After the fall of Bagan, right up to when the third and last Anglo-Burmese War reached its final conclusion in 1885, the capital of one of Myanmar's kingdom stood in or close to Mandalay. Perhaps it's part of the Buddhist belief in the temporary nature of life, but many kings developed an overpowering urge to start their reign with a new capital and a new palace. Thus the capital seemed to play musical chairs around the countryside. In the chaos after the fall of Bagan it was Sagaing that first rose to power in the early 14th century, but in 1364 it was succeeded by Ava, and later by Amarapura.   Mingun, on the western bank of the Ayeyarwady river north of Mandalay, was never a capital but is still worth a visit for the impressive Mingun Paya