207MANDALAYSIGHTSMANDALAY & AROUNDSIGHTSMANDALAYSIGHTS(^)
CENTRAL MANDALAY
The downtown area is not the city’s most
beautiful. However, it is easy enough to es-
cape into fascinating tree-shaded back al-
leys further west (see Cycling Tour, p 211 ).
And even amid the smoggy central grid of
lacklustre fi ve-storey concrete ordinariness
lurk many pagodas, striking churches and
notable mosques. The colourful, sculpture-
crusted gopuram (monumental tower)
of Sri Krishna Temple might excite you
if you’ve never been to southern India or
Singapore.
Eindawya Paya BUDDHIST TEMPLE
(Map p 206 ; Eindawya St, 88/89; admission free)
Built in 1847 by King Pagan Min, Eindawya
is ranged around a typical gilded pagoda off
a street where shops sell all the gear a monk
would need. Little visited, its importance is
as the site of one of Myanmar’s many cul-
tural battles before independence. In 1919 a
group of Europeans had defi ed the Buddhist
ban on shoe-wearing within Eindawya and
were forcibly evicted by outraged monks.
For their pains, four monks were convicted
by a colonial court, and one, U Kettaya, re-
ceived a life sentence. (So please take your
shoes off !)
Setkyathiha Paya BUDDHIST TEMPLE
(Map p 206 ; 30th St, 85/86) Hidden behind
shopfronts for most part, this large elevated
pagoda complex includes a ‘golden rock’
look-alike and a sacred bodhi tree planted
by U Nu, Myanmar’s fi rst post-independence
prime minister. However, it is best known
for an impressive 17ft-high seated bronze
Buddha, cast in 1823 by King Bagyidaw.
Central Mandalay
æSights 28 Sut Ngai ..................................................B5
1 Cultural Museum & Library .................. D2 29 Zeigyo......................................................B2
2 Eindawya Paya....................................... A3
3 Mini Golden Rock................................... A4 Information
4 Setkyathiha Paya................................... A4 30 Acme-Net................................................D2
5 Shwekyimyint Paya ................................C1 31 Seven Diamond Express........................C2
ÿSleeping Transport
6 AD1 Hotel................................................ A3 32 Aung Yedana (share taxis to
7 Classic Hotel ........................................... B1 Taunggyi) .............................................C2
8 ET Hotel ...................................................C1 33 Bicycle Rental Shop ...............................C2
9 Mandalay City Hotel .............................. C3 34 Chandar Aung (locals-only day
10 Nylon Hotel ............................................ B2 bus to Taunggyi) ................................. C1
11 Royal Guest House ................................ C2 35 Daw San San Aye ...................................C2
12 Sabai Phyu Hotel ................................... C2 36 Duhtawadi...............................................C4
13 Silver Star Hotel..................................... B3 Mann Shwe Pyi ............................. (see 45)
37 Mr Jerry (bike rental).............................B2
úEating 38 Myanma Airways Office.........................C2
14 Gold Medal ............................................. C4 39 Pick-ups to Amarapura,
15 Golden Shan............................................ B1 Sagaing and main bus
16 Karaweik.................................................. B1 station ..................................................B4
17 Lashio Lay ............................................... B1 40 Pick-ups to Pyin Oo Lwin .......................B3
18 Mann....................................................... C2 Seven Diamond Express...............(see 31)
19 Nay.......................................................... C3 41 Shared Taxi.............................................C3
20 NVC......................................................... C3 42 Shwe Li Oo share taxis to
21 Nylon Ice Cream Bar ............................. B2 Lashio ...................................................C5
22 Produce Market ..................................... A2 43 Shwe Li Shan (shared taxi to
23 Pyi Taw Win............................................ C2 Lashio) ................................................. B1
24 SB ........................................................... D4 44 Shwe Mandalar Express ........................C5
25 Sri Karaweik ............................................ C1 45 Shwe Mann Thu......................................C5
26 V Café/Skybar ....................................... D2 Shwe Taung Yo............................. (see 45)
46 Taung Paw Thar .....................................C5
þShopping 47 Yedena ....................................................C5
27 Night Market .......................................... B3