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Amarapura
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Amarapura,
Taungthaman
Lake,
Mandalay,
palace, Innwa,
Ava, tombs
King Bodawpaya, Ayeyawady, U Pein
bridge,
Chinese Joss
House.
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-The old city Amarapura now stands in ruins.
Amongst this debris of Amarapura,
one could still find a treasury building and old Watch Tower.
The tombs of King Bodawpaya and Bagyidaw are there, though the cremated
ashes of these Kings are put into velvet bags and thrown into the river
Ayeyarwady near Amarapura At the corner of the old city of Amarapura, old
stupas remained to be seen.
Around the environs of Amarapura, the last Burma Royal
City of Mandalay, there lies other and older royal cities like Amarapura, Innwa (Ava), Sagaing and Shwebo.
Of all these, Amarapura had been the royal
city twice King Badon (Bodawpaya) and King Tharyarwaddy. King Badon (Bodawpaya)
founded Amarapura in 1782.
The name Amarapura is a Sanskrit word, meaning,
Amara (Deathlessness) which entails Deathless City. Being 7 miles (11 km)
south of Mandalay, it is commonly called Taungmyo or Southern City.
Beginning with King Badon, five successive monarchs ruled from Amarapura. In
1823, King Bodaw’s grandson and successor, King Bagyidaw shifted his capital
to Innwa (Ava).
However King Thayarwaddy (1837-46) moved the capital back to
Amarapura and it remained the seat of Burma Kings until King Mindon
founded the new capital of Mandalay.
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-Amarapura is laid out as a square
surrounded by brick walls and a moat.
There are 12 gates, three each on one side.
Above the gates are wooden pavilions and the banks of the moat are properly
laid with bricks.
As the Amarapura palace buildings are dismantled
and used in constructing the Mandalay City, only part of the old city walls
and some religious edifices remained. Only the Treasury building and Record
Office can be seen today.
Outside the city, near the south wall, there is
the pagoda, PAHTODAWGYI, built by King Bagyidaw in 1820. It has imposing
height and the three lower terraces with marble slabs on which Jataka
Stories (Buddha’s Birth Stories) are curved in bold relief. In the
precincts,
a stone inscription describing the history of the pagoda and a large bronze
bell are installed.
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- GANDAYON MONASTERY
This Maha Ganadayon religious institute is famous for strict
training for young monks in the study of Buddhist Texts. Certain rules of
conduct are outlined to be sternly enforced. It has been founded since 1914,
without being changed or relaxed in giving religious teachings. The late Maha Gandayon Sayadaw was renowned for his teaching and writings on
Buddhism.
Maha Gandayon Sayadaw, the most reverend and venerable Abbot of this
Buddhist Centre and Institute in Amarapura was adapt and proficient in
delivering Buddhist Teachings and guiding
Buddhist Vipassana Meditation
practices. The Rev. Maha Thera was also the author of multifarious Buddhist
Texts and Commentaries whose works are still studied and followed by many
devotees and disciples.
What is more, Sayadaw’s Buddhist Centre is eminent for giving strict
Buddhist training and study just like Shwe Kyin, Mingun and other centers.
One could observe how silently and serenely students are taking their meals
and learning their lessons when one enters the compound. |
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-TAUNGTHAMAN LAKE
Taungthaman Lake lies in between Mandalay and Amarapura, commonly known
now-a-days as Taungmyo. The unique feature of this Lake is that it
completely dries up during the Summer.
There is a teak wooden bridge that spans the Taungthaman Lake which is (12
km) long. It is named U Pein’s Bridge (page 67-69), credited to the builder
of the same who was said to be a Town Mayor. The teak framework was
constructed out of the remains of the dismantled structure of the Amarapura
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palace when the royal
capital was shifted to
Mandalay by King Mindon. During
the rainy season, the lake is filled to the brim and therein are ducks
frolicking, fishermen casting their fishing nets, holiday-makers paddling
small boats. Women used to wear, at that time, kaukyoe hats (straw hats) and
seen enjoying the scenic beauty and graceful and natural environs.
U Pein’s Bridge is more than 200 years old, eloquently proving the strength
and durability of world famous Burma teak. |
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-RUINS OF AMARAPURA PALACE
The old city Amarapura now stands in ruins. Amongst this debris, one could
still find a treasury building and old Watch Tower. The tombs of King Bodawpaya and Bagyidaw are there, though the cremated ashes of these Kings
are put into velvet bags and thrown into the river Ayeyawady. At the corner
of the old city, old stupas remained to be seen.
KYAUKTAWGYI PAGODA
If one crosses over U Pein bridge from Taungthaman village, one will
arrive at MAHA SAKKA RAMSI Pagoda, commonly known as Taungthaman
 Kyauktawgyi
Pagoda. It is not to be confused with another Kyauktawgyi Pagoda in
Mandalay. This one is dedicated by King Bagan being constructed on the lines
of famous Ananda Cave Temple of Bagan. It enshrines an alabaster Buddha
image hewn from the Sagyin area, during the reign of King Sagaing (Bagyibaw).
This seated Buddha image measures 11 ft-9 in (3.5 m) at the base with a
height of 17 ft-3 in (5.5 m). It is of historical interest for those who
have an interest in the contemporary life of Burma's of that period. Murals
on the walls of the image chamber and the ceilings of the covered
passage-ways are depicted, scenes of contemporary buildings and the dress
and life-style of the Burma people of the period.
SHWEKYETYET AND SHWEKYETKYA THE TWIN PAGODAS
These twin pagodas stand on the left bank of the river Ayeyawady, opposite
to Sagaing. The pagodas are said to be built by a King of Bagan in the 12th
century. If you look from the summit of the hill where these pagodas are
built you will view panorama of the scenic beauty of the environs and the
white pagodas on the Sagaing Hill.
THE CHINESE JOSS HOUSE (house of prayer)
 Since the time of King Bodawpaya, the Chinese residents there had built a
Chinese Temple of Buddha. When King Mindon shifted his capital to Mandalay,
the Chinese residents preferred to remain in Amarapura. A street is named as
Tayoketan in honour of those Chinese residents.
all at e-books
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Amarapura,
Taungthaman
Lake,
Mandalay,
palace, Innwa,
Ava, tombs
King Bodawpaya, Irrawaddy, U Pein bridge,
Chinese Joss
House,
Chinese
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