Restoration work begins on Mandalay Palace moat, to finish by mid-2026
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Htet Nadi/Saw (NP News) – Nov 14
Dr. Than Htike, director of the Department of Archaeology and National Museum, Ministry of Religious Affairs and Culture, told The Statesman that renovation work is underway on the Mandalay Palace moat in Mandalay Region and will be completed by the middle of next year.
It is reported that the Department of Archaeology and National Museum held discussions with experts from the National Cultural Heritage Administration of China, including the Shaanxi Provincial Cultural Heritage Administration, on June 16 regarding the ancient structures in Mandalay and Sagaing Regions that were damaged by the earthquake.
The powerful Mandalay earthquake damaged 4,839 feet of Mandalay Palace moat, 1,255 merlons, nine entrance towers and steeples, and 12 fire barriers.
The above-mentioned source said, “Maintenance work has now begun on the eastern, western, southern, and northern sides of the palace moat, as well as on the steeples and the fire barriers on the eastern side.”
The maintenance work has been underway since last October and is now 10 percent complete.
“The preparations are expected to be completed by the middle of coming year. It is related to the Mandalay Palace moat. There will be a total of 25 projects in the Mandalay Palace moat from the east, west, south, and north. We are preparing for that by dividing the project costs,” he continued.
The powerful earthquake damaged 1,559 ancient buildings in Mandalay Region, and while the original donors are still repairing ancient buildings and pagodas, the majority of those in the Innwa region remain to be restored.
“We have divided the pagodas, schools, monasteries, shrines, and palace moats into first, second, and third priority categories. Of these, the third priority is a small section that some people with original donations are completely restoring. The department is supervising, but the first priority is those with severe levels of damage which will take time. There are still some large pagodas that need to be repaired by the department’s engineers,” he continued.