Ava
It was situated at the confluence of the Ayeyarwaddy and Myitnge rivers. It is about 21 km from Mandalay. It was an artificial island created by Myittha chaung. Myittha chaung known as a channel was cut across from the Myitnge to the Ayeyarwaddy to make Inwa into an island.
On the road to Sagaing, just before you reach the AVA bridge, there is a road branching east ward. This road leads to a ferry station where can cross the Myittha river to reach Inwa. The main lively-hood of Inwa is cultivation. There are also a few lacquer works.
Inwa means " Entrance to the lake ". The classical name of Inwa is Yadanapura. It means " The City of Gems ". It was founded by the Shan king Thadominbya in 1364. It was the capital of the Myanmar kingdow for nearly 5 centuries, until the shift was made to Amarapura in 1841. During its first 300 years, it was occupied for a time by Mons from Pegu and Myanmar from Taungngoo.
In 1763, Sinbyushin son of Alaungphaya ascended the throne and rebuilt Inwa as the capital of Myanmar. The capital did not last long, in 1782 Bodawphaya moved to the capital to Amarapura. In 1832, Bagyidaw return to Inwa. This was the last time Inwa was made a capital. The city walls are still to be seen Inwa's city wall is not square, it is shaped like a sitting lion. The Royal palace was not in the middle, it was positioned is in the north east quarter of the city. There were three periods of building at Inwa, first by king Nyaungyang in 1597, then by king Sinbyushin in 1763 and finally by king Bagyidaw in 1832. Today the area within the walls is filled with farms, villages monasteries and ruins of ancient pagodas.
The wall near the northern gate are facing the Ayeyarwaddy this was known as the " Gaung Say Dagar ". It means hair-washing gate. Since, kings had there hair ceremonially washed at this gate. During the Thingyan festival, this ritual hair-takes place as a purification rite to welcome the king of the nats. From this spot one can have an excellent view of the Inwa bridge and the river itself flowing by the pagoda-studded Sagaing Hills.
Near the north gate are the ruins of the Nanmyint watch tower. It is remain of Bagyidaw's palace. It is 27 meter high masonry watch tower. It's so called leaning tower of Inwa. Because it was shaken by the earthquake in 1838.
Not far from the Nanmyint watch tower there is a Maha Aung Mye Banzan monastery. It is the best preserved of all buildings in Inwa. The name Maha Aung Mye Bonzan means Sojurn in Great Victory Soil Abode. This beautiful stucco decorated building is also known as Oak Kyaung. It is a masonary monastery built by Menu the chief queen of Bagyidaw. It is for her royal abbot Nyaung Gan Sayadaw in 1818. Monasteries will normally built of wood. Although this monastery was built in imitation of the traditional wooden style. Its masonry construction has ensured its survival. It is a fine specimen for its class in Myanmar architecture. In the middle of the monastery is a statue of the Buddha. Outside there is an inscription, giving the name of monastery and so on, and it was carved figures of a peacock, a hare, the sun, the moon and some leogryphs. It was also damaged by the 1838 earthquake. But it was repaired by Sinbyumashin in 1873. From which, you can study a great deal of engineering techniques and Myanmar architecture.
In the vicinity of the monastery, there was the Adoniran Judson memorial. Doctor Judson was an American missionary who compiled the first Anglo-Burmese Dictionary. In the south west of the city, there is a Bagaya Kyaung monastery it is built of 267 teak posts it has ornate wood carvings. One can find a very nice specimen of Inwa period stylised lion lying under the ground of that monastery. There are many pagodas in the Inwa region. The Htilainshin pagoda built by king Kyansittha's grandson during the Pagan era. To the south side of the city stand the remain of the four story layhtatgyi pagoda. There is also the lawka Theraphu pagoda. Some 1.5 km south of the city stands Inwa fort it was built during the reign of king Mindon. And old brick cause way leads from the south city gate towards the town of Tada Oo.
Now, there are more cominent routes to AVA by crossing the new bridge to get to AVA. Moreover beyond AVA in the southern part there is a lost deserted City Pinya and beside it is the newly built Tadar Oo International Airport. So, I hope AVA would be the more attractive tourist spot in the near future.
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