MRAUK_U

Mrauk U

This 15th century ancient city of Rakhine Kingdom is known for its old temples with wall paintings of Indian cultural influence. A regular passenger boat takes hours from Sittwe (Akyab) to Mrauk U. Special speed boat with 20 seats takes only 2½ hours. It is also accessible by road from Sittwe via Ponnakyun and Kyauktaw. The Mahamuni Shrine, one of the famous Pagodas in Myanmar, is situated 30 km from Mrauk U. Regular flights from Yangon to Sittwe takes about one hour and 30 minutes. Shitthaung Pagoda, Dukkanthein Pagoda, Andawthein Shrine are some of the sites to see in Mrauk U.

Rakhine Maha Muni

The Maha Muni Image has been revered by generations of Rakhine Monarch and is thus a historic edifice. The Image is situated to the north of ancient Danyawaddy City's Sasanika land known as Sireingutta Hill. Lord Buddha ordered the King of Celestial Beings and Celestial Being Withukyon to arrange to cast an image in His Likeness utilizing the treasures King Sanda Thuriya and lay disciples donated. When the image was completed, the head had gap unfilled, so he used his power and stroked the head sever times thus completing it on a Thursday morning, the day after the Full-moon Day of Kason, in Sakarit 123.

Shitthoung Pagoda

It stands on a promontory half way up to the west side of a hillock named Phokhaung Taung. The donor of the Shitthaung was Minbargyi, the most powerful king of the Mrauk U Dynasty. The King built this remarkable Pagoda in 1535 A.D after the successful defence against t he Portuguese attack on the City of Mrauk U. The skill and art displayed in its construction and ornamentation are remarkable. Besides, we may observe here about the maze-like layout of this pagoda. In the accounts of this curious plan, some foreigners remarked that the Shitthaung Pagoda was built alike a fortress. The real purpose of the pagoda was for prayer, some rituals of initiation, and some of the King’s ceremonies, which were usually held secretly. It was constructed six feet thick of solid sandstone and like "rock cave tunnel". No mortar was used in the construction and stones were connected with stone brackets.

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Dukkhanthein Pagoda

About 350 feet to the west of Ratanabon Pagoda, 300 feet to the northwest of the entrance to the Shitthaung Pagoda is the Dukkanthein Pagoda. The pagoda was build by King Minphalaung in 1571 A.D. Like the Shitthaung and the Andaw shrines, Dukkhanthein was built of hewn sandstone and layers of bricks over the roof. It measures 190 feet north to south and 200 feet from east to west. The pagoda is well-known for the stone sculptures in the vaulted passages, especially the figures of seated ladies, with different styles of coiffure, in the manner of offering lotus buds to the Buddha.

Zina Manaung Zedidaw

Zina Manaung Zedidaw was built on Pantain Mountain about half a mile from the ancient palace mound of Mraui-U Rakhine State. Originally it was a small pagoda built by King Sanda Thudhamma Yaza in Sakarit 1014 upon ascension of Mrauk-U Dynasty but the King was admonished by the nats and so in 1020 (AD 1658) a much larger rock pagoda was built close to the smaller one, upon successful building of the pagoda.

Koethaung Phaya Pahtodawgyi

It lies near the dirt road to Ywahaung about a mile and a half east of Mrauk-U Palace. It was consecrated in Sakarit 915 (AD 1553) by Min Diga and Queen Saw Thanda Dewi. Min Dign was son of King Min Ba, donor of the Shitthaung Pagoda. So the Rakhine people say Father 80000 and Son 90000. The pagoda Koetthaung has a cave containing 90000 pagodas consecrated inside, with a big pagoda built atop. Around it were built 108 pagodas according to Buddhology.

Lawka Manaung Pagoda

Lawka Manaung Pagoda is situated about a mile west of Nandawkone. It was built in Sakarit 1020 (AD 1658) by King Sanda Thudammaraza and Queen Ratana Piya Dewi. In memory of Buddha's attainment of Enlightment, it has been named Lawka Manaung Pagoda. The base is square. It has four terraces.

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Four-entrance Pagoda

It was one of the five pagodas built with the city of Mrauk-U in Sakarit 792 (AD 1430) by King Minhla Raza Saw Mun, in the northwest of the city. The entire system was built with a central pagoda and four satellite pagodas. It was covered with a wall on four sides (now damaged). In the pagoda was a round of cave. In the centre with faces to the eight directions were images of a single brown rock. Between one entrance and another were five images in caves making it altogether 28.

Andawthein Pagoda

This shrine was originally built by Min Hla Raza in 1521 A.D. The central tower of the shrine contains the tooth-relic of Buddha obtained from Sri Lanka by King Minbin. The shrine is an octagonal structure of pure sandstone, with two internal octangular concentric passages. Fifteen small circular pagodas, built of bricks stand on the platforms of south, north and west of the shrine. On the east, th ere is a prayer hall, which has an entrance each on the east, north, and south sides; a stonewall divides it from the outer court, which is also circumpassed by a wall.

Sittwe

Sittwe (formerly called Akyab) is situated in the Rakhine State, a long narrow coastal region to the west of Myanmar, separated from the mainland by the Rakhine Yoma (mountain range). This long and narrow state with many islands and unspoiled beaches faces the Bay of Bengal. Sittway is the capital of the state and a seaport. Though Sittwe itself has few places of interest, a popular tourist destination in the Rakhine State, Mrauk Oo, can be reached only via Sittwe. Mrauk Oo, an ancient royal capital known for its old temples with wall paintings of Indian cultural influence, teems with interesting historical sites, cultural edifices, antiques and articles of archaeological value. Moreover, the ancient capitals of Rakhine Kindoms like Vassali and Danyawady are located in the State, with many pagodas of that period still in existence. Except Sunday (the other days) flights between Yangon and Sittway taking one hour and twenty minutes.

Thandwe

Than Dwe, a transport hub of the region, is located 9.5 km north-east of Ngapali Beach. It has been one of Rakhine centers for many centuries and when the British stationed a garrison here at the turn of the century, they twisted the name into Sandoway. The town has a network of sealed and unsealed streets lined with two storey buildings about 100 years old. Along the road between Than Dwe and Ngapali, you see a number of rubber plantations, including terraced ones. Rice and coconuts are also heavily farmed in this area. You can visit some famous pagodas: Sandaw pagoda, Nandaw pagoda and Andaw pagoda. The town’s market is also a place of interest Hotels, guest houses and restaurants are mostly in town and in the suburb for the convenience of visitors. Daily flight between Yangon and Thandwe taking one hour and 10 minutes, from Nyaung U to Thandwe taking one hour and 5 minutes.

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