Mrauk U is a town in the northern state of Rakhine in Myanmar and is surrounded by hills and rivers. To the east of the town is the Kaladan River and the area is rich in picturesque landscape and rolling mountains.
The surrounding area is also famous for its rice production, boasting the second largest rice growing town in the country, second only to the Ayeyaraddy Delta. It is a major archaeological site that draws tourists from all around and is full of temples, pagodas and religious buildings.
The most notable temple is the Shite-thaung Temple, which is also known as the Temple of 80,000 Images, and the Five Mahn Pagodas is also a popular tourist attraction. The area is primarily Buddhist but there are a handful of religious buildings of different faiths including the Santikan Mosque in the south of Mrauk U.
Getting There & Away
It takes two days to reach Mrauk U from Yangon but it can also be reached by boat from Sittwe in 3 to 5 hours. The closest airport is in Akyab but it is still over 100 miles away. The other way to travel to the area is by bus or minivan, which involves a lot of changing in different towns and cities.
Things to Do
Mrauk U Attractions
- Five Manh Pagodas
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A group of five pagodas that are kept in good condition and make for a nice daytrip.