ULA safeguards Mrauk-U's ancient heritage

By Admin 25 Nov 2025

DMG Newsroom

25 November 2025, Mrauk-U

The United League of Arakan (ULA) is working to preserve and protect ancient heritage sites in Mrauk-U, the former capital of Arakan State, according to local residents.

Residents and people close to the ULA report that, in addition to cleaning pagodas and temples, the moats and ditches around Mrauk-U are being systematically dammed, and ancient sites are being restored to their original states.

"The moats and dams are well-sealed and have signs posted saying, 'No fishing' and 'No littering'. The pagodas are also cleaned regularly. The ancient artifacts are also carefully preserved," said a person close to the ULA.

Some of Mrauk-U's historic pagodas, archaeological buildings, and artifacts were damaged by airstrikes carried out by Myanmar's military regime, but the ULA is continuing protection efforts to prevent further destruction.

Residents say they are urging encroaching homes and shops to be relocated so that roads in Mrauk-U remain within their designated widths.

"The ULA has told the owners that it will demolish shops and houses that have been built beyond the designated area. We don't know how far they will have to set back. We haven't said what other houses will be demolished yet," said a woman in her 40s from Mrauk-U.

Mrauk-U, founded by King Min Saw Mon, is rich in cultural heritage: its landscape includes temples such as Shitthaung, Koethaung, Htukkanthein, Le-myet-hna, and Mahn Ngarpar, as well as ancient fortifications, city walls, moats, and palace grounds.

Local youth are raising concerns about new construction. They say houses are being built over the ancient water-supply systems, including ditches, canals, and dams, and that waste and sewage continue to be dumped into the waterways.

"We need to protect ancient pagodas and moats from being turned into real estate by razing them to the ground. Traffic in the city should be restricted according to the situation. Especially around Shitthaung Temple, heavy vehicles should be restricted. This should be specially informed. To keep the creeks and drainage systems clean, toilet pipes should be specially restricted," said a young Arakanese woman.

Mrauk-U is a landmark for Myanmar and a source of pride for the Arakanese people.

A draft application to add Mrauk-U to the UNESCO World Heritage List was submitted to the UNESCO World Heritage Centre in Paris in September 2019, and the final nomination was submitted on 30 December 2021. However, the process was halted due to renewed fighting in 2023.