* Other Places of Interest *

 
   
 

Pyay, Northern Yangon

 
  Pyay was anglicized as Prome after the Second Anglo-Myanmar war and in ancient times was known as Thaye-khittra (Srikshetra). Srikshetra, the ancient Pyu capital about five miles to the east, is interesting place to visit because of their historical importance and archaeological sites. Pyay is an important commercial center for trade between the Ayeyarwady Delta, Central and Upper Myanmar and the Rakhine (Arakan) State. Pyay (Prome) is only 161 km north of Yangon travelling along a well-maintained highway by car. Several trains run daily from Yangon on the first railway line built in Myanmar in 1877. In the last few years the railway branch lines have been extended north towards Bagan. Visitors can stop over in Pyay and travel on to Bagan and Mandalay. Pyay is situated on the eastern bank of the Ayeyarwady River on a lovely location.

Interesting Places in Pyay are Shwesandaw Pagoda, Sehtetgyi Pagoda, Baw Baw Gyi Pagoda, Be Be Gyi Pagoda and Payama Pagoda. Other interesting places around pyay are Ahkauktaung, Shwe Myatman Paya, Shwe Nat Taung Pagoda and Shwe Bonthar Muni.

 
     
 

Location

 
  Pyay is an important commercial center for trade between the Ayeyarwady Delta, Central and Upper Myanmar and the Rakhine (Arakan) State. Pyay (Prome) is only 161 km north of Yangon travelling along a well-maintained highway by car. You can see green paddy fileds along the side of the highway. Several trains run daily from Yangon on the first railway line built in Myanmar in 1877. In the last few years the railway branch lines have been extended north towards Bagan. It is a city halfway between Yangon and Bagan. Visitors can stop over in Pyay and travel on to Bagan and Mandalay. Pyay is situated on the eastern bank of the Ayeyarwady River on a lovely location.  
     
 

HISTORY

 
  Pyay was anglicized as Prome after the Second Anglo-Myanmar war and in ancient times was known as Thaye-khittra (Srikshetra). Srikshetra, the ancient Pyu capital about five miles to the east, is interesting place to visit because of their historical importance and archaeological sites.  
     
 

Interesting Places to Visit

 
  Interesting Places in Pyay are Shwesandaw Pagoda, Sehtetgyi Pagoda(the gigantic sitting buddha image), Baw Baw Gyi Pagoda, Be Be Gyi Pagoda and Payama Pagoda. Other interesting places around pyay are Ahkauktaung, Shwe Myatman Paya, Shwe Nat Taung Pagoda and Shwe Bonthar Muni.  
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Srikshetra Ancient Days

 
  An ancient 'Pyu' Capital lies 8 km south-east of Pyay ( Prome), is located about 285 km north-west of Yangon. Archaeological discoveries indicate that the city attained its height of prosperity between the 5th and 9th centuries. In Tha-ye-khit-taya, one will find palace site the prototype of Bagan vaulted temple such as Lemyethna and East Zegu, the cylinder-shaped Bawbawgyi Pagoda, Payagyi and Payama stupas each with a high conical dome and the Archaeological Museum.  
     
 

Shwesandaw Pagoda

 
  The Shwesandaw Pagoda is well known in Pyay. The Pagoda is situated on the eastern bank of Irrawaddy river and Myanmar’s most venerated structure stands here.  
     
 

Sehtatgyi Paya

 
  Looking east from the stupa you’ll see an enormous seated Bhudda figure rising up from the treeline. From the Shwesandaw terrace you look across to the image eye-to-eye. Sehtatgyi meaning ‘Big Ten-storey’ for its height.  
     
 

Museum

 
  About a kilometer and a half from the highway turnoff by the old palace side, stands a small museum and a map of the area. Inside the museum is a colletion of artifacts collected from Srikshetra exacavations.  
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Bawbawgyi Paya and Bebe Paya

 
  South of the museum, outside the city walls, are cylindrical Bawbawgyi Paya and cube-shaped Bebe Paya. Standing over 45 meters high, the brick and plaster of Bawbawgyi Paya is the oldest stupa in the area. Other cube-shaped pagodas in the area include one thought to have been used by a hermit, featuring eight Buddha reliefs along the lower half of the interior wall and a vaulted ceiling of brick.  
 

Around Pyay

 
 

Shwedaung

 
  This small town is about 14km south of Pyay. There are two famous pagodas in this town. The Shwemyethma Paya and the Shwenattaung Paya.  
     
 

Shwemyethma Paya

 
  Meaning 'Paya with the Golden Spectacles' a refrence to a large white face sitting Buddha image inside the main shrine. The Buddha image wears a golden rimmed spectacles. Spectacles were added during the Konbaung era. There is a saying that this image can cure illnesses especially for eyes.  
     
 

Shwenattaung Paya

 
  Means 'Golden Spirit Mountain'. This pagoda dates back to the Sriksetra era. Legend takes it back all the way to 283 BC, from which it was reconstructed by a long range of Myanmar kings with the aid of local nats(spirits) A large pagoda festival is held here each year on the full moon of Tabaung (February/March).  
     
 

Akauktaung Mountain

 
  Akauktaung Mountain stands on the bank of the Ayeyarwaddy River to the north of Pyay in Bago Division. It takes 15 minutes by boat ride to reach the Akauktaung. Different sizes and styles of Buddha images are carved into the wall of the bank and the visitor can climb and visit the Akauktaung pagoda, which lies at the top of the bank.  
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Paung Te

 
  From Yangon, on the way to Pyay, you will come across Paung Te. The sacred tooth relic of Buddha is enshrined in the Paung Te Swedaw Seddi.  
 

Bago (Pegu)

 
  The provincial capital of this rice-growing region was once a great seaport − its many monuments a sign of its glorious, legendary past.

Situated only about 80km (50 miles) from Yangon, Bago is easily reached from the capital yet is just far enough off the beaten track to avoid tourists. There are now several hotels and guesthouses where you can spend the night, and if you are on your way to Mt. Kyaikhtiyo or Mawlamyaing, an overnight stay here will break up the journey nicely.

Bago was reputedly founded in AD 573 by two Mon princes from Thaton, who saw a female swan standing on the back of a male swan on a island in a huge lake. Taking this to be an auspicious omen, they founded a royal capital called Hanthawady (from Pali-Sanskrit Hamsavati, Kingdom of the Swan) at the edge of the lake. During the later Mon dynastic periods (1287-1539), Hanthawady became the centre of the Mon kingdom of Ramanadesa, which consisted of all southern Myanmar.

The Bamar took over in 1539 when King Tabinshwehti annexed Bago to his Taungoo kingdom. The city was frequently mentioned by early European visitors – who knew it as Pegu – as an important seaport. In 1740 the Mon, after a period of submission to Taungoo re-established Bago as their capital, but in 1757 King Alaungpaya sacked and utterly destroyed the city. King Bodawpaya, who ruled from 1782 to 1819, rebuilt it to some extent, but when the river changed its course the city was cut off from the sea and lost its importance as a seaport. It never again reached its previous grandeur.

In difference to legend, the symbol for Bago is a female hamsa (hintha or hantha in Burmese; a mythological bird) standing on the back of a male hamsa. At a deeper level, the symbol honors the compassion of the male hamsa in providing a place for the female to stand in the middle of a lake with only one island. Hence, the men of Bago are said to be more chivalrous than men from other Burmese area. In popular Burmese culture, however, men joke that they dare not marry a woman from Bago for fear of being henpecked!

 
     
 

Kanbawzathadi Palace & Museum

 
  Recently, the original Hanthawady site surrounding a former Mon palace was excavated just south of the huge Shwemawdaw Paya. Walled in the Mon style, the square city measured 1.8 km long each side and had 20 gates. The palace compound in the centre, know as Kanbawzathadi, housed King Bayinnaung from 1553 (or 1566 according to some sources) to 1599 and covered 82 hectares (202 acres). About 26 hectares (64 acres) of this area has been excavated. Bayinnaung the brother-in-law of a Taungoo king, moved to Bago after conquering a older Mon principality called Oktha-myo, east of the Hanthawady site.

Only the palace’s brick foundations are visible today. Everything else is being built anew, as at the Mandalay Palace including the king’s apartment and audience hall. Among other copied marvels, the original audience hall featured a seven-level roof, two levels higher than Mandalay Palace, and was topped with solid gold tiles. The entire palace compound was originally surrounded by a teak stockade, a few stumps of which can be seen in the new museum. The government is keen to make the site into a showpiece of sorts, since King Bayinnaung ruled during an era when Burmese domains reached their farthest in Southeast Asia. The nearby Mon site of Oktha-myo, meanwhile is all but ignored. The small, well stocked octagonal-shaped museum (admission US$4, open 9am-4pm daily) displays Mon, Siamese and Bagan-style Buddhas; clay tobacco pipes; glazed tiles and pots; ‘Martaban’ jars (huge water jars from the delta area); bronze weights and scales; pieces of the original teak stockade; and weaponry.

 
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Shwemawdaw Paya

 
  Shwemawdaw Paya (Great Golden God Paya) stands northeast of the train station. You can’t miss it, since its height of 114m (373ft) dominates the town. The Shwemawdaw is said to be over 1000 years old and was originally built by the Mon to a height of 23m (75ft) to enshrine two hairs of the Buddha. In AD 825 it was raised to 25m and then to 27m in 840. In 982 a sacred tooth relic was added to the collection; in 1385 another tooth was added and the stupa was rebuilt to a towering 84m (275ft). In 1492, the year Columbus sailed the Atlantic, a wind blew down the hti and a new one was raised.

King Bodawpaya, in a reconstruction of Bago after the ravages of Alaungpaya, rebuilt the stupa to 91m (298ft) in 1796, but from that point it has had a rather chequered career. A new hti was added in 1882, but a major earthquake in 1912 brought it down. The stupa was repaired, but in 1917 another major quake again brought the hti down and cause serious damage. Again it was repaired, but in 1930 the biggest quake of them all completely leveled the stupa and for the next 20 years only the huge earth mound of the base remained.

Reconstruction of the Shwemawdaw commenced in 1952 and was completed in 1954, when it reached its present height. The glittering golden top of the stupa reaches 14m (46ft) higher than the Shwedagon in Yangon. Shady trees around the base make it a pleasant place to stroll or simply sit an watch the Burmese. At the northeastern corner of the stupa a huge section of the hti toppled by the 1917 earthquake has been mounted into the structure reminder of the power of such geological disturbances.

Like the Shwedagon, the stupa is reached by a covered walkway lined with stalls – some with interesting collections of antique bits and pieces. Along the sides of the walkway a collecton of rather faded and dusty paintings illustrates the terrible effects of the 1930 earthquake and shows the subsequent rebuilding of this mighty stupa.

The mouths of the two chinthe (a half-lion/half-dragon gurardian beast) at the western entrance contain two Mahayana bodhisattavas, Shin Upagot (Upagupta, on the left) and Shin Thiwali (Sivali, on the right). On the full moon of the Burmese lunar month of Tagu (March/April) the Shwemawdaw Paya festival attracts huge crowds of worshippers and merrymakers.

 
     
 

Hintha Gon Paya

 
  Located behind the Shwemawdaw, this shrine has good view over Bago from the roofed platform on the hilltop. According to legend, this was the one point rising from the sea when mythological bird (the hintha) landed here. A statue of bird, looking rather like the figures on opium weights, tops the hill. The stupa was built by U Khanti, the hermit monk who was also the architect of Mandalay Hill. You can walk to it by taking the steps down the otherside of the Shwemawdaw from the main entranceway.  
     
 

Shwethalyaung Buddha

 
  To the west of the Yangon-Bago road, only a little over 1km on the Yangon side of the train station, the Shwethalyaung is a huge reclining Buddha. Measuring 55m (180ft) long and 16m (52ft) high, it is a good 9m (29ft) longer than the reclining Buddha at Wat Pho in Bangkok, but still 19m (62ft) short of the Buddha in Dawei. A sign on the platform in front of the image gives the measurements of each body part; the little finger alone extends 3.05m (10ft).

The Shwethalyaung is reputed to be one of the most lifelike of all reclining Buddhas. The Burmese say the image represents Buddha in a ‘relaxing’ mode – instead of parinibbana (death) – since the eyes are wide open and the feet lie slightly splayed rather than parallel.

The sturdy iron shed that houses the image may look rough and ready, but it’s spacious and airy and gives you a far better view than offered by the cramped cells of the most reclining Buddhas. The walkway up to the platform is crowded with souvenir and handicraft stalls.

Originally built of brick and stucco in AD 994 by the Mon king Migadepa the sedond, the Shwethalyaung was allowed to deteriorate and was then restored several times during its existence before the destruction of Bago in 1757. The town was so completely ravaged that the huge Buddha was totally lost and overgrown by jungle. It was not found until the 1880s British era, when an Indian contractor, digging in a large earth mound for fill to be used in the construction of the railway line, rediscovered the image. Restoration began in 1881 and the present iron and stell tazaung, a product of a Calcutta engineering company, was completed in 1903. The 1930s saw another flurry of renovative activity, as mosaic was added to the great pillow on which the Buddh’s head rests, and Italian marble was laid along the platform.

Near the huge head of the image stands a statue of Lokanat (Lokanatha or Avalokiesavara), a Mahayana Buddhist deity borrowed by Burmese Buddhism. Behind the reclining Buddha image is a set of huge painted reliefs depicting the legend of the founding of the image.

A Japanese war cemetery, Kyinigan Kyaung, can be seen on the grounds of a monastery just north of Shwethalyaung. Northwest of this monastery, a settlement of Mon weavers uses handlooms to produce cotton longyi (sarong-style garments) and other textiles.

 
     
 

Maha Kalyani Sima (Maha Kalyani Thein)

 
  This ‘Sacred Hall of Ordination: was originally constructed in 1476 Dhammazedi, the famouse alchemist king and son of queen Shinsawpu. It stands beside the road en route from the train stationto the Shwethalyaung. It was the first of 397singular sima (ordination halls) he built around the country, copying plans brought back from Ceylon. De Brito, the Portuguese adventurer, burnt it down in 1599 during his period of plunder, and during the sack of Bago it was destroyed once again.

Subsequently it suffered from fires of quakes on a number of occasions before being leveled by the disasterous 1930 quake. As with the Shwemawdaw, reconstruction was completed in 1954. Next to the hall are 10 large tablets with inscriptions in Pali and Mon. The hall itself features rows of tented arches around the outside, with and impressive separate cloister and marble floors inside. Niches along the inside upper walls contain 28 Buddha images.

Across the road from the Maha Kalyani Sima, by the corner, is a curious monument with four Buddha figures standing back to back, in somewhat similar fashion to the four seated Buddhas at the Kyaik Pun on the outskirt of town. An adjacent hallway has a small reclining Buddha image thronged by followers, and some macabre paintings of wrongdoers being tortured in the afterlife.

 
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Kyaikhtiyo Pagoda, Southern Myanmar

 
 

Location

 
  The famous legendary Pagoda on the Golden Rock about 160 Km(100 mile) from Yangon and 11 km (7 mile)of hiking from the base camp at Kyaikhto. Visitors can also go by car up to a point about a mile away from the Pagoda. This pagoda is situated on a rocky mountain 1100 km (3615 ft) above sea level. The Kyaikhtiyo pagoda is one of the most ancient and celebrated of all pagodas in Myanmar. It is situated in the vicinity of Kyaikhto township, Thaton district. The pagoda is said to have been built during the life-time of the Buddha over 2400 years ago.  
     
 

The meaning of Kyaik Hti Yo

 
  According to Mon tradition, the name is a corruption of Kyaik-ithi--yo being derived as follows. In Mon language the word "Kyaik" means " pagoda" and " yo" " to carry on the hermits head", in Pali the word" ithi" means a hermit and therefore the name means " the pagoda carried on the hermit's head.  
     
 

Structure

 
  The pagoda, about 18 feet high, and 50 feet in girth. is situated on the hill of the same name on the ridge between Sittaung and Thanlwin. It is built on a huge, almost egg- shaped, rounded granitoid boulder perched on the very summit of a projecting and shelving tabular rock, which in itself is separated several feet from the mountain by a rent or chasm, now spanned by a small foot bridge of iron and on the further side drops perpendicularly into a valley blow.  
     
 

History

 
  It is said that the boulder has been over 2500 years. The tradition is that after the hermit had obtained the hair from the Buddha, he was carrying it on his head inside his hair knot till he found a boulder which resembled his head, and so he built the pagoda on its enshrining the relic, substituting the boulder for his over head.

On the extreme edge of this sloping rock table, and actually over hanging it by nearly half, is perched this wonderful boulder (now completely gilded with gold), thirty feet high and surrounded by the pagoda. By gently rocking the boulder a thread can be passed underneath; seemingly appears as if the additional weight of a few pounds, or a strong wind, would send it sliding down from the place it has occupied for unknown centuries watching over three thousand feet into the sloping valley beneath and we know what freakish law keeps it in its position. Anyway pious Buddhists attribute it to the power of the relic enshrined in the pagoda.

This relic is a hair of Gotama Buddha given to a hermit residing on the mountain by the Buddha himself as he was returning from the second heaven of the Nats whither he had gone to preach the law to his mother.

 
     
 

Festival

 
  It is of considerable celebrity and attracts crowds of worshippers annually beginning from October to March which is the seasonal pilgrimage period for worshippers Especially on the full moon day of Tabaung, the platform of the pagoda is lighted with ninety thousand candles offered to the Buddha and thousands of worshippers gather around the pagoda offering fruits, foods incense to the Buddha. Sometimes reflected rays of color from the Buddha's image were said to have been observed by the worshipers.  
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Pindaya Cave, Southern Shan State, Eastern Myanmar

 
  Pindaya town is located 2.5 hrs drive away from Inle Lake. The ancient caves are about one mile southwest of the town, and can be reached by taking a horse-cart, or motoring there by jeep or just walking along on foot. Except for the young and energetic, the best way is to go leisurely by horse-cart to the foot of the hills, reserving your energy for the 200 steps up the covered stairway leading to the cave entrance and for exploring the huge meandering maze made up of numerous caves. The caves are supposed to be 200,00 million years old and since ancient times they have been places of worship and veneration with 8,094 Buddha images made from various materials like teak wood, marble, alabaster, brick, cement and lacquer, and all enshrined in the nooks and corners of the winding caverns. At the entrance to the main cave thee is a pagoda 50 feet in height. This pagoda is called Shwe U-min Hpaya or the Golden Cave pagoda. The tazaung or prayer hall was built by the famous hermit U Khanti who also built many of the religious edifices on Mandalay Hill. The entire length of the cave is 490 feet. The numerous stalactites and stalagmites in these limestone caves, from fanciful shapes and have given rise to such names as the "Fairy Princess Loom", "Posts for tying horses and elephants" and so on. Some of the smaller caves used meditation chanmers are accessible only if you crawl in on your knees and elbows. Visitors should plan to stay for one or two nights in Pindaya to explore the natural beauties all around; the tranquil lake, the limestone caves, the ancient pagodas and images and the lovely old trees.

Pindaya is really a very pleasant site especially the drive to there is the most fabulous. The westerners dubbed the scenary on the way the Holland of Myanmar. Beautiful hills and patches of farms on red soil land as far as eyes can see locate on the either side of the road. (I normally don’t put it in the normal itinerary because most Americans hate driving especially on roads of countries like ours. This takes 2.5 hours from Inle but really worth it. The roads are not very bad and we will have a spacious wagon for this part of the trip for your leg-stretching.) On the mountainous areas like this Kyaing Tong, Inle Lake, Pindaya and Kyaik-hti-yo Pagoda site the temperature could be as low as 40 to 60 in December and January.

 
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Sittwe & Mrauk-U, Western Myanmar

 
 

Sittwe

 
  This port city of the Rakhine State sits at the mouth of the Kaladan River where it empties into the Bay of Bangal. Off shore delta islands form a wide protected channel that has served as an important harbour for many centuries. The city started as a trading port around 200 years ago and further developed after the British occupation of 1826. International trade alone the coast bloomed during the British era. Two huge cargo steamers a day plied back and forth between Calcutta and Sittwe. Scottish short-storywriter and novelist Hector Hugh Munro, known by his pen name ‘Saki’, was born here in 1870. There is a distinctive Rakhine twist on standard Myanmar culture that includes the enjoyment of much spicy food and brighter-coloured clothing.  
     
 

Attractions Payagyi Temple

 
  This temple is situated in the centre of town and features a large plain shed supported by pillars decorated with glass mosaic. A large seated Buddha image was cast in 1900 in the Rakhine style with the royal costume common to many Rakhine images. The face of the figure shines with gold, while the rest of the body is of bronze.  
     
 

Buddhist Museum

 
  This modest two-stroey museum is the best place in Myanmar to view Rakhine Style Buddha images. The collection here represents a rare instance of historical preservation. Most of the images are under a meter in height with the royal attire common to Rakhine Buddhas Images. The majority dates to the Mrauk U period, while a few date as far back as the Wethali era and are made of bronze, silver, quartz or alabaster. There are also some Indian Buddha images and Hindu deities on display, a few Thai and Japanese Buddha statues, silver coins from the Mrauk U era, clay pipes, terracotta votive tablets and engraved astrological charts. Entry is free.  
     
 

Mrauk-U

 
  King Minbin was a man of brain and brawn who paid special attention to the security and defence of his kingdom. Ancient Mrauk U City as it stands today testifies to it. He could assess and utilize for defence purpose the strengths and weaknesses of the geographical location and natural environment of his domains. As the kingdom occupied a narrow coastal strip with on open sea front and being criss-crossed by several rivers and creeks, these physical features were put to use for building security and defence.

Most ancient cities in Myanmar have normally three kinds of moat - shunt kyon, Nyun Kyon and Kyon Chauk defending them. But in the case of Mrauk U, there were two more types of moat namely Kyon Shin and Kyon Pinlei in addition to the usual three types. So Mrauk U was unique in her defence system for it was defended with 5 types of moat. Mrauk U is situated within the seacoast. It is encircled with a natural water system. Rivers and creeks are fed and activated by the ebb and flow of the tide. For defence purpose some bodies of natural water were drained off and land-filled, some were widened and extended, yet some were deepened so that water flow could be regulated to form Kyon Shin to obstruct the invaders.

King Minbin who made security and defence top priority in his national policy even turned to occult science for reassurance. Two of his guru monks Venerable Shin Mya Wa and Venerable Maha Panna Kyaw who were expert in vedas astrology, charm and cabalistic diagrams were consulted. Under their instruction and supervision, a hundred large fences and a thousand small fences with cabalistic diagrams affixed to them were installed on the summits of hills and mountain ranges around Mrauk U. These mystic fences arranged by the two monks were believed to have potent supernatural power to ward off the enemies. Many caves and pagodas were built near them.

After the security and defence systems were established naturally, artificially and supernaturally, King Minbin did his best in food storage for his subjects for normal times as well as for emergencies. Special sites were chosen to build granaries. Historical records tell us that there were 41 granaries at Mrauk U alone. Right now archaeologists have discovered and compiled an inventory of 13 granaries. It is expected that more will be found. Of the 13 granaries, Win Ma Na Granary is now being preserved by Archaeology Department, Mrauk U Branch.

City gates that provided entry into the city were built in accordance with their strategic importance. They are strong gates built of stone. Water gates and sluices built of the same material are in good condition till today. Contemporary of Kings Tabin Shwe Hti and Bayint Naung of Taungoo and Hamsawadi respectively, King Minbin ranked equal to them, in that he provided strong security and defence, and sufficient food storage for his people. His kingdom was a modern and developed kingdom of the time. He left a strong united, consolidated, prosperous and progressive kingdom for generation, of 49 successor kings after him who ruled and reigned for 354 years.

Mrauk U is the only site in Myanmar where there is an assemblage of many stone buildings.

The Rakhing king Minzawmon founded Mrauk-U in1433. A Deutsch man who visited Mrauk-U in the 16th century described it as one of the richest cities in Asia, and compared with Amsterdam and London in size and prosperity. Tour highlight include Kothaung Temple; it is the thousand of small Buddha bas-reliefs on the walls of which make the temple so interesting, Sakyamanaung Stupa, the bells reverts to a layered circular shape which is mounted a decorative umbrella, Mahabodi Shwegu Stupa; scenes from Jataka line (the past lives of Buddha have 550 Stories.) the inner side of the passage, and Pitakateik; Buddhist library, the monument's most distinguishing features are its five tiered roofline and beautifully.

 
     
 

Topography

 
  The unique characteristics of the topography of Mrauk U are the tiers of hills and mountains running around it. Between them are natural passes through which access is easy. These natural passes were fenced with earth walls and stone walls thus forming a long line of defence walls aligned with hills and mountains. Between hills and mountains where the location was favorable, big dams and reservoirs were built to store water as well as to serve as water barriers (Kyon Pinlei). Water gates and sluices were installed systematically so that water flow could be regulated to supply water for public consumption and to rush it out to repulse the invaders. Even to day Mrauk U municipality enjoys the benefit of the water storage system of the old days. We cannot help but utter words of admiration and appreciation and express thanks to King Minbin of the Golden Period of Mrauk U for his farsightedness and ingenuity in town planning and defence system for future generations to enjoy welfare and security. All along the hills and mountain ranges where there were strategic and main entries and existence of rivers and creeks, fortresses were built into the natural surroundings. At present "Kyaung Lei Don" Fortress of stone in its original condition can be witnessed to the northeast of "Ko Thaung Pahto Daw Gyi Pagoda".  
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Andaw Pagoda

 
 

Location

 
  Andaw (meaning the tooth relic of Buddha) is a pagoda only 86 feet to the north-east of the Shitthaung Pagoda. This shrine was originally built by Min Hla Raza in 1521 A.D.  
     
 

Structure

 
  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, there 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.

King Minrazagyi rebuilt this Paya in 1596, formerly constructed in 1521 by King Minhlaraza, to enshrine a tooth relic brought from Sri Lanka by King Minbin. While Shittaung features three square passages inside the temple, Andaw Thein has two passages around an eight side pillar, which supports the roof.

 
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Shitthaung Temple

 
 

Location

 
  Shitthaung or "temple of the 80,000 Buddhas" located about half a mile to the north of the palace site was built by one of the most powerful kings of the Mrauk-U Dynasty, called by the people, Minbargyi. It is an ancient temple, in Mrauk Oo of northern Rakhine state, Myanmar.  
     
 

History

 
  According to records on inscriptions as King Minbin who reigned from 1513 to 1553. The king built this fortress-temple after repulsing a 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. It is believed that 84,000 of the Buddha's relics with the same number of the Lord's images are enshrined in it. People who entered the tunnels of the temple felt that they were actually inside an endless tunnel.  
     
 

Htukkanthein Temple

 
  Htukkan (or Dukkhan), the temple stands on a hill, 30 feet high, having a flat surface like that of a drum. King Minphalaung built the pagoda in 1571 A.D. Like the Shitthaung and the Andaw shrines, Dukkhanthein was built of hewn sandstones and layers of bricks over the roof. It measures 190 feet from north to south and 200 feet from east to west. It is reached by stone stairways, 8' broad, situated on the east and south. These stairways measuring 106 feet are built of massive stonewalls on the north, east and south. The west one which is slightly convex is connected to an oblong chamber.

The pagoda entrance on the east side, closer to the south-east corner, leads to a long vaulted passage which spirals up in two tiers till it reaches the central chamber. The superstructure, a bell-shaped dome on receding terraces, is similar to the one on Shitthaung, but here a tall square arch is provided on the east side to admit light into the central chamber. The inner chambers and passages of the temple are constructed with well fitting and cemented stones. 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. Traditionally it is said that there are sixty-four kinds of hairstyle and all the figures are of the wives of noblemen. Besides, on both sides of the entire passage, niches of 1½ feet broad, 1 foot deep, and 2 feet high are dug at regular intervals of 20 feet in the wall and each contains a stone image of the Buddha in sitting posture. There are one hundred and forty-six niches along the passage.

 
     
 

Koethaung Pagoda

 
  Standing on a plain of rice fields is the Koethaung Pagoda; the name means 90,000 and probably signified the number of Buddha images it was supposed to contain. It was built by King Min Taikkha, the son of King Min Bin who built the Shitthaung or temple of 80,000 images, so the son exceeded the father by 10,000! It is the biggest pagoda in the Mrauk-U area. Like the Shitthaung, this pagoda is also a massive fortress-like structure built with stone walls and terraces. There are 108 smaller pagodas surrounding it, all made of sandstone. With a winding corridor it is like a cave tunnel which you have to traverse until you reach the central chamber. The inner gallery has collapsed and is no longer accessible. There is an octagonal pagoda in the middle surrounded by over one hundred smaller pagodas. Unlike some of the other temples, not only sandstone, but bricks were also used in this pagoda.  
     
 

Pitakataik

 
  Pitakataik which lies close to Htupayon Pagoda and south of Shinkite wall was built by king Mong Phalaung. It was square in plan with an entrance passage to the east like others pagoda in Mrauk U. Built entirely with stone, the outer walls are decorated with ornate floral and geometric design. It is said that there were 33 Pitakataiks, built in Mrauk U.

The little library or Pitaka-taik, the Repository for the Buddhist scriptures was built in 1591 also by king Min Phalaung. It measures only 14 feet from east to west, 10 feet from north to south and is only 9 feet in height. Built entirely of stone there are lovely designs on the outer walls making it look like a tiny jeweled casket shaped like a blooming lotus. There were 48 libraries in Mrauk-U but only this one is preserved, though it is sometimes obscured by thickets of bushes and partly covered by moss and weeds which flourish in the 200" of annual rainfall in the region. This library is reputed to have housed 30 sets of the Buddhist Tipitaka which King Narapatigyi (1638-1645) received from Sri Lanka. Unfortunately it acquired an unpleasant appellation due to its dark windowless interior. It is now known as Chin-kite library, Chin-kite meaning mosquito-bite. The Rakhine people say that Chin-kite is a Myanmar mispronunciation of the Rakhine word Khraung kaik, the name of the city wall which is close to the north of the library. If you have difficulty in finding this library ask for the Htupayon Pagoda as it is just north of this pagoda.

Fully day sightseeing in Mrauk U. Tour highlights are Koethaing broken Temple, with Bud-Ral-Gree, build in mid-16th century, the Pitakataik Library (A-New-Mar image), Laungbanpyauk Pagoda, Yadana Mannaung, Sakaya Mannaung Pagodas and Laymyetnha, the first pagoda erected in Mrauk U in 1430. Early morning enjoy sunrise view of Mrauk U from the top of Mrauk U hill. After breakfast visit Mrauk U market and walk for Lay-Nyuntaung village, you will enjoy crossing the log bridges, the hill pass, fruit gardens and the paddy fields, continue to the tattooed villages by boat. Return back to Sun-Oe village by boat, where the cart is waiting for drive to hotel.

 
     
 

Laymyetnha Pagoda

 
  About a distance of 150 feet to the northwest of the Dukkhanthein Pagoda is the Laymyetnha Pagoda or "the fourfacaded pagoda". King Minsawmon, the first king of Mrauk-U Dynasty, built it in 1430 A.D. It is one of the five pagodas built at the beginning of the establishment of the city. It is a square structure, with a long protruding portal towards each cardinal point. The interior room is octagonal. In the center of the latter there is an octahedral column intended to support the circular tower erected over the center of the roof. Over each of the four corners of the terrace a smaller circular stupa was built. Each side of the square of the shrine measures 55'; the portals are 13' broad and protrude 17' into the platform.

The central tower is circular and has the shape of a dome, with a circumference of 80 feet at the base and is 70 feet high. There are 28 Buddha images as mentioned in the Sambuddha scripture.

 
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Shwe Daung Pagoda

 
  The Shwe Daung pagoda or the "Golden Hill Pagoda" is also believed to have been built by King Minbin between the years 1531-1553. It is a landmark pagoda as it is the tallest in this area and can be seen as far away as 20 miles from the main Kaladan River. The hill itself is 250 feet high and is about half a mile to the south-east of the Palace Site. It is a solid stupa with a circular base. During the First Anglo-Burmese War, 1824-26, the Myanmar forces built earthen fortifications on this hill and mounted guns which inflicted heavy losses on the British forces. Some of these fortifications can still be seen today.  
     
 

Mrauk U Archaeological Museum

 
  A new Mrauk U museum is located near the palace site. It displays some old artefacts of Vesali, Launggret and Mrauk U periods. The bronze Buddha icons of Rakhine are equistic in design.Various inscribed stone inscriptions in Sanskrit, Rakhine and Arabic are also displayed Votive tablets, Krishna Vishnu, Bodhisattvas, dvarapala, stone htis, lintels coins, musical instruments, ceramicswares are also on display.

Mrauk-U is an ancient city in the Rakhine State, which is situated in the western part of the Union of Myanmar. Mrauk-U is also a place where cultural heritages have flourished for many years.

The Rakhine State is close to the Bay of Bengal and the coastal region is full of rocks and reefs and may be that is why so many stone-sculptures can be seen as ancient cultural crafts in the Rakhine region.

The state opened the Archaeological Museum in Mrauk-U; so that everyone interested in the cultural artifacts and ancient relics are find then in one place. In the Museum, a stone Wunti God Image of 15th century A.D in Mrauk-U period and a part of stone pillars from Zeti of 8th century in Watha Li period are shown.

Moreover, the pieces of a stone Vishno Image of 15th century in Mrauk-U period can also be seen at the Museum.The Wetha Li coins from 4th to 8th century, the votine tablets and the motifs of stone-sculptures from Mrauk-U period can also be seen at the museum.The household appliances in Mrauk-U period, a glazed pot of 15th century from Mrauk-U period and the glazed floor tiles from Mrauk-U palace excavation site are also exhibited.

You can also find stone-sculptures such as God of Earth,Godness, Wathoundarei and Wathoundara at the museum.There is a replica of Ananda Sandra stone inscription carved in Danyawaddy alphabets from the 8th century. The inscription tells us about Watha Li King Ananda Sandra and his ancestors with 65 verses.

Moreover, the stone inscription of purain-Ah Song-Taung (AD-1430), Wara-Dhamma-Yar-Zar stone inscription (AD-1618) and An-Taw-Thein stone inscription (AD-1596) are also there to be studied.So, we invite you to pay a visit to “Mrauk-U Archaeological Museum” where all ancient cultural heritages and stone-sculptures in Rakhine State are shown in one place.

 
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