A private boat trip of about five or six hours from Sittwe will get to Mrauk Oo, once a centre for one of Myanmar’s most powerful kingdoms, it straddles at the bank of Kaladan River. It was founded in 1433, though in the common practice of the time & dynastic legends endowed the kingdom with a make-believe three thousands-year history. In the late century, the city became a free port that traded with the Middle East, Asia, Holland, Portugal and Spain. Today’s Mrauk Oo is surrounded by rice fields, which are well watered by the annual monsoon, which brings up to 508 cm of rain per annum. Also cultivated in the region are coconut, banana, jackfruit, mango, areca nut, citrus, leeches and a variety of vegetables. While Bagan is known as Land of Pagodas, Mrauk Oo is considered as Fortress City in Myanmar. The most complex and well preserved of the surviving Mrauk Oo temples, Shitttaung Temple was built in the 16th century by the most powerful of the Rakhine kings. The name means ‘Shrine of the 80,000 Images’, a reference to the number of holy images found inside. With its thick walls, tiny windows and commanding views of the surrounding area, the temple may have also served as a royal fortress during times of attacks. Andaw Thein Temple was originally built in 1521 and rebuilt in 1596 to enshrine a piece of the tooth relic supposedly brought from Sri Lanka by king Minbin in the early 16th century. Yadanabon Pagoda, which is the largest stupa in the area and damaged by WW II bombing; only the ‘bell’ portion and base remain standing, Dukkhanthein Temple, a loose translation of the name is “Ordination hall that spiritually reinforces the town” and it certainly looks like a huge bunker form the outside. The temple which houses 146 Buddha niches along white sandstone relieves depicting 64 different types of hairstyles for the wives of Mrauk Oo nobility, Pitakaktaik, which literally means Buddhist cannon with distinguishing features such as five-tiered roofline and beautifully decorated east-facing entranceway, Laungbanpyauk Pagoda & Sakyamanaung Pagoda are worth visiting. Shwetaung Hill offers the charming beauty of sunset and the experience of taking boat along Mrauk Oo canal in the evening would be fabulous. There are only a few 3* hotels available but with spacious rooms, bathroom & air-condition attached. They are clean and acceptable enough for foreign visitors. Even though we have few choices to dine at local restaurants, the hotels serve good enough foods. Since it is still remote area, the electricity is usually cut and some hotels offer 24 hours electricity with their own generators.