Ava
Ava was founded by the descendant of Thihathu, one of
Shan brothers King Thadominbya in 1364. Ngayamankan also
stockade himself in that place where Ava was subsequently
built.
On the Myitnge river in Sagaing district, there was the
capital of Myanmar, called Ava where placed the kings in
direct communication along that river with the Kyaukse
granary. In 1555 Bayintnaung seized Ava. All over the world
it is known as the Golden Palace.
One of Bayintnaung’s sons, prince Nyaungyan enclosed
three acres of land with a wall just outside Ava. In 1605,
when he had died, he was buried beside his graceful
Sandamuni pagoda at Ava.
King Sinbyushin (1763 – 1776) transferred the capital
from Shwebo to Ava in April 1763. He, himself, raided
Manipur in December 1764, carrying away its people into
captivity, for he wished to increase the population of his
new capital. The gates of restored Ava were named after
conquered states, some of them being on the east side,
Changmai, Mottama, Mogaung; on the south, Kaingma,
Hanthawaddy, Myede, Mrohaung ; on the west, Gandalarit,
Sandapuri ( Vientian, Linzin ), Kengtung ; on the north,
Tanintharyi, Yodaya ( Thailand ). His palace was inner city
with its own moat, wall, and a massive teak stockade
outside. The wall, sixteen feet high by earthwork, was of
indifferent quality.
Before opening the sea route in 1498 by Vasco de Gama,
the centre of political gravity had not shifted from the
Upper Myanmar to the Delta. After the opening of the sea
route, the kings from Bayintnaung (1551 – 85) to Anoukpetlun(
1605 – 28 ) realized that, this was making Bago as their
dangerous orders.
In 1823, King Bagyidaw (1819 – 37) also moved back his
capital to Ava from Amarapura. King Mingaung built the
Mingalazedi pagoda at Tada Oo close to Ava on the model of
the Tupayon pagoda built at Sagaing by King Narapati in
1443.
It was once one of the capitals of Myanmar royal monarchs.
It is now another ancient capital and had been popularly
known as the Kingdom of Myanmar Empire. There are many
attractions include Nanmyint Tower, Maha Aungmye Bonzan
Monastery, Bagaya Monastery, Lacquer ware Industry and Ava
Bridge connecting the Ayeyarwaddy River with Mandalay.
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