Amarapura is bounded by the Irrawaddy river in the west, Chanmyathazi Township in the north, and the ancient capital site of Ava (Inwa) in the south.

[6] Bodawpaya's grandson, King Bagyidaw moved the Court back to Ava in November 1821[7] and in 1827, the population of Amarapura was estimated at only 30,000.

[8] In February 1857, King Mindon began building Mandalay as his new capital city, 11 km north of Amarapura.

With the royal treasury depleted by the Second Anglo-Burmese War of 1852, Mindon decided to reuse as much material from Amarapura as possible in the construction of Mandalay.

The most remarkable edifice was a celebrated temple, adorned with 250 lofty pillars of gilt wood, and containing a colossal bronze statue of the Buddha.