Sunlit nights: March 2015

Fantasy landscapes of Mrauk-U

Mrauk-U looks like a sleepy village in northern Myanmar, far removed from the world. It was also the capital of the medieval Arakan (Rakhine) empire. In its days of power, it was a prosperous trading and religious centre; and a meeting point for Bengali and Mughal princes and Portuguese, Dutch and French traders. A myth surrounding the settlement of the lands around Mrauk-U says that a monkey and a peacock gave birth to a mighty prince who built the city of Mrauk-U near a jungle.

Myths are not hard to believe while visiting Mrauk-U. The surrealistic and fantasy-like landscape which stays shrouded in mist, and rising dust from the paths and roads around, give it a very rustic and dreamy atmosphere. Pagodas add to the mysterious nature of the place, with cave temples and passages holding hundreds of Buddha statues and carvings of humans, deities and animals.

Path near Andaw Thein Pagoda

Hundreds of stupas at Koe Thaung Pagoda

Mysterious deserted passages in Koe Thaung Pagoda

Villages and pagodas near Mrauk-U

Buddha statue inside Koe Thaung Pagoda

Village life

Sculptures inide Htukkanthein Pagoda

Sculptures inside Shite Thaung Pagoda

Htukkanthein Pagoda at sunset

Hidden statue of Buddha at Pizi Paya

View of Mrauk-U from Pizi Paya

A procession to celebrate young boys joining monkhood

A typical scene at Mrauk-U - foggy and mystical

Taking the river journey from Sittwe to Mrauk-U

Local people making their way along Sittwe River

Vesali Hotel at Mrauk-U, where I stayed

A beautiful little farewell gift from the staff at Vesali hotel - a handmade bouquet!

Inle Lake

Hidden Buddha statue

Leg-rowing fishermen on Inle Lake

Indein Village on the eastern banks of the lake

Local women going home from the market

Boating is the main transport means for those living on Inle Lake

Weavers of the long-necked tribes

Ruins of Indein Pagoda

Tree temples

Sculptures on the temple walls

Historical cities of Mandalay

Mandalay, in northern Myanmar, is a collection of many ancient cities (Amarapura, Mandalay, Sagaing, Mingun, Inwa) that sit on the banks of the Ayerwadi River. There are beautiful temples, monasteries and ruins in each city. Visiting these places gives a sense of the grandeur and cultural progressiveness of ancient Burmese civilizations.