It isn’t the oldest bridge in the world, but U Bein Bridge is the oldest and longest teakwood bridge in the world. Crossing the naturally beautiful Taungthaman Lake from East to West. The 1.2km (0.75mi) bridge was built around 1850 and the construction began when the capital of Ava Kingdom moved to Amarapura, build by Bodawpaya’s eponymous mayour using timber from Ava.
The bridge was built in curved shape in the middle to resist the assault of wind and water. The main teak posts were hammered into the lake bed seven feet deep, supported by more than 1,000 poles.
Earning its rights as a must visit while in Mandalay. Many photographers flock here to take photographs of the bridge silhouette and the setting sun as the backdrop. It may be the most photographed spot in Myanmar.
The morning view was quiet, peaceful and also spectacular. Drove down to Amarapura early in the morning around 4:45am and managed to reach the bridge just right before the sun began to rise. The calm atmosphere in the early morning is exactly what I was looking for and you can only see monks from the near monasteries crossing the bridge. Great photography opportunities if you visit in the morning.
Lake Taungthaman was a clear light blue ad as flat as a mirror in the morning. The fishing boats were getting ready to start their day. We could see them in the morning mist in the distance. After the seconds of stillness passed, the sky was full of light and the landscape glowed. Everything came back to life. Early fishermen cast nests in the lake. Birds glided over the row rippled water. The footsteps of tourists and the people of near by who are ready for their workplaces began to clip-clop across the smooth woods. Prayers could be heard echoing across the lake. Farmers carried sacks across. More monks in large groups passed over U Bein Bridge.
Arriving back at around 6:15pm, there were quite number of locals hanging out on the bridge off-course the tourists have already positioned their camera setup, both on and off bridge. Would have been nicer if we took a boat ride to see the full length of the bridge. Due to time constraints, we just have to be contented on top of the bridge.
The reflections in the lake is stunning and the locals usually are out and about making it an enjoyable experience where you can watch them go about their everyday lives. The food shops, souvenirs shops are displaying along the road to the bridge. If you are looking tour in the lake while you can see the sun slowly drifts down towards the horizon over the bridge and the watery fields around, the residents of Amarapura use it to head home from their day’s activities. Facing the right side of the bridge, there is a small Buddhist temple by the lake which has a perfect backdrop of the colorful sky.
U Bein Bridge is definitely breathtaking and worth seeing above most other things near Mandalay that I believe the true magic lies in experiencing there in sunrise. In here, I would like to give some tips for visiting to U Bein Bridge is
-Leave your hotel by 4:00am -4:30am to get there early for sunrise. For sunset not later than 5:20pm to get reach there
-Book your taxi for go and back and set rate for the driver. Do not take a taxi off of the street, they will overcharge
_Wear sunscreen. If you stay long past sunrise it will get hot quick so do not forget to bring hats.
-Watch your steps and please do not wear high-heels.
-Do not miss out to capture the sunrise or sunset at world largest and oldest teak bridge in Mandalay!