Rakhine State
Shittaung means ‘Shrine of the 80,000 Images’, a reference to the number of holy images inside. King Minbin, the most powerful of Rakhine’s kings, built…
Must-see attractions in Rakhine State
Rakhine State
One of Mrauk U’s star attractions, Kothaung Paya is also the area's largest temple. It was built in 1553 by King Minbin’s son, King Mintaikkha, to outdo…
Rakhine State
The highlight of this squat, little-visited temple is its passageway with bas-relief illustrations of the tribumi (Buddhist visions of heaven, earth and…
Rakhine State
Built by King Minphalaung in 1571, Dukkanthein Paya smacks of a bunker (with stupas). Wide stone steps lead up the southern and eastern side of the…
Rakhine State
Twenty miles north of Wethali, just beyond the former ancient capital of Dhanyawady, is Mahamuni Paya, the alleged first home of the buddha image now…
Rakhine State
Strand Rd leads about 1.5 miles south to a location called View Point, a paved urban park with a small lighthouse built over the point where the Kaladan…
Sanda Muhni Phara Gri Kyaung Taik
Rakhine State
The highlight at this hilltop monastery, and the temple's namesake, is the Sanda Muhni, a buddha statue said to have been cast from the precious metal…
Rakhine State
About 7 miles north of Mrauk U are the barely discernible remains of the kingdom of Wethali. It was founded in AD 327 by King Mahataing Chandra, according…
Rakhine State
Andaw Thein takes the form of an eight-sided monument with a linear layout: rectangular prayer hall to the east, multispired sanctuary to the west…
Rakhine State
Roughly half a mile northeast of the palace walls, and behind Shwegudaung hill, this graceful Mon-influenced zedi (stupa) was erected in 1629 by King…
Rakhine State
Sitting on a hilltop, this unrestored four-door pagoda is thought to predate the Mrauk U period. Climb to the top, push your way past the rubble and…
Rakhine State
You can’t miss this big golden pagoda between the airport and the city centre. Its cavernous gilded worship hall, held aloft by decorated pillars, is…
Rakhine State
This impressive 1859 building – the oldest mosque in Sittwe – could have been lifted out of the pages of Arabian Nights. Sadly, since the 2012 sectarian…
Rakhine State
Focused on the 1956 municipal market building, Sittwe's market has lots of action from dawn to noon and beyond – it’s well worth popping by before your…
Rakhine State
Partly housed in a picturesque, ramshackle colonial-era building on a backstreet, this was the monastery of U Ashin Ottama (1880–1939), a leader of the…
Rakhine State
This massive stupa (sometimes called Yadanapon) is ringed by 24 smaller stupas. It was apparently built by Queen Shin Htway in 1612. During WWII a bomb…
Rakhine State
This compact, highly ornate stone building is one of the seven Mrauk U libraries remaining from the original 48. Today protected by a blue-and-maroon…
Rakhine State
Hundreds of noisy fruit bats migrate from these trees on Main Rd every evening at dusk, having spent the day jostling with crows for space in the trees…
Ngapali Beach
A mile west of Thandwe's market, Nandaw Paya was supposedly erected in AD 761 by King Minbra to enshrine a rib fragment of the Buddha. The long shrine…
Rakhine State
Southeast of the palace, the ‘Golden Hill Pagoda’ is the highest in Mrauk U. Built by King Minbin in 1553, it’s accessed by a few trails largely lost…
Rakhine State
This octagonal, slightly leaning zedi (stupa) was built by King Minkhaungraza in 1525. An unusual feature is its outer wall, adorned with Islamic-inspired…
Rakhine State
The name of this hilltop temple can be interpreted as meaning 'holding control of the people'. Its 29 niches with sitting buddha statues are a reference…
Rakhine State
This poorly restored temple looks a bit like a squashed-up version of the nearby Dukkanthein, but was actually built 140 years earlier, making it the…
Rakhine State
Built around 1750, this small white temple with fine westward views is on a hilltop just north of the palace walls. It’s a good place to get your bearings…
Rakhine State
This museum is grand looking from the outside, but much less so inside, and features two floors of dusty Rakhine cultural goodies. On the 1st floor are…
Rakhine State
Just inside the palace’s western walls is the Department of Archaeology’s insufficiently illuminated but worthwhile museum. Inside you'll find an…
Rakhine State
Monk U Bhaddanta Wannita spent 49 years collecting old coins and buddha images from monasteries to protect them from thieves. Some of his collection is…
Ngapali Beach
Andaw Paya is the lowest stupa overlooking Thandwe, but has revealing glimpses of the river as it forks east through the nearby hills. It claims to house…
Ngapali Beach
Thandwe's market, in the centre of town, spills out of the dilapidated former colonial-era prison. You can find all manner of clothes, cosmetics,…
Ngapali Beach
Sandaw Paya, just east of Thandwe and right across a small river about half a mile from the market, was allegedly built in AD 784 by Rakhaing King…
Rakhine State
A few blocks north of the main market is the Rice Market, with tiny lanes between the Kaladan River and Strand Rd filled with simple wooden homes where…
Rakhine State
Mrauk U's bustling market sits in the centre of town and has all the usual piles of produce, dried fish, clothes and household goods.
Rakhine State
Sittwe's old clock tower is more notable than its newer counterpart and is close to the market.
Rakhine State
There are good views westward from this temple looking over Shwegudaung hill.
Ratana San Rwe Paya & Ratana Hman Kin Paya
Rakhine State
Directly south of Mahabodhi Shwegu are these two adjacent hilltop stupas.
