Shwenandaw Monastery - Sole Survivor

The Golden Palace Monastery, Shwenandaw Monastery, is one of the oldest buildings in Mandalay.  It was part of the royal palace when it was at Amarapura, and followed the move of the Amarapura Palace to Mandalay. The Shwenandaw was then detached from Mandalay Palace and moved to its current site to become a monastery.  Today, the Shwenandaw Monastery building is the sole surviving wooden structure from the palaces of Mandalay and Amarapura.

This teak building preserves and shows of the traditional Myanmarese art and woodcraft.  It is a multi-tiered building with four distinct Zeitawun roof levels. The Shwenandaw has many carved panels showcasing stories from the Buddha.

This video by Wagaung shows off almost all the details of this old wooden building.  Look out for the boy monk as he deftly wraps his robe around him with Houdini like moves.