The city was built on a grid system which runs north to south from 9th-45th street , then east to west from 50th – 90th street. The city is easy to discover on foot, by bicycle or taxi. The Ayerawaddy River is to the West,and the airport is approximately 1 hour south of the city centre. Unlike Yangon, Mandalay has very few defined neighbourhoods so it is the individual streets that bring character to the city. Here are some of the best streets which the locals tend to head for.
73rd Street
This street starts from the south gate of Mandalay Palace, crosses over its Mingala Bridge, and runs straight to the south gate of Mandalay University, the second oldest university in the country and the largest university in Upper Myanmar. The street is full of grocery, computer and fashion shops, including the famous Sun stationery store, Kyounehaw store and the very popular Ocean Supercentre. It is also runs past GEC hospital and the University of Medicine, which was founded in 1954 and moved to its present site in 1955.
78th Street
This is the main street in Mandalay, running from the southern edge of Mandalay Palace to the Yangon Mandalay Express Way. The street links to the main transport hubs of the city – the Mandalay Railway station, which is the terminus for the main line from Yangon, and the starting point of branch lines to Upper Myanmar, and Chan Mya Shwe Pyi Bus Terminal in Pyi Gyee Tagon Township. It is also the main shopping street, full of the latest fashion, mobile and computer shops, and home to Diamond Plaza and Yadanarbon Market, which has over 1,500 shops inside plus the Skywalk Shopping Mall that has over 1,000 stores. The famous Myint Myint Khin Htoe Montshop is also here selling their delicious htoe mont and biscuits. Also worth a visit is the Yadana Pura Museum.
80th Street
80th street runs along the western side of the Mandalay Palace moat and ends at 44th street. At the start of 80th street is the Mandalay Beer Factory, which, in 1859, was a cannon factory established by the last Crown Prince Ka Naung before the British changed it to a beer factory in 1886. As the road passes the moat, there are some great restaurants situated along it including Golden Duck, Shwe Be and Ko’s Kitchen Restaurant. Also along the road is the Father Laphon School which was set up by one the first Catholic missionaries in Mandalay, and the Yunnanese Buddhist Temple and Association on the corner of 28th street. The Eyes, Ear, Nose & Throat Hospital can be found on this street between 24th & 25th street. For shopping, there are many fruit stalls between 29th & 33rd street, grocery shops and winter clothes shops around 35th street, and Fuji Shopping Centre on 30th street.
84th Street
This street starts at 22nd street, where Mandalay’s famous Lashio Lay Shan restaurant is, and ends near the west gate of the Mahamuni Temple that has a Budhha image which is, according to legend, the exact likeness of the Mahamuni. 84th street runs through the heart of the city’s commercial area; running past Zegyo Market, the oldest and largest market, and the night market which suddenly appears between 27th and 29th street every evening. The road also flows past the famous clock tower which was built in 1903 to commemorate the diamond jubilee of Queen Victoria.
62nd Street
Running north to south along the eastern side of Mandalay Palace, the street starts at the Kuthodaw Pagoda and runs through 5 townships of Mandalay, until it finally ends at 78th street. Many factories and mills line parts of the road, especially when it nears the Industrial Zone at Thin Pun Kone Junction in Pyi Gyee Ta Kon township. Many educational and religious establishments are on this street including the Sagaing Education College, Study of Pitakas University, North Salin Monestry, Lae Kaing Monastery, South Salin Monastery, the University of Education, and the Nursing University. For fun, 62nd street also has the San Pya Cinema, Manaw Yamann Garden and many restaurants and BBQ places.
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