Inwa (Ava)
အင်းဝ
Burma’s royal capital for nearly four centuries. Cross the river and tour the rice fields and ruins by horse cart, with teak monasteries, a brick monastery and a leaning watchtower to see.
Inwa (Ava) lies about 20 kilometers southwest of Mandalay, where the Myitnge River meets the Irrawaddy. It served as Burma’s royal capital several times between the 14th and 19th centuries and was abandoned after the earthquake of 1839. Its ruins are scattered among farmland and villages. Visitors take a small ferry across the river and then hire a horse cart for about 10,000 to 15,000 kyat. The route takes in Bagaya Monastery, the brick-built Maha Aungmye Bonzan Monastery, the Nanmyint Watchtower leaning from an earthquake and the Yadana Hsemee pagoda complex. The tour takes about half a day, and the sites require the Mandalay Archaeological Zone combined ticket. Some buildings were damaged in the March 2025 earthquake, so check current opening arrangements locally.
Opening hours
Daytime (about 08:00–17:00)
Nearby sights
- Maha Aungmye Bonzan Monastery
- Yadana Hsemee Pagoda Complex
- Bagaya Monastery
- Sagaing Hill
- U Min Thonze Pagoda
- Snake Pagoda (Paleik)
- Mahagandayon Monastery
- U Bein Bridge