SHITTHAUNG TEMPLE

To the north of the palace remains stands the Shitthaung Temple. It is certainly the best preserved building of Mrauk-U. A few steps allow us to access a first terrace, itself surmounted by a second platform. The body of the temple is then a veritable maze of intertwined passages here and there. Perched on a hill, the temple, which looks more like a fortress than a place of worship, dominates the entire Arakan region. You will find there a perfect observation post to enjoy magnificent sunrises and sunsets. This temple was built in 1535 by King Min Bin, certainly at the most glorious time of the Arakan kingdom, to commemorate the last victory of His Grandeur over the Portuguese and Bengali who had dared to confront him.

On the south and west facades of the sanctuary are erected small pagodas decorated with beautiful bas-reliefs. One also discovers there, turned towards the interior of the temple, a carved Buddha, then an ogre, a naga and some other mythological animals. Symbols that transport us both in history and in time. Also, other Hindu deities still find their place in the galleries, next to the Buddhist sculptures illustrating the famous jataka. And finally, King Min Bin, the father of this monument, is represented in a somewhat astonishing sculpture, the sculpture of a man with six arms. Go figure... What is certain, even today, is that this visit is one of the must-see events.