Tourist Guide To Mrauk-U

Five miles west of the Mahamuni Heights lies Thay-lar-giri (Selagiri), Kyauktaw hill range where locates Kyauktaw pagoda Tradition has it that the site on which the pagoda has been erected is the very site where Lord Buddha on this journey to Rakhine Dynyawaddy set foot first and preordained for future erection of famous pagodas and temples enshrining the sacred relics. In 1923, a stone sculpture of fift century A.D. depicting Lord Buddha preaching Dhamma Sakya, wheel of Dharma, to King Sanda Thuriya was unearthed. It is now  exhibited in Mrauk-U museum. West of the hill range flows Kuladan (kisapanadi) river on the other side of which Kyauktaw town. This is the town visitor from Sittway will come across before proceeding to Mahamuni. The town locates about seventy-five miles unpstream from Sittway along the river. At present, Kisapanadi Bridge has been built to cross the river making traveling easier. Credit:  Aung, Myar. Famous Monuments of Mrauk-U (Useful Refere...

The road to Mahamuni from Mrauk-U passes through and halves Vesali. Taking this road, the south wall of Vesali can be seen at the distance of four and half miles from Mrauk-U. Just in front of the wall is a hill on which Thaunggyat-taw pagoda stands. At the top of the ridge extending the southwest of Thaunggyat-taw pagoda is a stupa from where a stone inscription containing Ye Dhamma verse was found in May, 1965.  In 1957, the stone inscription of Niticandra's queen was recovered from a ruined stupa at Unhissaka hill north of Thaung-gyat-taw pagoda. In that year, Viracandra's inscription was found at a ruined stupa on a hill north of Unhissaka hill. The letters in these inscriptions closely resemble to those used before six-century. The names of Niticandra and Viracandra are inscribed on Anandacandra inscriptions. ...

by San Tha Aung Anandacandra inscriptions on Shitethaung Pillar in Mrauk-U describe King Dven Candra as the father founder of Vesali. Not only nine Candra Kings but also sixteen kings descended from Dven Candra and other kings ruled over the country with Vesali as the Capital. Situation and Structure    Vesali was the Capital when Candra dynasty reigned over the country. It lies five miles north of Mrauk-U. The city walls and palace site can be clearly observed in photographs taken from aerial view. By studying these photographs and the article 'Rakhine Capital' written by Prof. Daw Thin Kyi (Journal of Myanmar Research Society Vol 52 Part 2, 1970, December) and through field-works, the structure of Vesali will be described as follow. To the west of Vesali runs Rann-Chaung, a tributary of Kaladan River. Lying ...

In all places where Rakhine civilization has flourished, including Dynyawaddy (Kyawtaw), Vesali and Mrauk-U, Hindu Vishnu statues can be found. The headless statues found in Vesali measures 5.75 inches from the pedestal up to its neck, and 3 inches of neck. Credit:  Aung, Myar. Famous Monuments of Mrauk-U (Useful Reference for Tourists and Travelers) . (2nd ed.). Yangon

To the west of the Vesali Palace Heights is the palace site of the Crown Prince. To the west of it along the main part of Rann-chaung creek, is the harbour where there was the Stone-stairs. Referring to the famous structure, the city was once known as Vesali, the Stone-stairs City. At present, almost all of it have decayed and destroyed. Credit:  Aung, Myar. Famous Monuments of Mrauk-U (Useful Reference for Tourists and Travelers) . (2nd ed.). Yangon

This shrine is located at Bow-rwa-ze village south of Maha Hti Village. It is a stone-sculpted 'nat' statues six-feet-and-nine-inches in height which is a traditional Rakhine 'nat'. This 'nat' was worshipped and made a devotional offering by the king himself in the moth of "Nayone" in Rakhine calendar annually. In a stone inscriptions made in 1524 A.D. it was recorded donation of acres of farmland for the maintenance of this shrine. The stone inscriptions locates at three miles south-west of the 'nat' shrine. At the foot of the Par-taw hill where there is the stone inscriptions, there is a set of figures ofline drawing inscribed on the boulder. Credit:  Aung, Myar. Famous Monuments of Mrauk-U (Useful Reference for Tourists and Travelers) . (2nd ed.). Yangon

  Detail of the Koe-thaung Temple, the temple of the 90,000 Buddhas, built by King Min Dikkha during the years 1554-1556 in Mrauk U, Rakhin State in Myanmar. PIX : © Thor Jorgen Udvang, Dreamstime.com Located to the north of old Loung-kret city twelve successive kings ruled the kingdom from the seat of this royal city. In the area of this old city still exists Par-ri-taw Pagoda, Nar-ri-taw Pagoda King Kawliya's palace grounds. North of the area is the old city of "Parein" which is located to the east of Mrauk-U. The other side of old Parein city across the river is the area of royal city of Toungu Nay-rein-za-ra that flourished before Loung-gret city (1160-1250 A.D.). Credit:  Aung, Myar. Famous Monuments of Mrauk-U (Useful Reference for Tourists and Travelers) . (2nd ed.). Yangon