Magway Region

Magway Region is an administrative division in central Myanmar. It is the second largest of Myanmar's seven divisions. The capital and second largest city of the Magway Division is Magway.

Fort Min Hla

This place was built by two Italian military engineers for the Burmese king to keep the British at bay at the time of the 2nd Anglo Burmese war 1852-1853.

There are quite impressive fortress walls remaining here, but not much else. The history is interesting though. It was constructed in 1860 during the Anglo-Burmese Wars. There were 35 cannons installed here (they were raised and lowered as needed by elephants!) and it was the last line of defence by the Burmese when the British sailed up the Irrawaddy River in November 1885, to take the Royal Palace in Mandalay during the Third Anglo-Burmese War.

These days, the historic forts of the last Myanmar royal dynasty are under the care of the Ministry of Culture. However, most have long been abandoned to nature. A sign outside the Min Hla fort says the ministry assumed responsibility for its maintenance in 1957. Min Hla fort is a major tourist attraction for those who take a cruise along the Ayeyarwady River. However, the façade of the fort has partially collapsed into the river due to the erosion of the riverbank. Local residents in Min Hla said the government had neglected to maintain the historically significant structure.