TravelsWithLobo's video: MANDALAY - BURMA S ROYAL DYNASTY - GOLDEN PALACE MONASTERY - ATUMASHI MONASTERY

MYANMAR - 10-DAY FIRST TIME EXPLORER - MANDALAY - DAY 6 - PART 3 - A visit to Shwenandaw Monastery and Atumashi Monastery a reminders of Burma's Royal Family and legacy that came to an abrupt end with the British Empire. Specifically it brings us in contact with the last King of Burma - Thibaw Min He was the last king of the Konbaung Dynasty of Burma (Myanmar) and also the last Burmese sovereign in the country's history. His reign ended when Burma was defeated by the forces of the British Empire in the Third Anglo-Burmese War, on 29 November 1885, prior to its official annexation on 1 January 1886. He was preceeded by his father Mindon Min. He was the penultimate king of Burma (Myanmar) from 1853 to 1878,] He was one of the most popular and revered kings of Burma. Under his half brother King Pagan, the Second Anglo-Burmese War in 1852 ended with the annexation of Lower Burma by the British Empire. Mindon and his younger brother Kanaung overthrew their half brother King Pagan. He spent most of his reign trying to defend the upper part of his country from British encroachments, and to modernize his kingdom. Shwenandaw Monastery or the "Golden Palace Monastery" is a historic Buddhist monastery located near Mandalay Hill, Mandalay Region, Myanmar (formerly Burma). Shwenandaw Monastery was built in 1878 by King Thibaw Min, who dismantled and relocated the apartment formerly occupied by his father, King Mindon Min, just before Mindon Min's death, at a cost of 120,000 rupees.[1] Thibaw removed the building in 10 October 1878, believing it to be haunted by his father's spirit.[2] The building reconstruction was finished in 31 Oct 1878, dedicated in memory of his father, on a plot adjoining Atumashi Monastery.[2]It is said that King Thibaw used it for meditation, and the meditation couch he sat on can still be seen. The building was originally part of the royal palace at Amarapura, before it was moved to Mandalay, where it formed the northern section of the Hmannan (Glass Palace) and part of the king's royal apartments.[2] The building was heavily gilt with gold and adorned with glass mosaic work.[1] The monastery is known for its teak carvings of Buddhist myths, which adorn its walls and roofs. The monastery is built in the traditional Burmese architectural style. Shwenandaw Monastery is the single remaining major original structure of the original Royal Palace today.[2] The Atumashi Monastery is a Buddhist monastery located in Mandalay, Myanmar (Burma)] It was built in 1857 by King Mindon, two years after the capital was moved to Mandalay. The monastery was built at a cost of 500,000 rupees.[2] The original monastery structure was built using teak, covered with stucco on the outside, with its peculiar feature being that it was surmounted by five graduated rectangular terraces instead of the traditional pyatthats, Burmese-style tiered and spired roofs. The structure burned down in 1890 after a fire in the city destroyed both the monastery and the 30 feet (9.1 m) tall Buddha image, as well as complete sets of the Tipitaka.[1] During the fire, a 19.2-carat (32 ratti) diamond, which adorned the Buddha image (originally given to King Bodawphaya by Maha Nawrahta, the Governor of Arakan) disappeared as well.[2] In 1996, Burma's Archaeological Department reconstructed the monastery with prison labor.