Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Built in 1571 by King Min Phalaung, the U-shaped temple itself is linked to a small rect-
angular shrine at the back and topped with five “mushroom” stupas in a quincunx pattern (or
almost). Most of the interior is occupied by a remarkable
corridor
, which loops around on
itself twice and connects two interior chambers before climbing up to the barn-like rooftop
shrine. Lining the corridor are 179 seated Buddha images in niches each flanked by carved
maleandfemalefiguressaidtorepresentthedonorswhofinancedconstructionofthetemple.
The figures are famous for modelling all 64 of medieval Mrauk U's
traditional hairstyles
,
most of which seem to involve big topknot and turban-style arrangements - not a million
miles away from the mushroom-shaped caps on the stupas outside.
Lemyethna Paya
Daily 7am-5.30pm • Entry covered by main temple ticket
Next to the road just past the Htukkanthein, the small
Leymyethna Paya
was built in 1430
by King Min Saw Mon. Outside, it's another of Mrauk U's characteristically impregnable
constructions: a windowless bunker topped with a stupa with cut-off spire. Four entrances
lead into the circular interior, with eight seated Buddhas placed around the central octagonal
pillar beneath a vaulted ceiling.
Andaw Thein
Immediately north of the Shittaung's Paya (exit the rear side of Shittaung's antechamber leading to the main
prayer hall) • Daily 7am-5.30pm • Entry covered by main temple ticket
The
Andaw Thein
was original built as an ordination hall (
thein
) in 1521 by King Thazata
and subsequently expanded into a temple by King Raza II to house a tooth relic (
andaw
) of
theBuddhabroughtbackfromavisittoSriLankainaround1600.Fourteenstupas(eachhol-
low, and with a small seated Buddha inside) are arranged around three sides of the octagonal
main shrine
, built in the usual bunker style and topped with further stupas. Two concentric
corridors penetrate the inside, lined with niched Buddha statues.
Attached to the shrine is a rectangular
prayerhall
still boasting a fine stone doorway on its
easternside,althoughtheoriginalroofhasgone,nowreplacedwithacorrugatedironshelter.
Ratanapon Paya
Open access 24hr • Entry covered by main temple ticket
Immediately past Andaw Thein is the
Ratanapon
(aka “Yadanpon”)
Paya
. Built in 1612
by King Min Khammoung (or possibly his wife), this is one of Mrauk U's later and less
militaristic-looking monuments, centred on an unusually tall (if rather bottom-heavy) stupa.
Anecklaceofseventeenmini-stupasenclosesthemainstupa,setonanoctagonalterracedec-
orated with a few lion sculptures, now badly eroded. The temple's name translates as “Pile
of Jewels”, referring, it's said, to the precious stones enshrined in the central stupa, although
none has ever been found despite the best efforts of bounty hunters, while a direct hit from
