Mandalay was the last capital of Myanmar, before the British took over. It is one of the country's most important cultural centers and Myanmar's second-largest city. There are several interesting sights in Mandalay of which Mandalay Hill with its spiralling stairways, temples and magnificent views is the most important. On top of the hill is the Shwenandaw Kyaung, which is the only remaining building of a once extravagant and moated palace. At Mahamuni Paya you can see the ancient Rakhine Buddha image.

Mandalay is the most Burman city in the country and its bustling markets are famoius throughout Upper Myanmar. Not far from Mandalay are four so-called 'deserted cities': Amarapura, Ava, Sagaing and Mingun, which is the most interesting one.

There are numerous hotels and restaurants in Mandalay. The city is 570 km north of Yangon (Rangoon).