Travel advisory: The US government advises against all travel to Myanmar, and the UK advises against all but essential travel to Mandalay and against all travel to Sagaing and the area north of the city. Fighting, drone attacks, curfews and internet shutdowns continue, and many sites were damaged in the March 2025 earthquake. Check the US State Department and UK FCDO before making any plans.

Workshops in Mandalay

Mandalay has been known as Myanmar’s craft centre, with gold leaf beating, marble and wood carving, bronze casting and marionette making concentrated in particular quarters. Whether any workshop is open to visitors is unconfirmed.

Crafts the city is known for

• Gold leaf: hammered by hand into thin sheets, historically watched in small workshops. Visitors have never taken part in applying gold leaf to the Mahamuni image, which women and girls may not approach.
• Marble and stone carving: concentrated near the Mahamuni Pagoda area, which was damaged in the March 2025 earthquake.
• Marionettes: a traditional puppet craft linked to the city’s theatre history. Operating status is unconfirmed, and a website once linked for it should not be trusted.
• Wood carving and tapestry: long-standing trades, with unconfirmed operation.

Workshops are working premises, and visitors have been expected to behave accordingly.