Sagaing

Sagaing is a riverside town in central Myanmar, set on the west bank of the Irrawaddy River about 20 km southwest of Mandalay. It is one of the country's most important Buddhist monastic centres, with Sagaing Hill rising above the river and covered in golden stupas, monasteries and nunneries.

The town has deep links to Burmese royal and religious history and briefly served as a royal capital during the 18th century. Today it remains a place of pilgrimage, where visitors climb shaded stairways past meditation halls, white pagodas and centuries-old shrines.

Key landmarks include Soon U Ponya Shin Pagoda, known for its sweeping views over the Irrawaddy, the crescent-shaped U Min Thonze Pagoda with its long row of Buddha images, and the massive dome of Kaunghmudaw Pagoda. Across the river, Sagaing is easy to combine with Mandalay, the Mingun pagodas and the old royal capital of Inwa.

Sagaing is also known for traditional crafts such as Ywa Htaung silverware and local pottery, and its teahouses, markets and river views give it a calm, unhurried character. It forms part of the wider Mandalay area and works well as a day trip or a quieter short stay while exploring Upper Myanmar's temples and monasteries.

Leisure travellers come for Sagaing Hill, pagodas and monastic life, while business visitors to Mandalay often add a cultural stop in Sagaing between meetings or conferences.