SITTWE & MRAUK U

The jetty adjoins the fish market and every morning presents a scene of colour and liveliness. The black sand beach is a rarity in Myanmar as it is elsewhere. Taking a leisurely boat ride along the Kakadan River takes you to the ancient city of Mrauk Oo, with its ancient temples built with thick stone walls.

Sittwe and Mrauk-U are located close to Myanmar border with Bangladesh. Mrauk-U is without doubt the most interesting and attractive archeological site in Myanmar, after Bagan. Up-river from Sittwe, Mrauk-U was an ancient city in the 15th century and is only accessible by boat. Shittaung is the best preserved temple in Mrauk-U, was built in 1535 by King Minbin, the most powerful of Rakhine kings The caves, tunnels, passages and Buddha images are utterly intriguing. Although the infrastructure is still inadequate, a visit to the "lost city" of Mrauk-U is a growing destination in Myanmar. Air Bagan operates regular flights to Sittwe.