Invitation to renovate Mandalay palace
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MANDALAY - The Culture Ministry has invited tenders for a major renovation of Mya Nan San Kyaw Palace in Mandalay.
Some work was carried out less than two years ago.
According to Nyo Myint Tun, assistant director of the Archaeological Research and National Museum Department in Mandalay which is in charge of the task, this will be a major renovation of the palace, one of major tourist attractions in the city. Mandalay, the second largest city in Myanmar, is the country’s Myanmar’s main tourist destination.
“The Ministry of Culture opened a tender for the renovation of the Mya Nan San Kyaw palace. We are going to carry out major renovation tasks on the main buildings in the palace. In the past, we carried out minor maintenance under the department’s budget,” said Nyo Myint Tun.
Mya Nan San Kyaw Palace, or the Golden Palace, was built between 1857 and 1859, and it served as the royal residence of King Mindon and King Thibaw, the last two kings of Burma. It ceased to be a royal residence and seat of government in 1885, when British forces entered the palace and captured the royal family.
It was nearly completely ruined after the bombing raids during the World War II. The palace was renovated to its original structure, with 89 main halls rebuilt. The task was completed in 1996.
In July 2013, the Culture Ministry handed over the palace to the Mandalay Regional Government Committee in Nay Pyi Taw. It was handed back to the ministry in 2014 as the committee had a limited budget for the renovation.
