Ava Bridge


Linking Sagaing and Amarapura are two parallel bridges, each with multiple metal-framed spans. The 16-span 1934 Ava Bridge was partly demolished in 1942 to deny passage to advancing Japanese troops. It wasn’t repaired until 1954. The larger modern Sagaing Bridge, completed in 2005, is a bit of a surprise, considering the relatively rural surroundings of the roadways that access it.


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1. Thabyedan Fort

0.5 MILES

Directly south of, and almost abutting, the Ava Bridge (on the Mandalay side), this old British fort in a state of picturesque ruin is a good place for an…

2. Htuparyon Paya

0.52 MILES

This gigantic stupa, originally built in 1444, is unusual for having three circular storeys each incorporating arched niches. Across the street, a garden…

3. Werawsana Jade Pagoda

0.86 MILES

Werawsana is reputedly the world’s first pagoda built entirely out of jade. It's a sight to behold in the evening, when it radiates a soft green glow that…

4. Shwe-kyet-kya

0.92 MILES

One of the best places from which to appreciate Sagaing is from across the river at this little bluff with a cascade of small stupas. It’s part of a pair,…

6. Maha Aungmye Bonzan

1.05 MILES

Built, unusually, of stucco-covered brick, this 1822 royal monastery temple is a rare survivor from the Ava era. The faded, sturdy structure looks very…

7. Htilaingshin Paya

1.06 MILES

This whitewashed pagoda complex, topped with the occasional gold-leafed stupa, dates back to the Bagan period.

8. Thacheiselik

1.24 MILES

Located north of the market area, this golden-domed stupa is a helpful landmark.