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Voykit pocket guide · Myanmar
Monywa
မုံရွာ
Spend one day in Monywa: see Boddhi Tataung and Thanboddhay Pagoda, then catch a bus back – about 3 h each way.
Monywa is a small city in Sagaing Division, reachable by frequent non‑air‑conditioned buses from Mandalay or Bagan (≈3 h). Its main sights are the giant Boddhi Tataung Buddha statues and the Thanboddhay Pagoda with 500,000 tiny Buddha figures. A single day covers both, plus a quick meal and a night in budget accommodation if you arrive late.
- Country
- Myanmar
- Local name
- မုံရွာ
- Best months
- Oct–Feb
- Avoid
- May–Sep (monsoon)
- Stay
- 0–1 (optional if arriving late) nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- MMK
- Money
- Payment and banking conditions are not assessed here; check with your bank and your government advice.
- Daily spend
- Budget MMK 5,000–8,000 excl. bed · Mid MMK 8,000–12,000 excl. bed (estimate; check)
- Emergency
- Police 191 · Fire/ambulance 192
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Non‑air‑cond bus Mandalay → Monywa | MMK 2,000 |
| Tuk‑tuk ride city centre | MMK 1,000 |
| Mosquito repellent (100 ml) | MMK 700 |
| Budget guesthouse double room | USD 20 |
| Mid‑range hotel double room | USD 35 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
Typical fares
- Mandalay → Monywa bus (non‑air‑cond)
- about MMK 2,000 round‑trip, ≈3 h each way (check)
- Tuk‑tuk city centre
- ≈MMK 1,000 (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Tuk‑tuks are everywhere; a ride from the bus station to the city centre costs ≤1,000 kyat (≈$0.50).
See and do
Known for
- Boddhi Tataung Buddha statues
- Thanboddhay Pagoda
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Thanboddhay Pagoda | Tuk‑tuk from Monywa centre, about 30–45 min | About 1 h |
| Boddhi Tataung | Tuk‑tuk from Thanboddhay Pagoda, about 4 km (2.5 mi)Tuk‑tuk from Thanboddhay Pagoda, about 2.5 mi (4 km) | About 15 min |
Sleep
- Golden Arrow Hotel
- Double room USD 25 (2013), clean, fast internet, air‑con not adjustable
- Monywa Hotel
- Double room USD 35 incl. breakfast (2013), newer air‑con, friendly staff
- New hotel between Clock Tower and Bogyoke Statue
- Double room USD 20 (2013), promotional rates, very friendly staff
- Shwe Taung Tarn Guesthouse
- Cheapest double room USD 20 (2013), basic, no internet
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | တောင်းပန်ပါတယ်taung pan par tal |
| Thank you | ကျေးဇူးတင်ပါတယ်kyei zu tin par tal |
| How much is it? | ဘယ်လောက်လဲ?be laut le? |
| Can I pay by card? | ကတ်ဖြင့်ပေးချင်တယ်card phyin pay chin tal |
| Where is the toilet? | အိမ်သာဘယ်မှာလဲ?ein tha be hma le? |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Scams and watch-outs
- Mosquitoes are abundant; buy repellent (≈700 kyat for 100 ml).
- Bus tickets vary; negotiate for 2,000 kyat from Mandalay or 3,000 kyat from Bagan (official price higher).
- Non‑air‑conditioned buses can be hot; bring water.
Monywa is generally safe for tourists; main risks are mosquitoes and traffic in the town centre.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Monywa yet. Suggested stay: 0–1 (optional if arriving late) nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Boddhi Tataung Buddha statues
- Thanboddhay Pagoda
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Monywa, revision 5065668 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5065668
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/monywa). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.