Special Interest Tour
Gems & Jade

=> Gems and Myanmar   |  => Gems of Myanmar   |    => Ruby Land

The nature land of ruby, one of the best place in the world is "Mogok"
            Mogok Then and now, is a city of gems, the heart of the gem-zone and the center of the gem trade, situated 115 km northeast of Mandalay. Lies in a beautiful mountain valley. There is the Great Lake of Mogok in the center of the town, lying like a pool in the garden. The residents are mostly Lisus and Shans who make their living by mining and cutting, polishing and marketing gemstones. Myanmar rubies, sapphires and emeralds and other precious stones are mined in Mogok area. Only packaged tours are allowed to visit Mogok with special permission. Mogok also produces numerous gems of lesser quality such as - alexandrite, amethyst, apatite, aquamarine, black tourmaline, black John, danburite, fluorite, garnet, green tourmaline, lapis lazuli, moonstone, peridot, quartz, rose quartz, spinel, topaz, white sapphire, zircon.

Rubies of Mogok
                    When we say about ruby "Nga Maunk" ruby must be remembered as a King's royal ruby, it is used as royal ornament of Myanmar's Kings. Today Myanmar gems enterprise working in a joint venture private on plot No. 14 of King Ywa in Mogok city. The gem-heart land recently discivered the world largest ruby, 21045 carets. The average size is length 7 inches, width 4 ½ anches and high 4 inches. It's colour is deep rich red. Also the large ruby of 750.05 caret found in 1987 at " Ohn Pin Ye Thwet" village in Mogok. The finest rubies in the worlds are said to come from Mogok, where the most prized of all are the so call "Pigeon's blood" rubies.

Why so special?
                      The town is built around the bank of Myole- in, a large midtown lake in a magnificent valley formed by pagodas-studded mountains, about 2,640 feet above sea level.
                    Specticular sights included Chanthagyi pagoda and Kaung Hmudaw pagoda, which is the same in shape but much smaller Then the pagoda of that name in Sagaing.
                     Another pagoda standing on the top of the hill is Kyaukphathat pagoda. Yet anohter important pagoda to pay homage to if you are buddhist, or just to see and study if you are not. Another sight worth visiting is Pingutaung or Spider mountain with it's legendry giant spider keeping watch over the biggest ruby in the world.

How to get there?
1,353 km from Yang on- take flight from Yang on to Mandalay after your Mandalay sightseeing you have to take car about 7 hrs drive from Mandalay.