The Hlutdaw has crumbled away. But most of the buildings on the platform still stand as in the time of the Burmese monarchy.
To the north is Mandalay Hill, 950 feet high, whereon stood an upright image of the Buddha, with arm outstretched, the Palladium of the city. The image, destroyed by fire some years ago, has been replaced. On a spur of the hill has been built a temple to receive relics of Gaudama recovered from a pagoda near Peshawar erected by the Emperor Kanishka. East are the Shan Hills and in the middle distance the isolated little hill of Yankintaung, the hill of peace.
Mandalay is studded with pagodas and monasteries, for the most part modern. South of the town is the Arakan Pagoda or rather Temple (Yakaing Paya), enshrining the great Mahamuni image, cast in the second century of our era, and brought from Arakan in 1784. Here also are six antique and much dilapidated bronze images, two men, three lions, and a three-headed elephant. The corridors leading to the shrine are adorned with frescoes. In a small lake or pond are tame tortoises fed by the pious. Here, for the present, are kept the relics from Peshawar.
Some other pagodas may be mentioned. Kyauktawgyi covers an image of the Buddha made in marble under the orders of Mindôn Min. At Sandemani are the graves of the Einshemin (heir apparent), and the Sagu and Malun princes, killed in the abortive rising of the Myingun prince in 1866. Kuthodaw, not far from the foot of Mandalay Hill, is one of the most remarkable. In the midst is a graceful pagoda; around it are 729 stone slabs on which are inscribed the whole of the Tripataka or Buddhist scriptures. Setkyathila covers a bronze image of the Buddha cast under the orders of King Bagyidaw. One of the finest specimens of Burmese art, the image is somewhat fancifully regarded as of sinister omen. Its casting at Ava in 1823 was followed by the First War in 1824; its removal to Amarapura in 1849 by the
