Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
( daylight hours)
This octagonal, slightly leaning
zedi
was built by King
Minkhaungraza in 1525. An unusual feature is its outer wall, adorned with Islamic-in-
spired glazed tiles in the shape of large flowers.
Pitaka Taik
HISTORICAL SITE
MAP
( daylight hours)
This compact, highly ornate stone building is one of the seven
Mrauk U libraries left out of the original 48. Today protected by a blue-and-maroon shel-
ter, it was built in 1591 by King Minphalaung as a repository for the Tripitaka (Three
Baskets; the Buddhist canon), which was received from Sri Lanka in the 1640s. It's wee
- only 13ft long and 9ft high.
LOCAL KNOWLEDGE
U AUNG KYAW ZAN: GUIDE
How long have you been a guide at Mrauk U?
I was the first guide! At that time, there were only scholars visiting, two or three
every year.
What are your early childhood memories of the temples?
They were all overgrown, even Shittaung [Paya]. When I was about 10, we went
into Shittaung [Paya] and had to take a big torch with kerosene. There were so
many small headless buddhas, but they'd all been taken away. Even back then,
none of the Buddha statues had heads, all were cut off.
Ever find anything valuable?
So many things! But my wife says that the things I found are cursed and that's
the reason I was poor and working as a teacher.
How do you feel about the restoration of Mrauk U?
We don't want restoration. We'd rather have conservation, but this requires train-
ing.
Best sunrise view?
Shwetaung Paya (
Click here
)
- it's the highest, so you have the biggest scope.
Best sunset view?
Haridaung Paya (
Click here
) - it has a panoramic view of the entire area.
Best for stone carvings?
In my view, the best stone carvings are those in the museum at Mahamuni Paya
(
Click here
). They're more like Khmer style - very ancient and beautiful.
