Renovation of Mandalay Palace could begin soon, official says

Published on Friday, 25 January 2013 22:19

The Ministry of Culture will soon seek tenders from private firms to renovate Mandalay Palace and the moat around it to make them more attractive to tourists, an official with the Archaeology, National Museum and Library Department said.

“The palace and the fort moat in Mandalay is a historical place where the Myanmar kings last resided. Both local and foreign visitors want to visit historical sites like this, but they have to face some annoyances at the entrance gate,” said the official who asked not to be named.

He said a firm would be selected through tender in “the near future”.

“We will cooperate with respective ministries and departments to renovate the historical buildings without damaging their original designs,” the official said.

The Myanansankyaw Golden Palace was built in 1857 as part of King Mindon's founding of the new capital of Myanmar. It was the primary residence of King Mindon and King Thibaw before Myanmar fell under British colonial rule.

The original palace and its compound were destroyed by Allied bombing during World War II. The palace was rebuilt in 1989 and re-opened in 1996.

It is on a list of historical buildings set to be turned into historical parks. These include Shwebon Yadana Mingala Palace in Shwebo, Kanbawzathadi Palace in Bago, Hsinkyone Fort near Inwa, Thabyedan Fort near Inwa Bridge and fortresses in Sagaing. The government invited tenders from foreign firms last August to turn the buildings into historical parks.