Inwa Travel Guide

Inwa occupies a small island ringed by low embankments and paddy; the main cluster of ruins and monasteries sits within a short walk of the ferry/boat landing. Horse-cart tracks and small paths link the sights; visitors usually base themselves in Mandalay or nearby Amarapura and arrive by boat to the village jetty, where tea stalls and cart drivers wait.

Costs: $25-50 per day - Most visitors make a day trip from Mandalay, paying small local fares for the boat and horse-cart or bicycle hire in kyat.

Safety: Generally safe - Low petty crime; watch your belongings at busy jetties and be cautious crossing uneven paths and river landings.

Best Time: November - February - Cool, dry months are the most pleasant for exploring the exposed ruins and cycling between sites.

Inwa (also spelled Innwa and historically Ava) was an intermittent royal capital of Upper Burma from the 14th to the 19th centuries, founded in 1365 on an artificial island at the confluence of the Irrawaddy and Myitnge rivers.

The city was rebuilt several times by successive dynasties, but major earthquakes in March 1839 destroyed much of the palace and urban fabric and the capital was abandoned, leaving brick foundations, watchtowers and monasteries.

Today the compact archaeological site is a popular day trip from nearby Mandalay and Amarapura, where visitors come to see distinctive buildings such as the Nanmyin (leaning) watchtower and historic teak monasteries set among low embankments and paddy fields.

The island still feels rural and relaxed: transport is low-key (ferry, boat, horse cart), locals tend small tea shops at the jetty, and the site is best explored slowly on foot, by bicycle or in a traditional cart.

Visit Inwa to step into the ruins of a capital that shaped Upper Burmese history and see a cluster of well-preserved monasteries and unusual masonry remains within a compact area. The island setting and slow local transport give it a peaceful, out-of-time atmosphere. Photographers and history lovers appreciate the leaning watchtower, wooden monasteries and the chance to combine a trip here with nearby Amarapura or Mandalay.

Inwa is best visited in the cool, dry season when walking and cycling are comfortable. The wet season brings heavy afternoon rains that can make dirt tracks muddy and boat landings slippery.

Inwa has no airport; most visitors arrive from Mandalay or Amarapura by short boat or road transfer. Transfers are straightforward and commonly arranged from Mandalay hotels or from the Amarapura area.

• By Air: Mandalay International Airport (MDL): Fly into Mandalay (MDL) then take a taxi or hotel transfer to Mandalay centre (30-45 minutes) and onward boat or taxi to the Inwa landing; expect airport taxi fares in the region of several thousand kyat to central Mandalay, then local fares to the jetty.
• By boat/ferry from Mandalay: Regular long-tail or passenger boats run from Mandalay river jetties to the Inwa/ Ava landing; the crossing is short (about 20-40 minutes depending on route) and local fares are modest (typically a few hundred to a couple of thousand kyat).
• By road from Mandalay or Amarapura: Taxis, private cars or motorbike taxis from central Mandalay or Amarapura take 20-45 minutes depending on traffic and route; many drivers will drop you at the ferry landing or a nearby jetty.
• By bus/minivan: Shared minivans and local buses run between Mandalay and Amarapura; from Amarapura you can arrange a short onward taxi or boat to Inwa, though timetables are irregular.

The site is compact and easy to explore on foot, but traditional local transport is part of the Inwa experience. Expect short boat trips, horse-cart rides and bicycle hire rather than taxis.

• Walking: Most ruins and monasteries are within easy walking distance of the landing; wear comfortable shoes for uneven brickwork and embankments.
• Horse cart: Horse-drawn carts are the classic way to see Inwa and can be hired at the jetty for short loops around the main sites; agree the price in kyat before setting off.
• Bicycle hire: Bicycles are available to rent near the landing and are ideal for the flat island roads, though surfaces can be rough after rain.
• Boat: Short river or canal boat rides are used to reach some landing points and offer pleasant views of the waterways; fares are charged in kyat.

Dining options on Inwa itself are limited to a handful of tea shops and street stalls near the landing serving simple Burmese snacks and tea. For a wider range of restaurants, head back to Mandalay or Amarapura where you will find regional specialties and more formal dining choices.

Inwa has virtually no nightlife beyond early evening at jetty cafés and local gatherings; nightlife and bars are found in Mandalay, where evenings are livelier. Inwa is best visited as a daytime destination.

Small stalls at the landing sell basic souvenirs, postcards and local handicrafts; for serious shopping - textiles, lacquerware and larger markets - travel to Mandalay. Bargaining is common in local markets.