As compared to the various ancient capitals around the country, Mandalay is a newer city. It was constructed on a grand scale, and the size of Mandalay Palace is a testament to this. The Shwenandaw Kyaung, previously known as the Golden Palace (gilded in the past), is an excellently preserved monastery, currently carved entirely of teak wood. The Mandalay Archaeological zone ticket, valid for 10 days, covers all the main sightseeing spots in Mandalay as well as in the towns of Sagaing, Innwa and Amarapura. One of Myanmar’s most important religious sites is the Mahamuni temple, most famous for its seated Buddha made of black quartz, stands at 3.8 metres tall. One of Mandalay’s most vibrant celebrations take place during the week-long TaungPyone Nat Festival. The Chinlone Festival takes place at the Mahamuni Temple in June or July. Sports players from all over Myanmar come to compete. With ancient temples and amazing landscapes, golden pagodas and welcoming people, Mandalay in Myanmar is slowly opening up to the modern world.