Myanmar - Shwedagon Pagodaon Singuttara Hill

"The Shwedagon Pagoda, situated on Singuttara Hill in the center of Yangon (Rangoon), is the most sacred Buddhist stupa in Myanmar and one of the most important religious reliquary monuments in the world. The proposed property includes the hill atop of which the main stupa is located, the hill-top reliquary stupa and associated religious buildings and sacred statuary, bells, and other emblems situated on the hill, as well as the hill’s surrounding sacred perimeter. The proposed property comprises a total area of 46.3 hectares."

Source: UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List

Shwedagon Pagoda in the heart of Yangon, Myanmar (formerly Rangoon, Burma). I climbed up this awesome temple, barefooted as required. This nice card is provided by England Vision Optical. Thanks to Bryan Wu who lives in Yangon.

Myanmar - Inle Lake

"A large mountain lake in a well preserved landscape. Several ethnic groups use the lake and its shores as their central landmark. The cultural traditions of numerous villages around it focus on the lake and have distinctive features: - internal navigation, fishing and commerce; - floating vegetable gardens installed on artificial rafts. - distinctive housing shapes and types. - annual Buddhist fezstival on the lake. The symbiosis and ecology of the lake, its shores and its villagers constitute a genuine instance of cultural landscape." 

Source: UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List

Postcard 1
Inta fishermen standing at the stern on a slender boat, rowing with one leg on Inle Lake, located in the heart of Shan State, 1500m. Thanks to Gowan from South Korea who visited Myanmar.




Postcard 2
Inle Lake - famous for unique leg-rowers, sprawling lake, floating villages and floating vegetable gardens. Postcard mailed in an envelope from Myanmar.

Postcard 3

Fisherman in Inle Lake. Thanks to Ray of Hong Kong.

Myanmar - Myauk-U Archaeological Area and Monuments

"Capital city of the first Arakanese Kingdom, the site measures 7 by 6 km and contains some 200 Buddhist monuments (temples, stupas, monasteries, etc.) mostly built in the 15th and 16th centuries AD. Located at the junction of the deltaic plain and the Arakanese mountains, the site is an exceptional example of the cleaver use of natural features (hill ranges, waterways, marshes) for fortification. A network of rivers provides easy access to the sea. The religious monuments in various states of conservation and maintenance, have no equivalent in the region. the monuments, particularly several fortified temples, are mostly built in well dressed stone, including skillful vaulting over geometrically complex spaces. Impressive decoration includes outstanding examples of stone carving and sculpture. The Myauk-u kingdom had an important rôle in the history of trade and warfare in the Bay of Bengal, and was the seat of intense cultural and religious interaction between Buddhism and Islam through the Bengali sultanates, between Buddhism and Christianity through the Portuguese." 

Source: UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List

Postcard 1
Yadanabon Pagoda, Mrauk U. Thanks to Katherine of Myanmar.

Postcard 2

Mrauk-U is an ancient capital cityin Rakhine State, Myanmar. One of the best way to visit the ancient city by bullock cart. Thanks to Marie of France. Postcard bought in Myanmar.

Myanmar - Ancient cities of Upper Myanmar: Innwa, Amarapura, Sagaing, Mingun, Mandalay

"Subsequent foundations ort residences of Myanma kings: Sagaing from 1315 to 1364, Innwa from 1364 to 1841. Amarapura from 1841 to 1857, Mingun in 1810-1819, Mandalay after 1857. They are close to each other, inside a span of 30km on both banks of the Ayeyawady River. Innwa, Amarapura and Mandalay are noteworthy instances of city planning. The royal palace is located in a corner of the city wall at Innwa, at its centre in Amarapura and Mandalay. Numerous religious monuments, temples, stupas and monasteries.

A giant stupa was started at Mingun, intended to become the highest monument of Buddhism, but was never finished. Its base, severly cracked by an earthquake in 1819, is still an impressive mass of brick. The royal palace at Mandalay was destroyed during the 2nd world war, but the city wall is still in fair condition.

The cultural and religious life is still very active in these cities, with numerous Buddhist institutions. Collections of paintings, manuscripts, art objects and inscriptions are housed in various monasteries and museums. Traditional artifacts and handicrafts are produced in specialized streets in Amarapura and Mandalay."

Source: UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List

Postcard 1

Taw Gyi Mingun, a stupa uncompleted due to earthquake. Thanks to Sabine who was travelling to Myanmar.

Postcard 2

A different view postcard of Mingun. Thanks to Thitar of Myanmar.

Myanmar - Mon cities: Bago, Hanthawaddy

"The ancient Mon cities built between the Ayeyawady Valley and the Sittaung Valley. Residencal Palace area of Mon King is under excavation. Contemporary with Innwa and built from the 11th to 17th centuries." 

Source: UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List

2,000 year old Shwe Maw Daw Pagoda with a 114m high stupa overlooking Bago, Myanmar. Postcard bought in Myanmar - thanks to Marie of France.

Myanmar - Wooden Monasteries of Konbaung Period: Ohn Don, Sala, Pakhangyi, Pakhannge, Legaing, Sagu, Shwe-Kyaung (Mandalay)

"Large timber monasteries, mostly built during the 18th and 19th centuries AD, on a similar linear plan. Four main timber structures are usually aligned on a large wooden platform on posts, providing spaces for cult, assemblies and accomodation for the monks: from east to west, the shrine, the prayer hall, the main teaching hall and an ancillary building. Above the shrine, the major landmark is a tall tiered tower (pyathat). Access from three or four sides by brick stairways. The whole monastery is profusely decorated by extensive woodcarving, depicting all aspects of the daily life in Myanmar. several of these monasteries contain rich collections of manuscripts, paintings, sculptures and metalware. Ohn Don, the oldest surviving example built in 1742 AD, is particularly noticeable by its gilded and laquer inner decoation. The largest of these monasteries, Pakhannge, built in 1856, measures 76 by 45m and is supported by 332 teak columns. The best preserved example with outstanding woodcarving is Sale, which is now used as a museum." 

Source: UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List

Shwe Kyaung Monastery of Mandalay, Myanmar. This postcard mailed inside an envelope from Myanmar.