Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Central Mrauk U
For all its historical significance, the centre of Mrauk U still looks like the archetypal one-
horseBurmesecountrytown,withitsbusymarket,potholedstreets,andmakeshiftshopsand
rustic cafés lined up along dusty
Minbar Gyi Road
, which is usually as busy as Mrauk U
ever gets. In complete contrast is the expansive, largely empty swathe of land just northwest
which formerly housed Mrauk U's magnificent, but now entirely vanished, royal
palace
.
The Palace and Archeological Museum
Palace site
open 24hr • Free
Museum
Tues-Sun 9.30am-4.30pm • K5000
There's not much left of the original
Palace
complex, bang in the middle of town, apart from
its impressively long walls arranged in three concentric squares around a trio of successively
risingterraces-theactualpalacewouldhavestoodonthehighestterraceatthecentre,which
now provides good views over the site. The original royal residence was commissioned by
King Minbin in 1430 and rebuilt at least two times subsequently, providing a home for 49
kingsoveraperiod of350years, although the magnificent woodenpalace building itself was
destroyed when the city was sacked by the forces of the Konbaung dynasty in 1784.
On the western side of the complex, the overpriced government
Archeological Museum
is
about as exciting (or not) as you'd expect, collecting together assorted finds from around the
site plus some artefacts from the previous Arakanese capital of
Waithali
, just down the road.
Haridaung Paya
On a small, steep hill just north of the Palace area, the tiny
Haridaung Paya
is little more
than a simple gold-painted stupa but offers one of Mrauk U's finest views, with dozens of
stupas crowning the hills all around and glimpses of water between the trees. It's not signed:
look out for the white steps (which can get appallingly hot under bare feet) next to the road,
from where it's a few minutes' walk to the top.
Market
Mrauk U's little tree-studded
market
is an appropriately rustic affair, with the usual stalls
fulloffruit,vegetablesandherbsalongsidepilesoftraditionalRakhine-stylepointedbamboo
hats, heaps of
chinlone
balls, anchors, enormous saws and a surprising quantity of pharma-
cies, including one alleyway stuffed entirely with little shops selling either pills or beer. The
west side of the market is where you'll find the town's tailors, lined up at a row of tables be-
hind heaps of cloth and old-fashioned sewing machines.
