyats (approximately 0.60 USD).
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I'm a freelance travel photographer based in Washington DC. Seven continents, up mountains, underwater, and a bunch of places in between. My images have appeared in numerous publications, and you can check out some of my gear reviews and tips here. More »
