Mrauk U is generally located 11 kilometres (6.8 mi) on the alluvial plain at the east bank of the Kaladan River in Rakhine State. It was a royal capital of Arakan Kingdom from 1430 until 1785 and one of the largest religious sites in the country. The most significant thing of the pagodas is being made up of sandstones totally. Although Mrauk U is a primarily Buddhist centre, there are several religious buildings of other faiths. The most notable would be the old Santikan Mosque, built during Min Saw Mon's reign (founder of Mrauk U kingdom) in the southeast of the town. Friar Manrique also reveals the presence of a Roman Catholic church and a small number of converts and foreign-born Catholics.
Today Mrauk U is a small town where the old monuments form the backdrop for the daily life of local people. Rare ethnic groups such as Thet, Dinnet, Myo, and Mayamagyi are living around Mrauk U, is a site that receives very few visitors compared to sites as Angkorwat in Cambodia or Ayutthaya in Thailand. Ruined Royal Palace can be found at the center of town, just at the east of the market; 35 kilometer long walls and moats; some remnants of the walls and city gates can still be seen today. The Archeology Museum opens from 9 am until 4.30 pm, admission is US$ 5 per person.
Mrauk U was an important trading port in the 16th and 17th centuries. Ships from many countries frequently anchor-off the city to do trade. Although about 70 kilometers from the sea, Mrauk U could be reached from the Bay of Bengal by ships. In 1785 the Mrauk U Kingdom was conquered by King Bodawpaya of the Konbaung dynasty. The country's most highly revered Buddha image, the Mahamuni image which was cast by King Sandathuria in Dhanyawadi near Mrauk U. The image was taken to Amarapura by Bodawpaya. The sublime image is now enshrined in the Mahamuni temple in Mandalay.