Inwa (also called Ava) is a ghost capital swallowed by jungle, where crumbling watchtowers lean over rice paddies and horse carts outnumber tourists. Few cruise passengers know what to expect here — and that’s exactly what makes it unmissable.
Arriving by Ship
River cruise ships on the Ayeyarwady (Irrawaddy) typically dock or anchor near Inwa by tender, with the journey forming part of the experience itself. You’ll cross a short stretch of river before stepping onto a muddy bank that immediately signals you’ve arrived somewhere genuinely off the beaten track.
The “town” of Inwa sits on an island formed by the Myitnge and Ayeyarwady rivers, so reaching the main sights requires a short ferry crossing followed by a horse cart ride — your only real transport option once ashore, and one of the highlights in itself.
Things to Do
Inwa rewards slow exploration. The ruins here are spread across several kilometres of dirt track, and the horse cart journey between them is as memorable as the monuments themselves.
History & Ruins
- Bagaya Monastery — a magnificent teak structure built in 1834 with 267 teak pillars; it’s still active, so dress respectfully and remove shoes before entering.
- Nanmyin Watchtower — nicknamed “the leaning tower of Inwa,” this 27-metre brick tower tilts dramatically after centuries of earthquakes; climb the base for views over the plains.
- Maha Aungmye Bonzan Monastery — a rare surviving example of brick-and-stucco Mon architecture from 1818, glowing amber in the afternoon light.
- Inwa Fort Ruins — fragmentary but evocative, the crumbled walls of the royal palace compound hint at the city’s former grandeur as a capital for over 400 years.
- Horse cart tour of the island — the standard way to see the sights; negotiate directly at the ferry landing for around 5,000–8,000 MMK per cart for a 2–3 hour circuit.
- Combined day tour including Amarapura and Sagaing — pairing Inwa with nearby ancient capitals makes for an exceptional full day; a private guided option covers all three sites efficiently. 🎟 Book: Private Day Trip of Amarapura, Sagaing Hill, and Inwa from Mandalay
Families & Photographers
- The morning light on paddy fields — arriving early means golden-hour shots of monks walking between monasteries with no other visitors in frame.
- Feeding monks at Bagaya — if your timing aligns with the morning alms round, watching novice monks receive offerings is a quietly profound experience.
What to Eat
Options directly on Inwa island are extremely limited — think simple teashops near the ferry landing rather than restaurants. Plan to eat a proper meal in Mandalay or aboard your ship, but grab these locally if you can.
- Mohinga — Myanmar’s national noodle soup with fish broth and chickpea fritters; available at teashops near the Inwa ferry for around 500–1,000 MMK.
- Laphet thoke (tea leaf salad) — a sharp, fermented tea leaf salad mixed with fried garlic, sesame and dried shrimp; sold from small stalls and utterly addictive at around 1,000 MMK.
- Samosa thoke — crispy samosa pieces tossed with noodles and tamarind dressing; a popular street snack widely available near ferry crossings.
- Fresh sugarcane juice — vendors near the landing press it to order; typically 300–500 MMK a glass and a genuine lifesaver in the heat.
- Steamed glutinous rice snacks — wrapped in banana leaf and sold from baskets, these sweet or savoury parcels cost around 200 MMK each and make perfect ferry-crossing fuel.
Shopping
Inwa itself has almost no formal shopping — and that’s part of its charm. A handful of vendors near Bagaya Monastery sell small lacquerware pieces, handwoven textiles and carved wood trinkets directly from mats on the ground, with prices genuinely negotiable.
If crafts and souvenirs matter to you, save your spending for Mandalay’s Zegyo Market or the jade and gem sellers along 83rd Street — a combined Mandalay heritage tour makes it easy to weave shopping into your day ashore. 🎟 Book: Private Full-Day Mandalay Heritage Charter Car Tour Avoid buying antiques or Buddha images, as both are illegal to export from Myanmar.
Practical Tips
- Currency — carry Myanmar Kyat in small denominations; USD is occasionally accepted but always at a worse rate, and card machines don’t exist here.
- Horse cart prices — agree on the price and duration before you set off; 5,000–8,000 MMK for a full island circuit is fair.
- Dress code — shoulders and knees must be covered at all monasteries; a lightweight longyi or sarong purchased in Mandalay solves this easily.
- Timing — go ashore early (before 9am if possible) to beat heat and the small trickle of day-trippers from Mandalay.
- How long you need — two to three hours covers the main sights comfortably; four hours lets you linger without rushing.
- Footwear — wear slip-on shoes or sandals since you’ll remove them frequently at religious sites.
- Guided tours — a private tour combining Inwa, Sagaing and Amarapura maximises a single day ashore extraordinarily well. 🎟 Book: Private Tour for Amarapura, Mingun, Sagaing and Inwa (AVA)
- Photography — always ask before photographing monks or local people; a smile and a gesture goes a long way.
Inwa won’t dazzle you with polish — it’ll do something rarer and more lasting, quietly convincing you that the best places on any river are the ones that still feel forgotten.
🎟️ Things to Book in Advance
These highly-rated experiences fill up fast — book before you arrive to avoid missing out.
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📍 Getting to Inwa, Myanmar
Use the interactive map below to explore the port area and plan your route from the terminal.
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