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On Top of Mandalay Hill, Myanmar

Sutaungpyei Pagoda, Mandalay Hill - Mandalay, Myanmar (Burma)

Buddhist Novice Monks at Sutaungpyei Pagoda, Mandalay Hill, Myanmar (Burma)

Photo by David Coleman. How to license & download this image.

Myanmar (Burma) // Buddhist Art & Architecture· Mandalay Hill· Mandalay Myanmar· Mandalay Region Myanmar· Pagodas Temples Wats & Stupas· Southeast Asia Location: [post_gps_latitude], [post_gps_longitude]

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 to the south. And if you time it right, and the weather cooperates, you can also watch the sunset over the Ayeyarwaddy River to the west.

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 so as to practice their English.

As you go up or down, you’ll pass by several statues related to the story of the Ogress Sandha Mukkhi (San Dha Mukhi), including one of her offering up her sliced-off breast. Legend has it that she ruled Mandalay Hill, but that when the Buddha came they prayed together, and pilgrims came to make offerings to the Buddha. She had nothing to offer, so she sliced off her breasts and offered them to the Buddha with the condition that she would one day be the King of Mandalay. He agreed and reincarnated her 2400 years later as King Mindon.

Photos of Mandalay Hill and Sutaungpyei Pagoda

Tourists at Sunset on Mandalay Hill, Myanmar (Burma)

There’s a great sunset view out over the Ayeyarwaddy from the large patio area. Photo by David Coleman. How to license & download this image.

Gold Portico at Sutaungpyei Pagoda, Mandalay Hill, Myanmar (Burma)

The gold-lined columns catch the setting sun’s rays. Photo by David Coleman. How to license & download this image.

Sky at Sunset from Mandalay Hill, Myanmar (Burma)

Photo by David Coleman. How to license & download this image.

Statue of the Ogress Sandha Mukkhi Offering Her Breast, Mandalay Hill, Myanmar (Burma)

A small standalone shrine area with a statue of the Ogress Sandha Mukkhi (San Dha Mukhi) offer up one of her sliced-off breasts. Photo by David Coleman. How to license & download this image.

Two Monks at Sutaungpyei Pagoda, Mandalay Hill, Myanmar (Burma)

Novice monks come up here to practice their English with the tourist visitors. Photo by David Coleman. How to license & download this image.

Sutaungpyei Pagoda in Dusk Light, Mandalay Hill, Myanmar (Burma)

Photo by David Coleman. How to license & download this image.

Ogress Statue at Sutaungpyei Pagoda, Mandalay Hill, Myanmar (Burma)

Ogress statue. Photo by David Coleman. How to license & download this image.

Portico at Sutaungpyei Pagoda, Mandalay Hill, Myanmar (Burma)

Photo by David Coleman. How to license & download this image.

Gold Buddha Statue at Sutaungpyei Pagoda, Mandalay Hill, Myanmar (Burma)

Photo by David Coleman. How to license & download this image.

Gold Stupa at Sutaungpyei Pagoda, Mandalay Hill, Myanmar (Burma)

Photo by David Coleman. How to license & download this image.

Toruists on the Patio at Sutaungpyei Pagoda, Mandalay Hill, Myanmar (Burma)

Photo by David Coleman. How to license & download this image.

Sutaungpyei Pagoda at Dusk, Mandalay Hill, Myanmar (Burma)

Photo by David Coleman. How to license & download this image.

Statue of the Buddha at Sutaungpyei Pagoda, Mandalay Hill, Myanmar (Burma)

Photo by David Coleman. How to license & download this image.

View of the Plain of Mandalay from Mandalay Hill, Myanmar (Burma)


The view out over the surrounding plain. Photo by David Coleman. How to license & download this image.

Prayer Room at Sutaungpyei Pagoda, Mandalay Hill, Myanmar (Burma)

The colorful main shrine. Photo by David Coleman. How to license & download this image.

More Photos of Mandalay Hill

I have more photos of Mandalay Hill and Sutaungpyei Pagoda here.

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 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.

Where to Next?

  • Carving Marble Statues of the Buddha in Mandalay, Myanmar
    The Buddha Statue Workshops of Mandalay
  • Sunset at U Bein Bridge, Myanmar
    Myanmar's Scenic U Bein Bridge
  • Shwenandaw Golden Palace Monastery in Mandalay Myanmar (Burma)
    Shwenandaw Golden Palace Monastery
  • Bagan Nyaung Airport
    Nyaung-U Airport
  • Ancon Hill Panama City Tourists with Skyline
    The View from Ancon Hill
  • Buddha Shrine at Myazedi Pagoda, Myinkaba Village, Myanmar (Burma)
    Myazedi Stupa
  • Dragon and Elephant Statue at Abeyadana Temple in Bagan, Myanmar (Burma)
    Apeyadana Temple
  • Gold Statue of Gautama Buddha in Htilominlo Temple in Nyaung-U, Myanmar (Burma)
    Htilominlo Temple
  • View from the Terraces of Thisa-wadi Temple, Bagan, Myanmar (Burma)
    Thisa-wadi Temple


Travel Advice for Myanmar (Burma)

You can find the latest U.S. Department of State travel advisories and information for Myanmar (Burma) (such as entry visa requirements and vaccination requirements) here.

The British and Australian governments offer their own country-specific travel information. You can find the British Government's travel advice for Myanmar (Burma) here and the Australian Government's here.

Health & Vaccinations

The CDC makes country-specific recommendations for vaccinations and health for travelers. You can find their latest information for Myanmar (Burma) here.

David Coleman Photography

I take photos. I travel. I write. I do it for a living. Seven continents. Dozens of countries. Up mountains. Under water. And a bunch of places in between. You can find my main site at havecamerawilltravel.com. Or check out what’s in my go-to travel photography kit. Or get in touch here.


Location: Sutaungpyei Pagoda
Country: Myanmar (Burma)
Coordinates:
      Latitude: 22.01494561
      Longitude: 96.10739431

      # Buddhist Art & Architecture
      # Mandalay Hill
      # Mandalay Myanmar
      # Mandalay Region Myanmar
      # Pagodas Temples Wats & Stupas
      # Southeast Asia



About David Coleman

I take photos. I travel. I write. I do it for a living.

I’m based in Washington, DC.

You can find my photography gear reviews and tips at havecamerawilltravel.com/photographer.

David Coleman Photography

I take photos. I travel. I write. I do it for a living. Seven continents. Dozens of countries. Up mountains. Under water. And a bunch of places in between. You can find my main site at havecamerawilltravel.com. Or check out what’s in my go-to travel photography kit. Or get in touch here.

Licensing & Prints

Looking for travel stock photos or prints? I might be able to help. You can search my collection here:

If you already have a buyer account with Alamy and would prefer to use that, you can search my images directly here.

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Photos by David Coleman. Please contact me for licensing images.
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