Tourist Guide To Mrauk-U

The abandoned city and  hundreds of temples and pagodas  at Mrauk U (also spelt Mrauk Oo and pronounced ‘Mrow Oo’ or ‘Myow Oo’, depending on Rakhine or Burmese pronunciation) lie across rolling northern Rakhine State hilltops and form an awe-inspiring sight, whilst providing an experience quite unlike anything else in Myanmar. From the 15th to 18th centuries, Mrauk U was the capital of a  mighty Arakan kingdom , frequently visited by foreign traders (including Portugese and Dutch), and this is reflected in the grandeur and scope of the structures dotted around its vicinity. But after the First Anglo-Burmese War in 1826, the British moved the regional trading centre down the Kaladan river to  Sittwe , and Mrauk U went  into decline . Today part of its allure lies in its isolation from the rest of the country; the lack of development; and that (for the moment) you are more likely to bump into a cow or a goat than into another tourist. The temp...

The city of Mrauk-U in Rakhineland is located at latitude 20 20  25'N and longitude 93 11'E striding alluvial plains of Kuladan and Lemro rivers. The city walls and moats were constructed, in part, with natural mountain ranges, spurs, creeks and drainages.  Making use of local product, sand stone, city walls were constructed fittingly to the natural barriers. As Mrauk-U city was systematically organized and administered, security was guaranteed all over the area. For trade and commerce, Kuladan and Lemro river routes were used so that Aung Dat and Paung Dok became famous inland ports close to the city. King Mong Bar Gri, with the assistance of Portuguese seafarers, built Royal Rakhine flottila armed with long-range cannons artillery and other weaponry. The influence and power of Rakhine kings extended in the west to Dhaka, Tippera and Murshidadad, Bago in the east and Mottama in the south. Amidst the mountain ranges, spurs and valleys in and around Mrauk-U, there exist a lar...

A view of Letsaykan Sluice gate and city wall Mrauk-U is an ancient capital of Rakhine where abundant cultural heritage lies. Study of the old capital is like study of a cultural knowledge bank. In the city where 48 kings ruled for 355 years from AD 1430 to AD 1785, we can still see stupas, pagodas, temples, the sites of monasteries, palace, granaries, city walls, turrets, banquettes, barricades, garrisons, various types of moats and gates in original forms or in ruin. Out of these cultural heritage, it would be a good idea to have some knowledge of the old gates. There are three walls; palace wall, city wall and city boundary wall in Mrauk-U. Total length of the walls was about 19 miles. At the walls, winded gates, main gates and sluice gates were constructed. The gates of the palace The compounds of the palace was divided with three walls. The name of the gates constructed at the walls were Mingalar, Ape’, Nanthakan, Taungnan, Pankhondaw, Sindaw, East and West. Som...

Mrauk-U, a fine last royal capital of Rakhine has scenic beauty and historical remains which are inextricable and remarkable. Innumerable pagodas belonging to all ages can be found throughout the city. Everywhere one looks within Mrauk-Ucity wall on every mound, every field and every hill are Buddha images, temples, sima(Thein) and pagodas. Mrauk U - Arakan - From Schouten, Voyages (1676) It is no wonder that Mrauk-U is popularly known as the 'Land of Pagodas' and Europeans remarked Mrauk-U as 'The Golden City'. The Rakhine of those days were proud of Mrauk-U. They were entirely satisfied to be the inhabitants of Mrauk- U. The history shows what happened in the city in early times. Mrauk-U was founded in 1430 A.D. and became the seat of the Rakhine dynasty of that name. It had attained its highest prosperity for 355 years til! 1785 A.D. Before Mrauk-U, several other former royal cities, Dhanyawaddy, Vesali, Sambawet, Pyinsa,Parein, Launggret , Hkirt and Na...