Myauk-U (Myo-haung)
It is located some 46 miles to the north of Sittway by Kissapanadi or
Kalardan river and setting just the bend of Shwenatpyin, a major
tributary of Kalardan river. It was so intentionally built in 1430 A.D
by King Minsawmon, and ruled by 48 successive kings. Taking the
adventages of the ridges (mountain-slopes) around the city, the walls
were built with sand-stone and natural earth adjoining the higher points
of the ridges. The optimum usage of natural environs, the multiple
enclosure walls well adorned with bulwarks, ramparts, watch-towers and
forts so on, evidently show the past gradeur and masterful architecture
of ancient Rakhine people and is assuming the city as the defensive
castle.
  
Different from the ways of life and social behabiours at the capital
Sittwys, the hospitality and warmly welcome of Myo-haung's citizen have
noticeably every visitor felt convenience and release at home. About a
total of 60 monuments, especially stone-buildings intact, are scattered
in the circa, lying close to one another, leisure walk is the best mean
to enjoy them.
Shittaung Pagoda
 It is, a two storey building, a major monument and was built in 1535
A.D by King Minbargyi. It is architecturally of impressive one and
rather like an effective fort than a formal temple. A great variety of
figures (over 80,000); such as; Buddha's life storeis, 550 Jataka
stories, Vathundare and Vathundari, Kinnara and Kinnari of mythical
birds, Indra and his consorts, Jain figures and Hindu deities, the donor
of King Minbargyi, ogres and nagas so on, are very finely executed on
the enclosure-walls and interior walls of the temple together with
Sinhalese type stupas on the platform.
Htokkan Thein
 It is lied some 100 meters to the west of Shitthaung temple, and of
another fortress-like structure. It was erected in 1571 A.D by King
Minphalaung. The walls of the temple and chapel projecting eastward are
built of stones. Through the east entrance, the interior-walls of the
temple are completely adorned with various figures of demon, ogres,
dvarapala and seated ladies together with yellow glazed statuettes. The
seated ladies are decked with richly ornaments of crown, corona,
pendant, necklace, rosary, sash, chest-band, bracelet, arm-let and so on
with various styles of coiffure, in lotus offering.
Andaw Thein
 It is, just to the west of Shitthaung temple, of a small
stone building. It is in rectangle ground-plan having double corridors
around the central cube, in about 30 feet high. The interior walls are
embellished with Buddha-images in niches set of low arch-pediments.
The solid stupas can be also seen in Ratanabon,
Sakya-manaung, Ratana-manaung, zina-man aung and so on. Most of them
were built in 15th and 16th century A.D.
Vesali
It is one of the ancient cities of Rakhine and said that it was
lasted from 327 to 776 A.D. Almost all the kings of Vesali were surfaced
with Cadra and cast coinages with dates but it is today a small village
inhabited by about 100 house-holds.
It is known as Kyaukhlaykhar meaning flights of stone-steps since there
is a one mile long stone-steps from the river to the city-gate of the
western city-wall. Very recently, the city-walls, palace-sites and other
have been excavated. The ground plan of the city is, similar to Sri-kshetra,
in oval like rectangle measuring about 5 miles for each side and
encircled by a moat of 200 feet width.
Vesali Payagyi
The founder of Vesali city, King Dwin Canda carved this Buddha-image
in 327 A.D and set a dedicatory inscription in Pali verse
ye dhamma hetuppabuava
Tathagato aha
tesan ca yo niyodho
evamvadi Mahasamano."
That Buddha-image is carved out by a single block and the earliest
image of Vesali. The walls are adorned with floral designs in relief.
Vesali has yielded Ananda Canda inscription (now at Shitthaung pagoda),
Payagyi inscription, coins, pottery, bronze-lamp, headless deva figure,
bronze Buddha-image and votive tablets.
To release the weary of monuments, Chin villages around Mrauk-U could
be enjoyed. But, a two hour boat trip along the crystal river of Laymyo
will lead to the tattoo Chin villages of Hsinge, Konchaung, Chonwe or
Cratechaung.
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