Budget allocations for restoration work have risen dramatically at the nation’s second most important archeological after Bagan, but there’s little to show for it. By MRATT KYAW THU | FRONTIER One of the richest legacies of the Arakan Kingdom that flourished in western Myanmar from 1429 to 1785 is the site of hundreds of temples and pagodas built in and around its capital at Mrauk U, a wealthy trading hub near the Kaladan River. Thousands of temples were built throughout the kingdom, that ruled over present day Rakhine State and part of Bangladesh, but an inventory by the Department of Archeology and National Museums says there are only about 300 in and around Mrauk U, Myanmar’s second most famous archeological site after Bagan. It is believed there are many more pagodas and temples in the Mrauk U area yet to be excavated. Since a restoration project began in 2011, the Rakhine and Union governments have allocated large sums to catalogue and restore ancient buildings in Mrauk U....

By Bino 7 Comments 354 14 0 3 0 0 The alarm rang. At 5:30 in the morning, my mind was still in a murky haze having arrived in Mrauk U just a few hours before. The entirety of the previous day was spent traveling by plane, boat and jeep and yet there I was, up and on the go once more. in a dreamlike state… Burma’s Rakhine state, where Mrauk U is located, is closer to Bangladesh than to Yangon . The roads here are so underdeveloped that an 80 km road trip between two points in the state takes almost 5 hours. We decided to take a longer but less bumpy route, and went on a 6-hour journey by boat after we arrived in Sittwe, the administrative center of Rakhine state. Sunrise At 5:30 in the morning, I found myself scaling some unknown peak in utter darkness, with the faint luminance of a flashlight guiding the way. A closer peek revealed a golden pagoda at the top – the Shwetaung Paya , from where the sunrise views of Mrauk U are said to be...

The Author Tun Shwe Khine was born in Rambyae, Rakhine State in 1949; graduated from Yangon University in 1972 and obtained master degree in Geography in 1976. He has served as a tutor in Yangon Worker's College; assistant lecturer and registrar (2) in Sittway Degree College. Now he is the Registrar (1) of Sittway Degree College. He has written several research articles and books, and edited some books, magazines and journals. Some of his works excluding articles are as follows: (1) Rakhine State Regional Geography (in Myanmar), (2) Ancient Cities of Rakhine (in Myanmar), (3) The History of Rakhine Dynasty (in Myanmar), (4) The Thet Tribe in Northern Rakhine (in Myanmar), (5) Rakhine Buddhist Art in Vesali Period (in Myanmar), (6) Rakhine Folk-Tales (in Myanmar), (7) Earlier Writers in Rakhine (in Myanmar), (8). 4 Study of Rakhine Minthami Aye-gyin (in Myanmar), (9)The History of Rakhine Mahamuni (in My anmar and English) and (10) Historical Sites in Rakhine (in Engli...

Author U Shwe Zan is a native of Rakhine Slate Myanmar Naingngan. He passed B.Sc. from University of Yangon in 1952. Joined Burma (Myanmar) Civil Service (Sr.Br.) in 1954. Served as a Senior Branch Officer, Selection Grade Officer and Senior Administrative Officer in different posts at different places in the Union of Myanmar for 24 years. Elected as a member of Rakhine State Peoples' Council in 1978 and served as Secretary of State Council for two successive terms and Chairman of the State Judges Committee for the third term. During tenure of his Slate Committee Service he look the responsibility of editorship and publisher of the Rakhine Stale Magazine issued in commemoration of the lOlh an-niversary of the Rakhine Stale and served as Chairman of the Publishing Committee of Mrauk-U Lan Hnyun(n guide to Mrauk-U) in 1988. Acted also as Chairman of the Compilation Committee of Rakiiine State Gazetteer comprising (5) volumes (unpublished). THE GOLDEN MRAUK-U , ...

Mrauk U - A Cultural Heritage Site Natural Heritage Significance of ecological systems and natural heritage Myanmar is a land of wonders. Among the wonders of Asia in the Union of Myanmar, Marauk U in Rakhine State is a notable wonder from a period between Bagan and Konbaung Dynasties of Mainland Myanmar, bridging two important periods of the History of Myanmar. Mrauk U is located in Rakhine, the southernmost region of the Union of Myanmar. Mrauk U is in the strong strategic location surrounded by mountains and hills. Undisturbed environments or environments demonstrating natural process at work i.e. wetlands, wilderness areas, or coastal areas The unique characteristics of the topography are the tiers of hills and mountain ranges around Maruk U. Between the hills and Mountains are natural passes, fenced with earth walls and shore walls. Mrauk U is loc...

Mrauk U, Rakhine State, Myanmar For centuries, Mrauk U, the royal capital of Rakhine (Arakan), prospered on international trade and readily took in people and ideas from across the Asian continent and beyond, a flourishing civilization with the most cosmopolitan court in modern Myanmar history . At its height in the mid-16th to mid-17th centuries, Mrauk U drew its wealth from the coastal trade with its neighboring countries. Its planning, architecture and sculpture were influenced by developments from beyond its shores. From the early centuries of the present era, Mrauk U was ruled by Rakhine (Arakanese) kings who adopted Rakhine, Pali and Indian titles and traditions to suit their own environment. Indian Brahmins conducted the royal ceremonial, Buddhist monks spread their teachings, traders came and went and artists and architects used Indian models for inspiration.