The golden spires
Among the trees.
Mrsoethuaung — CC BY 4.0 · Christophe95 — CC BY-SA 4.0 · rheins — CC BY 3.0 · LBM1948 — CC BY-SA 4.0 · LBM1948 — CC BY-SA 4.0
Sagaing Hill is a ridge of hills on the west bank of the Irrawaddy River, opposite Mandalay, covered in white and gold pagodas and many monasteries. Sagaing was the capital of a kingdom in the 14th century and is today one of the country's most important monastic centres. The hills run along the river, with the Soon U Ponya Shin Pagoda at their centre, reached by covered stairways up a hill of about 240 metres. People usually visit on a day tour of the three former capitals, together with Amarapura and Inwa. From the top you see the wide river and its bridges, golden spires rising from the green trees of the hills, and Mandalay in the distance. The 2025 earthquake badly damaged pagodas on the hills, including the main one, and restoration has begun on several, so you may find parts closed or under repair. Central Mandalay is about 12 km away in a straight line, and U Bein Bridge about 7 km. Visitors go barefoot in the pagodas. The UK Foreign Office advises against all travel to this area, and roads and flights may be cut, so read the current advice before you plan.
Among the trees.
The Irrawaddy and its bridges.
Covered to the top.
Sagaing, on the west bank of the Irrawaddy opposite Mandalay, Myanmar
Some are under repair after the 2025 earthquake, so ask locally.
By car from Mandalay across the bridge, in about half an hour.