Mrauk U Temples

About this place

The Mrauk U Temples are a group of monuments around the town of Mrauk U in northern Rakhine State, capital of the Mrauk U Kingdom from 1430 to 1785, the largest and most powerful Rakhine kingdom. They see far fewer visitors than Bagan, but dark stone temples among hills and mist give them a character of their own, and they matter deeply to Rakhine people. Some Rakhine scholars say the name means the first accomplishment in old Arakanese, tying it to a prince who crushed a Pyu invasion in the 10th century. The temples stand on hills and are built of stone, unlike the brick of Bagan. It was a trading capital open to the Bay of Bengal, reached by ships and merchants from far away, who left their mark on its buildings. From the hills you see a forest of green trees with dark stone temple tops rising from it, along with white and gold ones, above small wooden houses. At dawn and dusk the temples become black shapes on a pink sky, over blue mist filling the valleys. You walk low hills and dirt tracks, meeting farmers and animals, far from tourist crowds. It is about 58 km from Sittwe in a straight line, usually reached by boat from there in the past. Do not expect this to be possible today, so check before any planning. Remove your shoes at temples and dress modestly. The UK Foreign Office advises against all travel to this area, and roads and flights may be cut, so read the current advice before you plan.