Mandalay was the last royal capital of Myanmar and the city is home to Kuthodaw Pagoda, 'the world's biggest book', Mahamuni Pagoda - home to the famous 9 tonne 'lumpy Buddha' - and Shwenandaw Monastery, an exquisite teak carved building remaining from the 19th Century Royal Palace. Exploring these with a guide is a great introduction to the country's culture and deep history.
Famous for its local crafts and artistic scene, explore the numerous workshops here including wood carving, kalaga tapestries and gold leaf bashing, and spend an evening enjoying a local comedy, often conveyed with puppets. A word of warning for the shopaholic - this is a destination well worth taking a spare bag for.
From Mandalay, take a boat trip up the Irrawaddy to Mingun, surrounded by golden stupa- studded hillsides. One of the biggest draws to this little village is the famous 'unfinished' 18th century stupa; what would've been the world's biggest stupa was never completed by order of the king, after an astrologer claimed that he would die if it was finished.
If time allows, take a cruise from Mandalay down to Bagan, witnessing daily rural life along the river - remote villages, bullock carts, pot-making and ancient temples - a great chance to experience a different side of Myanmar.
