THE OLDEST & LONGEST TEAKWOOD BRIDGE

A day in Mandalay to cap off my trip in Burma. 🇲🇲 📍 U-Bein Bridge is a crossing that spans the Taungthaman Lake near Amarapura in Myanmar. The 1.2-kilometre bridge was built around 1850 and is believed to be the oldest and longest teakwood bridge in the world. This spot remains one of the most beautiful sunsets I gazed on! 🌅 The Taungthaman Lake is near the ancient capital of Amarapura, and the bridge spans it. It was once the royal capital, but it has now been merged into Mandalay. The bridge was built around 1850 and is named for U Bein, the mayor who commissioned it. (U is a Burmese honorific that is essentially equivalent to Mister, except that it is earned rather than given, and it denotes someone who is esteemed in the community.) Although parts of the original pillars have been rebuilt with concrete, the structure was originally made of salvaged teak from a nearby palace. However, a surprising number of the wooden pillars survive, giving the bridge its shaky appearance. The bridge is still widely used by local pedestrians, but it is also a popular tourist attraction, particularly after sunset. Tourist-chartered small wooden boats glide under and around the bridge, lining up on the western side just as the sun sets behind the bridge's shadow. The western bank is congested with souvenir dealers, tour bus drivers killing time, and restaurants. #travelguide#historicculture#nationalpark#beautifulsunsets#bestislandtraveltowns#roadtrip#summervacation#urbanexplorer