Shite-thaung Temple, Buddhist temple in Mrauk U, Myanmar.
Shite-thaung Temple is a Buddhist temple in Mrauk U with a central bell-shaped stupa surrounded by four smaller stupas at each corner and numerous additional stupas throughout the grounds. The main hall holds hundreds of Buddha statues, with some remaining in their original positions while others have been moved from nearby sites.
The temple was commissioned by King Min Bin in 1536 following his successful military campaign and conquest of the Bengal region. This construction represented one of the major building projects undertaken during the height of the Arakanese kingdom.
The temple corridors display extensive stone carvings showing deities, kings, and scenes from Buddhist texts that blend religious and worldly subjects. These reliefs reveal how faith and daily life were understood together in this place.
The main hall is accessible to visitors, allowing you to view the statues and reliefs up close as you move through the space. Comfortable footwear helps when exploring the winding corridors, which take time to navigate fully.
Three layers of labyrinthine corridors encircle the main hall, creating a nested space that visitors must navigate gradually from outer to inner chambers. This architectural arrangement makes exploring the entire complex feel like discovering different levels of the structure.
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