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.