Monywa

Descriptions:

Monywa is a city in central Myanmar and situated on the eastern bank of the Chindwin Rive. Mandalay Division. It lies 136 km north-west of Mandalay along the Mandalay-Budalin branch railway line. Monywa serves as a major trade center for India and Burma through Kalay Myo road and Chindwin river.

The name Monywa comes from “Mon” meaning “cake or snack food” and “Ywa” which is the Myanmar word for village. There is a legend which says that in the old days a Myanmar king fell in love with a seller of cakes from this town and made her his queen. The original name some say. is Mon – thema- ywa or ” Village of the woman cake seller”. There has been a big village at Monywa from the Bagan Period. The classical name for Monywa is Thalawadi. The chronicles mention that Monywa was one of the places where King Alaungphayar encamped for the night on his campaign to Manipur in 1758. During the Myanmar kings’ time Monywa remained just a big village as the administrative centre for the region was at Ahlon. It was only a year after the Annexation of 1886 that Monywa became the Headquarters of the Lower Chindwin District. In the last few years with the legalizing of the border trade with India. Monywa has grown into a bustling trading.

Monywa Town

In Monywa town. there are busy markets. popular restuarants. a Degree College affiliated to Mandalay University. a Technical High School. and soon there will be an Institute of Economics. the second after the one in Yangon.

Monywa Hotel. now privatised. has comfortable four-room bungalows with attached amenities. all air-conditioned. centre. second only to Mandalay in the Upper Myanmar region.

If you are travelling to Monwya by car you should stop about 20 kilometres before you reach the town to visit this most unusual Buddhist temple complex on 37 acres of land which is part of the Mohnyin Forest Monastery retreat. The pagoda was started on 20th June 1939 and completed on 2nd March 1952.It was the brain-child of the famous Mohnyin Sayadaw whose life-like effigy can be seen nearby.

If you can go at the beginning of the Myanmar month of Tazaungmone ( usually around November). you can see the annual pagoda festival. which goes on for several days when the villagers from all around come to enjoy the music and dancing. and buy from the various stalls set up by sellers from all over the country.

If you are travelling to Monwya by car you should stop about 20 kilometres before you reach the town to visit this most unusual Buddhist temple complex on 37 acres of land which is part of the Mohnyin Forest Monastery retreat. The pagoda was started on 20th June 1939 and completed on 2nd March 1952.It was the brain-child of the famous Mohnyin Sayadaw whose life-like effigy can be seen nearby.

Some visitors say that this Pagoda reminds them of Borobodur. as it is similar in architectural design. Unlike Borobodur this is a modern place of worship. well maintained. and with interesting samples of modern Buddhist art. There are many different Buddha images. row upon row in ascending tiers in niches along the walls: the total number is 582. 257. an amazing figure! Unlike most of the pagodas in Myanmar. the entrance is not guarded by Chinthes. the mythical lions. but by statues of a pair of magnificant white elephants which are sacred and auspicious in Buddhist symbolism.

Thanboddhay is the only pagoda with this unique shape in the whole country. The square temple base (each side about 166 feet) which worshippers can enter is topped by receding terraces. with myriads of small stupas (864 in number) surrounding the central golden chedi. 132 feet in height.

Tourists can study and take photos of the twenty tagundaing. huge decorated pillars. and also big masonary fruits in the shape of bunches of bananas and coconuts. water melon. mangos. jackfruits. papaya and so on . These fruits are also objects of veneration for the local farmers.

If you can go at the beginning of the Myanmar month of Tazaungmone ( usually around November). you can see the annual pagoda festival. which goes on for several days when the villagers from all around come to enjoy the music and dancing. and buy from the various stalls set up by sellers from all over the country.