Mrauk U

Mrauk U, an ancient capital city dates back in the 15th century. A five hour trip up-river from Sittwe to Mrauk U starts at dawn. You can enjoy beautiful landscapes along the river. Mrauk U was a thriving city in the 12th and 16 centuries with a complex network of canals. The people are very warm and amicable. Sebastian Martinique was a Portuguese missionary of the Augustinian Order, who went to Rakhine in 1630 and stayed there for about five years.

Rakhine it that time was virtually an independent Kingdom with King Thirithudammaraza on the throne. Manique described the then Mrauk U as follows: This great city is built in a beautiful valley about fifteen Leagues in circuit and entirely surrounded by high rough mountains, walls of nature’s make and dispending with artificial ones. On the inside these mountains have been leveled in necessary parts with rammers and where they have been cut through from top to bottom, gates have been erected for going in and out whilst above them are some bulwarks provided with artillery, so that the city would naturally be impregnable as if it belonged to another warlike nation.”

Around Mrauk U

Sittwe

Formerly Rakhine area was known as Arakan, a strip of area between the Bay of Bangal and the Rakhine Yoma (Ranges). It is a coastal region, full of beautiful beaches, especially in the southern portion. Sittwe (Akyab) is the capital city at the mouth of the mighty Kaladan River, and is reachable by flight. Sittwe boasts to several interesting pagodas and a fascinating monastery on the main street, where there are some rooms of museum with a collection of Buddha images, and is hence worth visiting. Another highlight in Sittwe is a small beach with a promontory, an ideal place to enjoy the breath taking sunset. Rakhine people are staunch Buddhists, and they have their own culture.

A short busride would take you to the Golden Kyaikkhauk Pagoda, 21 km from which is the Yele Paya in Kyauktan. The Pagoda is perched on a tiny island in the middle of the river.