Shwebo

Shwebo is a city in the Sagaing Division of Myanmar, located 113 km northwest of Mandalay on the eastern bank of the Chindwin River. It is served by the Mandalay-Myitkyina railway line, but is best reached by pickup truck or bus as the roads from Mandalay and Monywa are in reasonably good shape.

History

Shwebo became the royal capital of Burma under King Alaungpaya, a Shwebo native, from 1752 till 1764. He used the city as a base from which he led a successful rebellion against the Mon overlords and conquered Ava and Lower Burma, establishing the Konbaung Dynasty and the Third Burmese Empire. Five titles had been conferred to the city namely:

• 1. Yadana-theinhka
  2. Konbaung
  3. Moksobo, its original name
  4. Yangyi-aung, and
  5. Shwebo, its modern name.

Alaungpaya's oldest son and successor, King Naungdawgyi (1760-1764), was crowned at Sagaing, and his second son, King Hsinbyushin (1764-1776), moved the capital back to Ava when he succeeded his brother. Men of Shwebo are proud of their tradition of serving the Konbaung kings, and it was to Shwebo that Mindon Min went in 1853 to raise the standard of rebellion in his successful bid to overthrow his half brother Pagan Min.

Near Shwebo lies the site of the ancient Pyu city-state of Hanlin.

Economy and tourism

As with Monywa, the city is a trade center for agricultural produce, especially beans, rice and sesame from the surrounding plains between the River Mu and the Ayeyarwady River.

The major tourist attractions in Shwebo, although few tourists make the journey and facilities are very limited, are its numerous Buddhist temples, and the ruins of Alaungpaya's palace. The city is still surrounded by its ancient moat. There are many pagodas, such as Shwe-taza paya and Myodaunk zedi.

In the very hot summer, people who live in Shwebo believe that rain comes when people bring the Shwe-taza Buddha image around the town.

The town is home to the Shwebo Degree College.