With the largest cabin space on the Ayeyarwady, and the highest crew to passenger ratio, The Anawrahta offers the finest on-board experience in Myanmar. This impressive vessel is named after the founder of the Burmese nation, modern day Myanmar. During his reign, from 1044-1077, he introduced and spread the religion of Theravada Buddhism throughout the land.

King Anawrahta was born in 1014. His mother was Myaunk Pyinthe and his father, King Kuhshaw Kyaunghpyu was once the ruler of Pagan. His father was overthrown by his stepbrothers, Kyiso and Sokkate. Anawrahta upon coming of age and learning the betrayal of his father, challenged Sokkate to a duel and won, bringing back the crown to their family.

King Anawrahta made Pagan the capital city of Burma, modern day Myanmar, he described it as the “city of a thousand temples” because of the numerous structures, temples and pagodas built around the city.

King Anawrahta converted to Theravada Buddhism, the oldest and most traditional school of Buddhism that focuses on “the teaching of the Elders.”

Blending the purity and serenity of King Anawrahta’s Buddhist beliefs with the opulence of the British Empire, The Anawrahta is the perfect vessel on which to explore Myanmar’s mighty Ayeyarwady River. Built to resemble a British colonial paddle steamer, the elegant 65-meter/ 214 feet long Anawrahta features three spacious decks and 23 luxurious cabins. With its gleaming white rails, polished lacquer, intricately carved woodwork and shining brass, The Anawrahta takes guests back in time to an era of bygone elegance.

LIFE ON BOARD

“If you’ve ‘eard the East a-callin’, you won’t never ‘need naught-else.
No! You won’t ‘eed nothing else
But the spicy garlic smells,
An’ the sunshine an’ the palm-trees an’ the tinkly Temple-bells…”
-From “The Road to Mandalay”, Rudyard Kipling, 1890
While the Anawrahta is the perfect stage, the star of the show is the river. Rising early, you make your way to the Sundeck, just as the first rays of gold touch the surface of the Ayeyarwady. A fisherman casts his net, throwing shimmering droplets into the morning light. After enjoying this unforgettable view – and a strong coffee – you are ready to join an open air yoga or Tai Chi class.

You pass all manner of other craft, from simple fishing canoes to boats crowded with fresh produce, household goods, giggling school children.

Villagers come out to wave. Water buffaloes watch you warily. You keep a lookout for the river’s most famous residents, the Ayeyarwady dolphins.

When it’s time for lunch you join your fellow guests in the Hintha Hall dining room, where waiters – who now greet you like an old friend – serve tantalizing dishes from throughout Burma. As you learn about the complex cuisine, you understand more about this nation’s cultural diversity.

Sunset finds you and your friends in the Kipling’s Bar enjoying freshly made cocktails – and freshly inspiring views. As the river turns from blue to violet, you understand Rudyard Kipling’s long-ago nostalgia: “If you’ve ‘eard the East a-callin’, you won’t never ‘need naught-else.”