Rakhine: Islands, River Landscapes and Temple History

Rakhine brings together island destinations, river landscapes and historic temples. When planning your trip, you can sort the places by different interests: the islands offer geographical reference points along the coast, Sittwe is shaped by its rivers and a viewpoint, and temples are the focus in Mrauk U. This gives you several clearly distinct perspectives on a trip to Rakhine.

Islands and Waterfront Locations

Cheduba Island is a visitor destination in Rakhine State and is inhabited predominantly by Arakanese and Burmese people. Myingun Island is also a place to visit; it lies five kilometres south of Sittwe. Both are among the larger islands off the coast of Rakhine State. Myingun has two distinct points of reference for its location: the island lies south of Sittwe and is separated from the mainland by a two-kilometre-wide strait. Cheduba and Myingun give the coastal geography concrete names, while the location details also place Myingun in relation to the city and the mainland.

Sittwe Between Rivers and the Bay

Sittwe lies on an estuarine plain at the confluence of the Kaladan, Mayu and Lay Mro rivers. The city has a viewpoint overlooking the Bay of Bengal and the mouth of the Kaladan River. The Kaladan is therefore a shared point of reference: it is one of the rivers at the confluence and also features in the view towards the bay through its mouth. The three river names describe the city’s location, while the viewpoint directs your gaze towards the coast and the bay.

Temple History and Architecture

The ruined city of Mrauk Oo dates back to the 15th century. The Shittaung Pagoda, also known as the Shrine of the 80,000 Images, was built in the 16th century. The Koethaung Pagoda is the largest temple in Mrauk U; King Dikkha had it built between 1554 and 1556. Together, these dates span the period from the 15th century to a construction period in the mid-16th century, providing a tangible framework for the region’s temple history.

The Le-myet-hna Temple offers another architectural detail: it stands at the northwest corner of the Shite-thaung Temple and has four entrances with eight seated Buddha statues. Its location establishes the temple’s position, while the entrances and statues describe its architectural design. Alongside the historical dates, specific features of temple architecture are also a focus.

In Sittwe, Sittwe Pharagri Monastery is considered important and is sometimes regarded as the centre of Buddhist life in the city. This local description adds a perspective on religious life in Sittwe to the history of its temples.

Mountains and Further Coastal Context

High mountains and dense jungle separate Rakhine from the rest of Myanmar. The Arakan Mountains separate Rakhine State from central Myanmar; at Victoria Peak, they reach an elevation of 10,049 feet. These landscape details give the regional context a concrete scale: the mountains and jungle describe the separation, while the peak provides an elevation reference within the Arakan Mountains.

Kanthaya Beach is in the wider area around the destination. The beach is considered quiet and peaceful and is about 100 kilometres from Ngapali Beach. This adds another coastal location as a regional point of reference, described in terms of its peaceful and tranquil character.

Discover more destinations: Thandwe District, Sittwe, Kyaukpyu, Mrauk-U, Munaung, Myaungmya, Irrawaddy, Sagaing Region

Return to the main travel overview: Myanmar.