From Wikitravel

Mrauk U is a medieval town and archaeological site in Rakhine State, Myanmar. It was formerly known as Myohaung. All foreign nationals must pay a US$5 fee for their stay in Mrauk U.

[edit] Get in

[edit] By boat

The journey through the backwaters and then up the river is a wonderful trip (contemplative and delightful). The government run ferry runs from Sittwe to Mrauk U every Mon/Tue/Thu/Sat from Sittwe at 07:00 (8 hours, US$4) and from Mrauk U to Sittwe every Tue/Wed/Fri/Sun at 07:00 (8 hours, US$4). Deck chairs are available for rent (US$0.50) and food is available for purchase. The ferry is not in great condition but seems safe enough and the journey is worthwhile with vendors plying the boat and lots of friendly people to chat with. Be warned though that the ferry has been known to skip a day or two every now and then so, if relying on it for travel, keep a reasonable buffer to avoid getting stuck. It is not possible to rent a boat in Mrauk U so, if you arrive by ferry, you'll most likely depart by ferry. A fast ferry (3 hours, $20) discontinued operations in 2005.

Private boats are available for rent in Sittwe and do the trip considerably faster (4 to 5 hours) for US$50-80 depending on your negotiating skills and the number in your party. The principle advantage in renting a private boat is that you are no longer tied to the ferry timings. Flights from Yangon arrive in Sittwe in the afternoon and it is easy to rent a boat and be in Mrauk U in the evening which means a travel time of one day from Yangon. With the government ferry, count on at least two days to get from Yangon to Mrauk U, longer if you arrive the day before a ferry off-day.

[edit] By road

Buses leave for Sittwe and Yangon every morning but Foreign Independent Travelers are not permitted to travel to Mrauk U overland.

[edit] Get around

In Mrauk U you can either walk, rent a bicycle (available from most hotels), hire a trishaw, or hire a horse cart.

[edit] Understand

Mrauk U (literally, and no one knows why, Mrauk-U means monkey's egg!) may seem to be a sleepy village today but not so long ago it was the capital of a reasonable sized empire where Portuguese, Dutch, and French traders rubbed shoulders with the literati of Bengal and Mughal princes on the run.

[edit][add listing] See

Foreign nationals must pay a US$5 fee in Mrauk U. The official counter is in the Shittaung Pagoda but the government fee collector will track you down sooner or later if you miss him.

Mrauk U was declared capital of the Arakanese kingdom in 1431. At its peak, Mrauk U controlled half of Bangladesh, modern day Rakhine State and the western part of Lower Burma. As the city grew, many pagodas and temples were built. Several of them remain today, and is the main attraction of the city.

The Archaeology Museum (Free), just inside the Royal Palace has a collection of artifacts from the Mrauk U sites - Buddhas, slabs with inscriptions, Wethali era coins, paintings that show Mrauk U in its heyday, and an excellent model of Mrauk U that will help you get your bearings. Crumbling walls is all that remains of the Royal Palace itself.

[edit][add listing] Do

Chin Villages Day trips to semi-remote Chin villages can be arranged at most hotels (US$40).

Wethali Now a small village but fifteen hundred years ago Wethali was the capital of an ancient Arakan kingdom. While temples are probably buried under the many mounds that dot the area, the only thing to see today is the layout of the palace and a statue known as the Great Image of Hsu Taung Pre. Wethali is a pleasant two hour outing from Mrauk U by car, or all day outing by bicycle.

Mahamuni Paya This pagoda is 40km (forty bumpy kilometers!) north of Mrauk U and once housed the mahamuni Buddha that now resides in the Mahamuni Paya in Mandalay. There are several ancient artifacts on view at the Paya and at the small museum near the shrine. Hire a jeep (US$30-US$50) for a day outing to Wethali and the Mahamuni Paya from Mrauk U.

[edit][add listing] Buy

Southwest of the temple area there is a market.

[edit][add listing] Eat

• Several small restaurants are available at the market.
• Pyae Wa Restaurant in the market offers authentic Rakhine food. Ask for butterfish with rice.
• Mo Cherry restaurant offers good Chinese and semi-authentic Rakhine food. The food is good and less risky than the places in the market but, if you have the time, explore other restaurants, often unnamed, and you'll be pleasantly surprised! To get there, follow the Yangon Sittwe Road by the Narawat hotel and Mrauk U hotel east to the crossing, then turn right. After a few meters you see the restaurant on the left side.
• Good meals are to be had in the Nawarat hotel and in the Mrauk U hotel, see the Sleep section below.

[edit][add listing] Drink

This region is quite remote, and therefore the prices are somewhat higher. A bottle of Myanmar Beer is about 2500 kyat.

[edit][add listing] Sleep

[edit] Budget

• Royal City Guest House, Mini Ba Gyi Rd (Around the corner from the Sittwe jetty). Simple rooms, some with attached bath. Two bungalows (concrete rooms) across the street. Friendly and helpful but, as it is on the main path to the jetty, it can be very noisy! No generator. US$5-15.  edit

• Prince Hotel, Mraund Bwe Road, Alzee Quarter, Mrauk U, ☎ (+9543) 24200 Ext: 50174 (mraukuprince@gmail.com), [1]. Recently renovated with bungalow style rooms a bit away from the city (easy bike ride). The best amongst budget choices. US$8-15.  edit

• Pleasant Island Guest House (On a tiny island close to Royal City). Shower, WC; Bungalows, simple and close to the market. edit

• Tha Zin Pan Khaing Guest House, Myothit St.. This hotel is not licensed for foreigners. edit

• Mya Nann Thein Gyi Guest House, Maung Bwe Road (Next to the market). Excellent location but, unfortunately, not licensed for foreigners. edit

[edit] Mid-range

• Nawarat Hotel (E-27, Yangon-Sittwe-Road, Nyaungpinzay Quarter, opposite the Mrauk U hotel, approx. 200m from the Shitthaung Pagoda; nawarat@myanmars.net - Yangon-Office: 105-B, Parami Rd., Mayangone Township, Yangon; phone: 01-703885, 661159, Fax: 01-651234) - very friendly, pleasant hotel; AC, shower/bath tub, WC, TV, refrigerator; clean and beautiful, not too large rooms in bungalows; incl. breakfast - US$18-48

• Mrauk U Hotel (Yangon-Sittwe Rd., Nyaungpinzay Qtr., opposite the Narawath Hotel, phone: 23060) - AC, shower, WC, TV, fridge; very large rooms; large garden; well equipped; note that this hotel is run by the government of Myanmar - US$30-50

• Vesali Resort Hotel (near the Shwetaung Hügel; phone: 01-526593, 525609 Fax: 01-526325) - including breakfast; good food - US$ 35-45

[edit] Splurge

There are no real luxury hotels in Mrauk U.

[edit] Get out

The area around Mrauk U is restricted and all foreign travelers must sleep in the town itself. For day trips, see the See and Do sections.

This is a usable article. It has information for getting in as well as some complete entries for restaurants and hotels. An adventurous person could use this article, but please plunge forward and help it grow!