Mandalay hill
The hill is located to the North-East of the city and rises 230 metre (or) 954 feet above the surrounding area. There are over 1700 steps to get the summit of it.
Supposing to be the world mountain (Mt. Meru) at the heart of this earth, the hill is fortified by 9 hillocks named on Golden hillock, Silver hillock, Ruby hillock, and so on. That hill is said to have mentioned Khinapura in Kakusandha Buddha era, Vatamapura in Konakonna era, Padiasapura in Kasappa era, Pappataseta in Gautama Buddha era and now known as Ogress hill, Water winding hill and Mandalay hill as well.
Our Lord Buddha Gautama is said to have resided there in His previous existences as the kings of leograph, elephant, quail, lizard and sambur that is why that hill is quite venerated for Buddhists and known for far and wide so much. More than that, on visiting of Gautama Buddha himself with his 500 arahat-disciples including his cousin, Anada, the guardian ogress of Sandarmukhi was so filled with ardent veneration to the Buddha that she had cut off her breasts in order to offer to the Buddha (that is the noblest donation to the female). On seeing that, Gautama Buddha smiled and uttered a great prohet.
"Ananda, over 2400 years later from now, a grand capital will be presented in this region and a king well-preserved in kingly precepts and moral will be the monarch for it, he will be the great supporter for the purification and propagation of Buddhism, reincarnated by the ogress due to her meritorious doing of such deeds."
King Mindon, the founder of Mandalay city and convener of 5th Buddhist Council (Synod) is to have believed of that once ogress of Sandarmukhi. On the summit of that hill, there are two stucco-figures of gigantic snakes and a pagoda called Su-Taung-Pyae pagoda (Pagoda grants to wish-fulfillment). Along the eastern covered stairway from the top to the foot, the spiritual-house of the grand-forefather is a little down to the relic chamber building at the top. There is a museum conducted by that of hermit U Khanti, backyard of that, there are, a rest house in 9 marabins or spans, a grave of cholea robusta or sal-trees, a grand, chapel for preaching hall. Among the four covered stairways in cardinal points, the western side is steepest, having a cross at the middle donated in 1226 BE (1862 A.D) by Queen. Sin-Phyu-Ma-Shin (The right owner of royal white elephant) itled in Padumayatanadevi (The princess of gem & lotus). She had also donated a shrine-hall in beautiful decorative glass-motifs and a proportionate Buddha image with its' own throne. At the end to the foot of that western covered stairway, there are leographs in turn look each which architecture style is assumed to the late Amarapura period or Yatanabon period of over 130 years ago and the eyes and nails are made of marble. On the opposite of these, there is a lake made of bricks and stones constructed in 1234 BE (1869 A. D) by Maung Ye, a salt-maker from the Hanthawaddy. It has the figures of king, fire-breathing Dragoo, Sakka (King of celetials beings) and the great demon of Dhattaratha , one of the lokapalas (World's preserver) and chieftain of the west-sphere of the world.
The pagoda platform of Su-Taung-Pyae is donated by King Mindon in 1226 B.E. The construction activities of that platform and Shrin hall in spire-roof were looked over by the governor and prince of salin-town on the king behalf.
A little far of the top, there is ogress hill where in a pagoda decorated ogre around the base, a meditation centre, Ma-Htwe-Lay pagoda, and Yatanabon Mihtila Su-Taung Pyae pagoda donated in 1205 B.E (1841 A.D) by King Shwe-Bo or Tharawaddy (1837-46 A.D) and his queen Sriyatana Sanda Mahaesi in a height of 47 cubit (70 feet) and replaced a new umbrella-section in 1239 B.E (1874 A.D) by Queen Shin-Phyu-Ma-Shin. On the 10 waxing moon of Tagu, 1245 B.E (March 1880 A.D) during the reign of king Thibaw, the last king of Konbaung dynasty and Myanmar monarches, a serious fire broke out close to the Shwe-Myin-Tin and burnt to an amount of 54 buildings out of 78 monasteries belonged to 9 monastic compounds, (1) Dhipeyin, (2) Ni-Shie, (3) Kuthodaw, (4) Lone-daw, (5) Lankarama, (6) Makutarama, (7) Sue Kha, (8) Sobhitayama, (9) Panpe, except of This-seint alone (but this also was burnt out a few years later). The rest of monasteries freed from that fire were moved to the western part of the city.
At the very beginning of colonial period, the monk, U Nandiya alone carried out the maintaining of edifices on the hill and a lady so-called Khin-lay, a royal-blood, came to there then she had got the authority to management on maintaining and construction works as she had a diplomatic tongue and a real good term with the high rank officials. The cave in which U Nandiya stay is on the western slope of the main-hill. As of having much snakes, that cave is called snake cave (Sudhasana by the monk) and in 10 feet height leading to interior 3 rooms of about 10' square. There is a reclining Buddha in the first room and sitting Buddha in the second one. The third and last one is the most spacious and has a white-washed Buddha image. Alas, there is a secret passage to the right leading to a cross perforated window on the natural stone wall which admits light and fresh-air inside the cave.
A few steps from the standing Buddha of the top, there is a cabin built of stone and brick having the single door and 4 huge iron-beams blocked thus it is rather a building to a fortress and was once lived by Khin Lay for years. This is a forgotten corner at the summit. As of being covered a conapy of leaves and virtually concealed by bushes and vines leading something strange to be out of view. That chamber is only space to one glance enough in the thick wooden-door leaves with granting security. It has kept neat and well-ventilation.
U Khan Ti was a simple hermit as selfless as a saint and with a public faith came up the hill about 1910 (A.D) who was supported by the Supremes of the British authority. He even made a formal request the British authorities to hand over the hill to him as the hill was still a cantonment area then.
The hermit U Khan Ti immediately set to work and his work gained momentum within a few years. He built covered stairway starting from northern and southern approaches to the summit. These are built of irons and zinc roof. Meanwhile Khin Lay was also managing her renovation works.
The hermit was a thorn to Khin Lay and she complained to the British authorities about the new comer but the British had already got on the best term with the hermit. Many pilgrims and dignitaries including British governors often interviewed the hermit. Sir Harcourt Butler, who paid yearly visit to Mandalay Hill to see his old friend U Khan Ti.
Moreover, U Khan Ti was given special advantage: Ayerwaddy Flotilla Company Ltd, issued a special complimentary ticket entitling U Khan Ti to a free passage in the first-class cabin and his two followers in the second class cabin on board the company's steamers for any stop-over along its' route. Jurical Department exempted the hermit from being summoned the civil court. He also did vast religious renovation and construction works all over the country, especially at remote hills and forest area in unumerable amount of costs with funds from the public donation. The more U Khan Ti get fame, the faster U Nandiya and Khin Lay down to the dust.
A new motor way is recently constructed, on the installation of escalators and tree planting are undergone in order to green the region and city.