On the road from Mandalay

U Bein Teak Bridge, Amarapura, Myanmar

One of the highlights of any visit to Mandalay is, ironically, to get out of Mandalay. In the surroundings of the ancient capital are the townships of royal yesteryear with pagodas, ruins, crafts and monasteries.

At Amarapura (itself a former capital of Burma), is my favourite of the sights – the U Bein Teak Bridge.

Most tourists come at sunset for the orange glow which gradually engulfs the bridge and silhouettes those upon it.

The ageing teak wood was once part of the Royal Palace but was turned into a bridge by the mayor, U Bein. They were columns which were no longer needed so they found a new home, helping the common people across Taungthaman Lake.

At 1.2 kilometres, this is the oldest teak bridge in the world. And it’s an impressive structure.

But while many tourists come to photograph the bridge and the sunset (it’s got to be one of the most snapped places in Myanmar!), it was the people who I found most enchanting.

Because despite its increasing status as a tourist location, the U Bein Teak Bridge is an important and practical part of the daily movements for people who live in this area. And as the sun slowly drifts towards the horizon over the watery fields around, the residents of Amarapura use it to head home from their day’s activities.

I thought I would share a small collection of the photographs I took at the bridge one afternoon as the day approached dusk.

Although there were a lot of foreigners there (Mandalay has to be one of the busiest tourism places I’ve visited in Myanmar), the locals just minded their own business and went on their way.

Oh, apart from those trying to sell you something… but what else would you expect?

If you’re interested in visiting the bridge yourself, it might be easier if you go with a tour rather than doing it independently.

Here are a few good options:

WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT MYANMAR?

See my Myanmar Travel Guide

To help you plan your trip to Myanmar:

• Five ways to experience local Myanmar
• Why the Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon is so important
• What to expect on the Circle Line in Yangon
• How to spend a day in Bagan
• Visiting Mount Popa Monastery from Bagan
• The best things to see in Bago
• The story behind the Royal Palace of Mandalay
• Don’t miss the U Bein Teak Bridge near Mandalay
• Here’s why I didn’t like visiting Inle Lake
• Hiking with locals in Shan State

Let someone else do the work for you:

You may also want to consider taking a Myanmar tour, rather than organising everything on your own. It’s also a nice way to have company if you are travelling solo.

I am a ‘Wanderer’ with G Adventures and they have great tours in Myanmar.

You could consider:

• Myanmar on a Shoestring (14 days)
• Classic Myanmar Adventure (14 days)
• The Heart of Myanmar- National Geographic (12 days)

When I travel internationally, I always get insurance. It’s not worth the risk, in case there’s a medical emergency or another serious incident. I recommend you use World Nomads for your trip.