Monywa is a city in Sagaing Region, Myanmar, located 136 km north-west of Mandalay on the eastern bank of the River Chindwin. It is also considered to be a commercial center of Upper Myanmar.

A picturesque town on the Chinewin River, Monywa is also known as a typical un-spoilt Myanmar town and it is only a three hours drive from Mandalay.

Its riverfront is enjoyable to amble down; it has some lively markets; and its main street (between the clock tower and the Bogyoke Aung San statue) comes alive after dark, with a vibrant atmosphere and numerous food stalls and beer stations.  There are a few ATMs in Monywa that take foreign cards, including a KBZ bank ATM on the main street.

On the way to Monywa and before you reach the town there is unusual Buddhist temple complex on 37 acres of land called Mohnyin Thanbiddhay. Monywa also famous for Pho Win Taung (Mt. Pho Win), Mt. Shwe Ba where the entire mountain was carved into caves, niches, staircases and Buddha Images.

The major tourist attraction in Monywa is Mohnyin Thanboddhay Pagoda , a Buddhist temple with a huge stupa resembling Indonesia‘s Borobudur. It dates from 1303, although it was reconstructed in 1939. It is said to contain over 500,000 images of Buddha. Close by is the Maha Bodhi Tahtaung Laykyun Setkya Standing Buddha statue, the second-tallest statue in the world, at a total of 129 metres (including pedestal). This is the focal point of a sprawling site filled with Buddha statues, bodhi trees, and pagodas, established by the Maha Bodhi Ta Htaung Sayadaw in the 1960s. It includes also a 95-metre long reclining Buddha statue.

Another attraction is the Phowintaung cave complex across the Chindwin River, approximately 25 kilo-metres (16 mi) west of Monywa.

Nowadays, more and more tourists are visiting to Monywa because of the it’s attractions.