A new tourist site, which is becoming increasingly more popular in recent years, is the old capital of Rakhine (Arakan) called Mrauk Oo, a town 80 kilometres from the north of Sittwe. Local people refer to it as Myo Haung, the old city. It is situated in Rakhine State, on the western part of Myanmar.

Mrauk Oo was once known as the Golden City by foreign travelers due to its strategic location on the costal region of Bay of Bengal and being a focus of trade. The early 17th century was Rakhine Golden Age for its trading with western countries such as Netherlands, Spain, Portugal, Italy and south India. It was an important free trade port and is now an archaeological complex with several interesting buildings and temples. In its heyday, Mrauk Oo was one of the richest cities in all of Asia and there are many places of interest to visit in the ruins of this once great city.

Mrauk Oo, a prominent capital, was carefully built in a strategic location by leveling three small hills. The pagodas are strategically located on hilltops and serve as fortresses. They were once actually used to prevent enemy intrusion. There are moats, artificial lakes and canals and the whole area could be hooded to repulse attackers. All over the old city and the surrounding hills are dotted with in numerable pagodas and Buddha images. Among many remains, some are still being used as places of worship today and some are now being restored to their original splendor.
Mrauk Oo can easily be reached via Sittwe, the capital of Rakhine State. From Yangon, there are daily flights to Sittwe and there are small private boats as well as larger public boats plying through the Kaladan River to Mrauk Oo. It will take about five hours. The legendary Shitthaung Pagoda, ordination halls and tattooed Chin women are some of the highlights in Mrauk Oo. A tour through Myanmar would not be worth while without exploring Mrauk Oo, an ancient city that reflects the different characteristics of cultural and religious heritage of Myanmar.

The Shitthaung Pagoda - About half a mile north of the palace site is the Shitthaung Pagoda or the Shrine of 80,000 images. It stands on a promontory half way up to the west side of a hillock named Phokhaung Taung. The donor of the Shitthaung was Minbargyi, the most powerful king of the Mrauk¬U Dynasty. According to the stone script inscription he was also called as Minbin and reigned Rakhine from 1531 to 1553 A.D. The King built this remarkable Pagoda in 1535 A.D after the successful defense against the Portuguese attack on the City of Mrauk-U.

Koethaung Pagoda - To the north of the Pisei Hill at a distance of 400 yards is the Koethaung Pagoda. The pagoda stands on a plain and is surrounded by paddy fields. The remaining lowest tier is about 30 feet high including earth foundation. The King Mintaikkha who was the son of the King Minbin, the donor of the great Shitthaung Pagoda, built the Koethaung Pagoda in 1553 A.D. The word Koethaung means ninety thousand and thus the temple is supposed to contain ninety thousand Buddhas.

Andawthein Temple - The Andawthein Temple, in which is enshrined a tooth-relic of Buddha, stands at a distance of 86 feet to the north¬east of the Shitthaung Pagoda. The shrine is an octagonal structure of pure sandstone, with two internal concentric passages. Fifteen small circular pagodas, built of bricks stand on the platforms of south, north and west of the shrine. On the east, there is a prayer hall, which has an entrance each on the east, north, and south sides; a stonewall divides it from the outer court. The east facade of the shrine measures 31 feet from north to south and is only 14 feet high from the ground to the roof. On each side of the entrance are three niches which get into the wall, 6' high, 1' 2" deep, and 2' wide, and these contain stone images of Buddha. Passing through the vaulted passage a gallery opens on either side. Each is 3' 7" wide and 9' high.

Dukkanthein Temple - Dukkanthein temple stands on a hill, 30 feet high, having a flat surface like that of a drum. King Minphalaung built the pagoda in 1571 A.D. Like the Shitthaung and the Andaw shrines, Dukkanthein was built of hewn sandstones and layers of bricks over the roof. It measures 190 feet from north to south and 200 feet from east to west. It is reached by stone stairways, 8' broad, situated on the east and south. These stairways measuring 106 feet are built of massive stonewalls on the north, east and south. The west one which is slightly convex is connected to an oblong chamber.