Amarapura
Amarapura is a small town lies 11km south of Mandalay. One of the ancient capitals of Myanmar before Mandalay. In the year 1860 the capital was moved from Amarapura to Mandalay. All historical buildings of Amarapura were moved to Mandalay and used for the construction of new palace in Mandalay. Amarapura means Immortal city. It is also known as Taungmyo means Southern city. It is popular tourist day-trip destination from Mandalay.
What to see around Amarapura
Mahagandayone monastery
U Bein Bridge
Silk and cotton weaving
Mahagandayone monastery
Majority of Myanmar practice Buddhism. One of the traditions of giving religious inheritage from parents to sons is celebrating novitiation ceremony. After novitiation ceremony, 9 years old boys (may be younger and older) enter to monastery for experience of monastic life, they become novices. Some boys stay for a week, some decide to stay for a month at the monastery. After short period of monastic training, some boys back home and some boys decide to remain at the monastery as novices (under 19 years) and monk (over 20 years).
They study Pali language and Tripitaka – teaching of Buddha. Every village, every quarter of the city there is one monastery at least. Some monasteries are as big as the school for Buddhist monks. One of the famous Buddhist schools for Buddhist monks at Amarapura is Mahagandayone monastery.
There are 1200 Buddhist monks at Mahagandayone monasery. In the big monastery compound there are many buildings which are houses for Buddhist monks and their classrooms. Monks have to follow very strong disciplines. Early morning before the class starts, monks go out to the city for alm food.
Buddhist families use to prepare food (rice and curry) and wait in front of their houses for monk coming. About 2 hour round is enough to collect for lunch. In the monastery, if there is a donator for monk’s lunch, they do not go out for food. Around 10:30am they all have lunch together in the big hall. For the day of ceremony, they enter with empty bowls and receive rice from donators who wait at the entrance of dining room. Curry and side dishes are prepared on the table.
The moment, thousands of Buddhist monks with reddish robe enter to dining room together is very special for travelers. Most visitors use to visit Mahagandayone monastery around 10:00M. Most big monasteries do not accept visitors but Mahagandayone monastery do accept.
Last two years there are lots of visitors at the monastery. There are several books written by venerable monks of Mahagandayone monastery about teaching of Buddha. The most popular books are questions and answers, 5 minutes meditation.
U Bein Bridge – The longest wooden bridge in the world
Next to Mahagandayone monastery there is beautiful Taungthaman lake in Amarapura town which is half an hour drive from Mandalay. During raining season, always happen water flood of the Ayeyarwaddy River. Taung Tha Man Lake cuts communication with Amarapura and surrounding villages in raining season.
Peddlers and hawkers have to take risk crossing the rough lake with their little boats. In the year 1849, U Pein who was a high ranking clerk of Amarapura, got an idea to build the bridge across the lake. By using teak post of Innwa Royal Palace, the construction began in 1849 and completed in 1851, it took only two years.
There are 1086 wooden posts and 4 wooden pavilions (rest houses for leisure) on the bridge and long 1.2km. The bridge indeed is romantic and famous as the longest wooden bridge in the world.
Dry season, water is shallow and the lake area get smaller and more fertile land cultivate peanut, corn and sunflower makes beautiful bridge in the middle of green fields. Many small teashops and food stalls along the bridge makes more popular to have a drink in social relationship around Mandalay, Sagaing and Amarapura.
During sunset time, strolling around the lake by boat is so beautiful. Walking on the bridge under golden sunshine also nice and amazing place for photographer.
Last two years lots of visitors in the evening. It is recommendable for sunrise at U Bein Bride, fewer visitors under fresh environment and silver sunshine.
Silk and cotton weaving
Longyi is lower garment for Myanmar lady and Paso is for man. Generally lower garment for both man and lady can call Longyi.
It is popular traditional dress widely wear in Myanmar. 85% of Myanmar still lovely wears traditional. Traditional dress for Myanmar man is longyi and shirt, for formal ceremony such as novitiation ceremony, wedding reception ….use to wear jacket and turban. Longyi for men is cylindrical tube shape cloth about 2.2 meters wide and two and half meter long. Without belt, wear it and make knot in front on the waist. Man longyi pattern is quite simple small square shape pattern or diamond pattern decorated with stars. Man does not use to wear shinning color.
Myanmar lady traditional dress is longyi for lower garment and blouse with long sleeve is for top wear with shawl. Nowadays, most ladies prefer blouse with short sleeve. Longyi for ladies is also cylindrical tube shape cloth about 1.8 meters wide and almost 2 meters long (depend of high of person). There is small black strip at the top of ladies’ longyi. Ladies do not make knot.
There are colorful and different patterns for Myanmar ladies longyi. Wave like pattern is quite common for ceremonies. Longyi both for man and woman produce by handmade weaving and for climate in Myanmar prefer cotton wear. For special occasion, both man and woman use traditional silk longyi. Amarapura Loon Yar Kyaw Cheik pattern, Kachin Manaw pattern, Rakhine pattern are three famous patterns in Myanmar.
If we go back to history of wearing longyi in Myanmar, can see beautiful
19th century wood curving that narrate about Jataka in Shwezigon pagoda compound reflects about the tradition of wearing longyi in the past time.
Again 19th century monsai work at Shweyanpay temple near Inlay lake also shows the history of wearing longyi in Myanmar.
Amarapura is small town near Mandalay is very famous for weaving industry which is one of their main professions. Most families have weaving machines. Handmade weaving for wave pattern – loon yar kyaw cheik – beautiful and intricate pattern done by using over hundred looms is the unique product of Amarapura.
It is precious worn in very special ceremonial occasion. Two ladies work together weaving process for 6 inches of product a day. It takes a month to complete 1.8 meter wide Myanmar wave pattern silk longyi.
Machinery Looms help to make more production especially for high quality of cotton ware in beautiful cuts and styles.
