Along with Mandalay, Inwa (or Ava as it was previously known) is perhaps Myanmar’s most famous old capital, and is situated 20 kilometres south of Mandalay. The heart of government and royal power on five separate occasions from the 14th to the 19th centuries, Inwa was finally abandoned in 1839 after a series of devastating earthquakes. Interesting places to visit by horse-cart include the atmospheric, teak-built Bagaya monastery and its surrounding stupas, the Maha Aungmye Bonzan, and the Nanmyint watch tower (which unfortunately cannot currently be climbed due to its wooden stairs being in an advanced state of disrepair).