This morning, depart Mandalay for a 3-hour drive to Monywa, a typical Burmese town on the banks of the Chindwin River.

On the way, visit Thanboddhay Pagoda, a huge Buddhist temple covered with more than 500,000 Buddha images.  Also stop at Boditahtaung Pagoda which houses the largest reclining Buddha image in Myanmar, at 100m long and 27m high.

This afternoon, explore some of the outlaying sights of Monywa.  Visit the Kyaukka lacquer ware village and Shweguni Pagoda, one of the most important pilgrimage sites in Upper Myanmar.

Overnight in Monywa

After breakfast, cross the Chindwin River by ferry and proceed to Po Win Taung by local open-air jeeps. This extraordinary complex consists of 947 sandstone caves dug out of the hills and contains what is considered by archaeologists to be the richest collection of mural paintings and Buddhist statues in Southeast Asia.

After visiting Po Win Taung, continue a few hundred meters away to Shwe Ba Taung.  Spend time exploring this interesting site where monasteries and temples are carved out of rocky narrow cliffs.

Return to Mandalay this afternoon.