This city, located 140km northwest of Mandalay, is one of the most typical cities of Burma

This city, located 140km northwest of Mandalay, is one of the most typical cities of Burma. This is the starting point for visiting the carved sandstone caves in the mountain and sheltering Buddhas and rock paintings of the 17^th century. The city is served by the railway line Mandalay-Budalin, but is easily accessible by bus from Mandalay; the road is in good condition.

Monywa is a major trading center for agricultural products in the Chindwin Valley, particularly beans, oranges, lentils and jaggery blocks (Jaggery). Local industry also produces cotton, flour, noodles and edible oils. It also produces traditional items from bamboo, reed, as well as ox carts and agricultural tools. The Kyaukka village is famous for its conventional lacquer objects.

The main attraction is the Mohnyin Thambuddhei Paya, a Buddhist temple with a very large stupa resembling that of Borobudur (Indonesia). It dates back to 1303, but was rebuilt in 1939. It contains more than 500,000 Buddha images. A 90m Buddha lying on a nearly hill, while the construction of a standing 167m Buddha was completed in 2008.

The oldest, Buddha caves at Hpo Win Daung, is also worth a visit. There are over 900,000 caves carved into the sandstone, dating back to the 14^th to 18^th centuries. These caves contain the richest collection of mural paintings and Buddha statues in Southeast Asia that would shelter 2,600 statues.