Amarapura

Amarapura အမရပူရ မြို့နယ်
—  Township of Mandalay  —
Amarapura Township
Amarapura Location in Burma
Coordinates: 21°54′N 96°03′E / 21.9°N 96.05°E / 21.9; 96.05
Country	Myanmar
Region	Mandalay
City	Mandalay
Township	Amarapura Township
Founded	13 May 1783
Time zone	MST (UTC6:30)
Postal codes
Area code(s)	2 (mobile: 69, 90)[1]

Amarapura (Burmese: အမရပူရ, pronounced: [ʔəməɹa̰pùɹa̰]) is a former capital of Myanmar, and now a township of Mandalay. Amarapura is bounded by the Irrawaddy river in the west, Chanmyathazi township in the north, and the ancient capital site of Ava (Inwa) in the south. It was the capital of Myanmar twice during the Konbaung period (1783–1821 and 1842–1859) a before finally supplanted by Mandalay 11 km north in 1859. It is historically referred to as Taungmyo (Southern City) in relation to Mandalay. Amarapura today is part of Mandalay, as a result of the urban sprawl. The township is known today for its traditional silk and cotton weaving, and bronze casting. It is a popular tourist day-trip destination from Mandalay.

Etymology

Amarapura comes from Pali: आमरपुर, which means "City of Immortality".

History

Royal palace of king Bodawpaya at Amarapura, during the visit of the British Embassy of Michael Symes, in 1795.

Amarapura was founded by King Bodawpaya of the Konbaung Dynasty founded Amarapura as his new capital in May 1783.^[2] The new capital became a center of Buddhist reforms and learning. In 1800, Buddhist clergy from Sri Lanka obtained higher ordination in this city and founded the Amarapura Nikaya (Amarapura sect).^[3]

Bodawpaya's grandson, King Bagyidaw moved the Court back to Ava in November 1821.^[4] Bagyidaw's successor King Tharrawaddy again moved the royal capital back to Amarapura in February 1842.^[5] In February 1857, King Mindon began building a new capital city of Mandalay, 11 km north of Amarapura. With the royal treasury depleted by the Second Anglo-Burmese War of 1852, Mindon decided to reuse as much materials from Amarapura in construction of Mandalay. The palace buildings were dismantled and moved by elephant to the new location, and the city walls were pulled down for use as building materials for roads and railways.^[6] Part of the moat is still recognizable near the Bagaya Monastery. The city officially ceased being the capital on 23 May 1859 when Mandalay took over that role.^[7]

Sights of interest

• Pahtodawgyi – A stupa built by King Bodawpaya in 1816 outside the city walls
• Bagaya Kyaung – a wooden monastery founded by King Mindon
• U Bein Bridge – a 1.2 km wooden footbridge (longest teak bridge in the world) built by the mayor U Bein salvaging the unwanted teak columns from the old palace during the move to Mandalay
• Kyautawgyi Paya – A stupa built by King Pagan in 1847 at the farther end of U Bein's bridge
• Amarapura Palace ruins – containing tombs of King Bodawpaya and King Bagyidaw, and part of the old moat
• Maha Gandhayon Kyaung - a large modern monastery complex with hundreds of monks and novices, well known throughout the country
• Chinese Temple - built in 1838 during King Tharrawaddy's reign
• Yadanabon University - A major liberal arts university for students from Mandalay suburbs

Photos

Notes

References

• Bischoff, Roger (1995). Buddhism in Myanmar - A Short History. Kandy: Buddhist Publication Society. http://www.buddhanet.net/pdf_file/bud-myanmar.pdf. 
• Cooler, Richard M.. "The Konbaung Period - Amarapura". Northern Illinois University. http://www.seasite.niu.edu/burmese/cooler/Chapter_4/Part2/post_pagan_period__part_2.htm. Retrieved 2006-06-09. 
• Maung Maung Tin (1905) (in Burmese). Konbaung Hset Maha Yazawin. 1-3 (2004 ed.). Yangon: Department of Universities History Research, University of Yangon. 

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Amarapura

• Wanderings in Burma George W. Bird, 1897, Southeast Asia Visions

Coordinates: 21°54′N 96°03′E / 21.9°N 96.05°E / 21.9; 96.05

v t e Amarapura Township of the Mandalay Region Capital: Amarapura Amarapura Bon-o Boyaywa Chinywa Daunggyigwe Kalaywa Kantha Kawadaw Kawazu Leiksandin Letthamagu Lezu Magyigaing Maingleze Myaukkaing Myitnge Nayagan Nwanozu Nyaungbintha Nyaungwun Odeindaung Sado Sandabuli Sauktawwa Shangalegyun Shwebaukpin Tagundaing Tamokso Tatkyi Taungmingyi Taungthaman Tawdwin Thinbangon Uyingale (21°54'0"N 96°10'0"E) Uyingale (21°50'0"N 96°1'0"E) Yebok Yegyibauk Yelaung Yelungyaw

v t e Mandalay Region Capital: Mandalay Kyaukse District Kyaukse Township Myittha Township Sintgaing Township Tada-U Township Mandalay District Amarapura Township Aungmyethazan Township Chanayethazan Township Chanmyathazi Township Maha Aungmye Township Patheingyi Township Pyigyidagun Township Meiktila District Mahlaing Township Meiktila Township Thazi Township Wundwin Township Myingyan District Kyaukpadaung Township Myingyan Township Natogyi Township Ngazun Township Taungtha Township Nyaung-U District Nyaung-U Township Pyinoolwin District Madaya Township Mogok Township Pyinoolwin Township Singu Township Thabeikkyin Township Yamethin District Pyawbwe Township Yamethin Township Main cities and towns Amarapura Bagan Inwa Kyaukpadaung Kyaukse Lewe Madaya Mahlaing Mandalay Meiktila Mogok Myingyan Myitnge Myittha Natogyi Nganzun Nyaung-U Pyawbwe Pyinmana Pyinoolwin Thabeikkyin Sintgaing Tada-U Tatkon Taungtha Singu Thazi Wundwin Yamethin

v t e Administrative divisions of Burma (Myanmar) States Chin Kachin Kayah Kayin Mon Rakhine Shan Regions Ayeyarwady Bago Magway Mandalay Sagaing Tanintharyi Yangon Self-Administered Zones Danu Kokang Naga Pa Laung Pa-O Self-Administered Divisions Wa Union Territories Naypyidaw