Pinya Stupa Ruins

Myanmar (Burma)

LoginSave

Possibly Myanmar's most forgotten ancient capital, Pinya rose to prominence in 1303 in the aftermath of the last wave of Mongol attacks. Its founder was upstart governor-king Thihathu, whose son, Athingaraza Sawyun, set up a rival kingdom across the river in Sagaing. The two coexisted for half a century, creating Bagan-style buildings, but today all that remains of old Pinya is a grouping of large brick stupa ruins.

Work has been done to improve their structural integrity and it's possible to enter the ruins, each of which still has buddha images visible within.

Pinya is an easy 10-minute detour en route to/from Mandalay Airport.

Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

  • View over the moat of Mandalay Palace to Mandalay Hill with its many temples; Shutterstock ID 241383850; your: Sloane Tucker; gl: 65050; netsuite: Online Editorial; full: POI 241383850

    Mandalay Hill

    17.6 MILES

    To get a sense of Mandalay’s pancake-flat sprawl, climb the 760ft hill that breaks it. The walk up covered stairways on the hill's southern slope is a…

  • the Bagaya Kyaung monastery, entirely built in teak, characterized by wooden beams and panels inlaid and decorated with figures of gods and myths, Bagan, Myanmar; Shutterstock ID 1119025109; your: Sloane Tucker; gl: 65050; netsuite: Online Editorial; full: POI 1119025109

    Bagaya Kyaung

    3.94 MILES

    This lovely 1834 teak monastery is Inwa’s most memorable individual attraction. It's supported on 267 teak posts, the largest 60ft high and 9ft in…

  • The golden buddha of Mahamuni Paya.

    Mahamuni Paya

    12.85 MILES

    Every day, thousands of colourfully dressed faithful venerate Mahamuni's 13ft-tall seated buddha, a nationally celebrated image that’s popularly believed…

  • Mya Kyauk Kyaung at Yankin Hill, Mandalay.

    Yankin Hill

    18.49 MILES

    Staring distantly towards Mandalay Palace, temple-topped Yankin Hill is worth climbing for views of greater Mandalay's rice-field setting and of the Shan…

  • Footbridge Ubein Teakwood. Connects Amarapura To A Pagoda On The Other Side Of The Lake. Myanmar. (Photo by: EyeOn/UIG via Getty Images)

    U-Bein Bridge

    8.58 MILES

    The world’s longest teak footbridge gently curves 1300yd across shallow Taungthaman Lake, creating one of Myanmar’s most photographed sites. In dry season…

  • The Shwe In Bin Monastery, the old teakwood sculpture temple in Mandalay, Myanmar.

    Shwe In Bin Kyaung

    13.33 MILES

    A meditative departure from the usual Burmese 'douse-it-all-in-gold-and-pastels' aesthetic, this gorgeously carved teak monastery is beloved by tourists…

  • Soon U Pon Nya Shin Paya

    Soon U Pon Nya Shin Paya

    7.67 MILES

    This ‘early offering shrine’ is the most important of the temples on Sagaing Hill’s southern crown and the first you’ll come to on climbing the One Lion…

  • Tilawkaguru

    Tilawkaguru

    7.55 MILES

    At the foot of the great temple-studded hills of Sagaing, you’ll find this little-visited cave monastery. Supposedly built around the 1670s, Tilawkaguru…

View more attractions

Nearby Myanmar (Burma) attractions

1. Le-htat-gyi Paya

3.34 MILES

The once-huge Le-htat-gyi Paya resembles a smaller version of Mingun Paya. It has been dangerously fissured by earthquakes, but retains a fair amount of…

2. Sandamuni Paya

3.35 MILES

This large, gilded stupa is in Hantharwady village, opposite the crumbling remains of Le-htat-gyi Paya.

3. Row of Stupa Ruins

3.9 MILES

These crumbling ruins are ill-tended (though they're popular as a play spot for local kids). The brickwork suggests Bagan-period origins, but we were…

4. Bagaya Kyaung

3.94 MILES

This lovely 1834 teak monastery is Inwa’s most memorable individual attraction. It's supported on 267 teak posts, the largest 60ft high and 9ft in…

5. Inwa Archaeological Museum

4.05 MILES

This airy two-hall museum is mostly full of 19th-century marble buddha statues with their gold leaf rubbed off. More interesting is the giant 18th-century…

6. Daw Gyan

4.06 MILES

Within the green patchwork of paddies that forms a quilt over Inwa, a small temple perches on a tiny artificial island. This is Daw Gyan, a collection of…

7. Shwezigon Paya

4.18 MILES

This golden stupa rises photogenically above the overgrown southwestern corner of Inwa's city walls. The best view is from across the moat, especially in…

8. Shwe Myauk Taung

4.22 MILES

A trio of whitewashed stupas perched on the southern city wall mark this eight-monk mini-monastery. It has its own little shortcut path-causeway across…