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Shwenandaw Monastery

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Shwenandaw Monastery (Myanmar (Burma))

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Shwenandaw Monastery, known as the Golden Palace Monastery, is a masterpiece of 19th-century traditional Burmese teak architecture. Originally, the building was part of the royal palace in Amarapura, but it was moved to Mandalay under King Mindon to serve as his private living quarters. Following his death in 1878, his son, King Thibaw, ordered the building to be dismantled and moved outside the palace walls to be converted into a monastery, as he believed it was haunted by his father's spirit. This relocation ironically saved the structure from total destruction during World War II, when the rest of the Mandalay Palace was razed by fire during Allied bombings. The structure is famous for its intricate wood carvings depicting Buddhist myths and floral motifs, which cover nearly every square inch of the exterior and interior surfaces. Inside, the monastery remains heavily gilded, although the exterior gold leaf has largely weathered away, revealing the dark, aged teakwood underneath. It stands today as the only major original structure remaining from the once-grand wooden royal palace complex.

Best time to visit & climate

The most pleasant time to visit is Jan, Feb, Dec.

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Avg °C212428313130303030292623
Rain mm11271532443338303397

📋 Practical info

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Visiting
The Shwenandaw Monastery is open to visitors and its exquisite teak interiors can be viewed from inside. A small entrance fee is typically charged, and shoes must be removed before entering.
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Typical hours
The monastery usually opens from morning until late afternoon, closing around dusk. It may be closed during certain religious ceremonies, so check locally before visiting.
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Photography
Photography is allowed inside the monastery, but avoid using flash to preserve the delicate wood carvings. Be respectful of the serene atmosphere and other visitors.
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Time needed
Plan about 30 to 45 minutes to admire the intricate teak carvings and the building's architecture. Many visitors spend an hour to fully appreciate the details.
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Combine with
Combine this visit with the nearby Mandalay Palace and Kuthodaw Pagoda, home of the world's largest book. The Mandalay Hill gives a great panoramic view for sunset.
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Getting there
The monastery is located in the old city area of Mandalay, easily reached by taxi or trishaw. It is a short walk from the southern gate of Mandalay Palace.
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Insider tip
Visit early in the morning to have the monastery almost to yourself and enjoy the quiet. The sunlight filtering through the teak lattice creates beautiful patterns.

Geography

Coordinates
22.00060, 96.11300

Facts

  • The building served as the place of death for King Mindon in 1878.
  • King Thibaw re-dedicated the building as a monastery in 1880.
  • It is the only major structure from the Mandalay Palace to survive World War II.
  • The carvings depict scenes from the Jataka tales about Buddha's former lives.
  • The entire structure was constructed without the use of metal nails.
  • Originally, the entire exterior was heavily coated with gold leaf.

Explore nearby

Notable places around

Kuthodaw PagodaKuthodaw Pagoda<1 km · SWExplore →
Mandalay PalaceMandalay Palace2 km · SExplore →
Mahamuni Buddha TempleMahamuni Buddha Temple4 km · SExplore →
Amarapura Historical CityAmarapura Historical City6 km · SExplore →
Hsinbyume PagodaHsinbyume Pagoda11 km · SExplore →
Ayeyarwady Dolphin Protected AreaAyeyarwady Dolphin Protected Area13 km · SExplore →
SagaingSagaing14 km · SExplore →
Tagaung Taung Nickel MineTagaung Taung Nickel Mine21 km · SWExplore →

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Sights in the town Shwenandaw Monastery (10)

Oriental sugar mill🏰 castle

A historical industrial building of a former sugar mill, featuring robust colonial-era brick architecture.

🕒 24/7

ရန်ကင်းတောင်သာသနာ့ဘေးမဲ့နယ်မြေ🌿 nature

A nature reserve on Yankin Hill, known for its wild macaques and numerous rock-side shrines.

Shwe Nan Daw Kyaung⛪ religious

The famous "Golden Palace Monastery," a teakwood masterpiece featuring intricate 19th-century carvings.

Inn Khan Tail⛪ religious

A Buddhist place of worship located within the historic monastery district of Mandalay.

Salin Kyaung Taik စလင်းကျောင်းတိုက်⛪ religious

An extensive monastery complex known for its richly decorated timber buildings and religious studies.

ရှင်အရဟံ မွန်းတည့်သိမ်📍 landmark

A historic ordination hall associated with the lineage of the venerable monk Shin Arahan.

ရန်ကင်းတောင် နဂါးရုံဘုရား📍 landmark

A pagoda on Yankin Hill featuring a Buddha statue sheltered by a multi-headed Naga.

Mya Kyouk Tane Taw📍 landmark

A Buddhist temple complex set into the religious landscape on the outskirts of Mandalay.

Nan Shae Market🎭 culture

A lively local market located immediately to the east of the royal palace walls.

Myo Ma Zay🎭 culture

A large central city market in Mandalay known for its variety of fresh produce.

Sights nearby

Frequently asked questions

What is special about the Shwenandaw Monastery?
It is the last remaining building of the original Mandalay Royal Palace.
Is there an entrance fee?
Yes, entry is part of the general archaeology pass for Mandalay's attractions.
Is the monastery wheelchair accessible?
Unfortunately no, the building stands on stilts and has stairs, making access difficult.
Am I allowed to take photos inside?
Yes, photography is allowed, but please be respectful of the religious site.
How long does a visit take?
You need about 30 to 60 minutes to admire the intricate wood carvings.
Shwenandaw Monastery: where is it located?
Shwenandaw Monastery is located in Myanmar (Burma).
Shwenandaw Monastery: what is there to see?
Highlights include Oriental sugar mill, ရန်ကင်းတောင်သာသနာ့ဘေးမဲ့နယ်မြေ, Shwe Nan Daw Kyaung.
Shwenandaw Monastery: when is the best time to visit?
The most pleasant time to visit is Jan, Feb, Dec.
Shwenandaw Monastery: why is it worth visiting?
Shwenandaw Monastery, known as the Golden Palace Monastery, is a masterpiece of 19th-century traditional Burmese teak architecture.
View on map → The Top 50 Attractions → OpenStreetMap →
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Nearby cities

Pakokku — Shwenandaw Monastery (Myanmar (Burma))
Pakokku
A bustling city on the Irrawaddy River, known for its trade in tobacco and cotton.
Magway — Shwenandaw Monastery (Myanmar (Burma))
Magway
The capital of the Magway Region, known for the production of edible oil and sesame.

History & landmarks

Kyauk Ka Lat Pagoda — Shwenandaw Monastery (Myanmar (Burma))
Kyauk Ka Lat Pagoda
A tiny golden pagoda spectacularly built on top of a narrow, steep limestone spire.

More places

Amarapura Historical City — Shwenandaw Monastery (Myanmar (Burma))
Amarapura Historical City
A former capital of Myanmar, known for its silk weaving and the famous teakwood U Bein Bridge.
Kuthodaw Pagoda — Shwenandaw Monastery (Myanmar (Burma))
Kuthodaw Pagoda
A Buddhist stupa in Mandalay that contains the "world's largest book", consisting of hundreds of marble slabs inscribed with Buddhist texts.
Yadanabon Zoological Gardens — Shwenandaw Monastery (Myanmar (Burma))
Yadanabon Zoological Gardens
A well-known zoo at the foot of Mandalay Hill, playing an important role in the breeding of endemic Burmese animal species.
Mandalay Palace — Shwenandaw Monastery (Myanmar (Burma))
Mandalay Palace
The last royal palace of the Burmese monarchy, built as a walled fortress with a wide moat in the center of Mandalay.
Mandalay Palace Moat Park — Shwenandaw Monastery (Myanmar (Burma))
Mandalay Palace Moat Park
An expansive recreational area surrounding the wide, water-filled moat of the historic Mandalay Royal Palace.
Mahamuni Buddha Temple — Shwenandaw Monastery (Myanmar (Burma))
Mahamuni Buddha Temple
One of the most important Buddhist pilgrimage sites in Myanmar, housing a highly venerated Buddha statue.
Ayeyarwady Dolphin Protected Area — Shwenandaw Monastery (Myanmar (Burma))
Ayeyarwady Dolphin Protected Area
A stretch of river north of Mandalay dedicated to the protection of the rare Irrawaddy dolphins, known for their cooperation with local f…
Inwa Ruins — Shwenandaw Monastery (Myanmar (Burma))
Inwa Ruins
The remnants of the ancient imperial capital that was the center of successive Burmese kingdoms from the 14th to the 19th centuries.