According to Deputy Director U Nay Tun Naing of the Department of Archaeology and National Museum (Mandalay branch), the Inwa Ancient Cultural Area in TadaU, Mandalay Region, attracts daily visits both from homegrown and from foreign travellers.
Among the numerous ancient cultural structures in Inwa, major tour destinations for day trips include the Bargaya monastery, the Mei Nu brick monastery, the palace wall, the palace tower, and the Sinkyon fortress. Other notable sites worth visiting are the pagodas and stupas built during the Inwa, Nyaungyan, and Amarapura periods, such as the Chauksutan pagodas, the Koesutan pagodas, the Daw Gyan pagodas, the Myinmotaung Pagoda, and the Wingaba Pagoda.
The report also mentions that both domestic and overseas travellers visit and explore the heritage buildings along the bank of the Ayeyawady River.
U Nay Tun Naing remarked, “Since March 2023, significant numbers of local and foreign tourists have visited the Inwa area consistently. On average, over a thousand travellers usually visit Inwa monthly. In December 2023 and January this year, approximately 1,300 visitors came each month. The Mei Nu brick monastery, Bargaya monastery, and fortresses are popular destinations. The palace sites are enchanting to foreign travellers. Additionally, destinations along the Ayeyawady River are famous among locals and foreigners, with most international visitors coming from Asian countries, especially Thailand and China. There are also visitors from European countries, although they are fewer in number.”
The report further highlights travel destinations in the Inwa area, including three Pinya caves south of TadaU, the Pinya Shwezigon Pagoda, the Yadana Myazigon Pagoda, the Mingala Pagoda, the Yanaungmyin Pagoda, the Pinya Aungzigon Pagoda, the Pinsamarlainda Yadana Myazigon Pagoda, and other stupas.
Established in 1364 AD by Thadoe Minpya, the ancient city of Inwa served as the capital for 400 years until the reign of King Bagyidaw (AD 1821). During this period, 624 pagodas, temples, stupas, and edifices were donated and constructed by kings, queens, princes, and princesses. — ASH/TMT
