Shite-Thaung Temple
Shite-Thaung temple, also spelled Shitthaung, is a famous temple in Mrauk U. The name means ‘Temple of 80,000 Buddha Images’, and is also known as the ‘Temple of Victory’.
It is located on the western face of Pokhaung Hill, north of the Royal Palace, and adjacent to the Andaw-thein Temple.
Shite-Thaung temple was built in 1535–1536 by King Min Bin to commemorate his conquest of Bengal. It is typical of the many Buddhist temples found in Burma: a central bell-shaped stupa, surrounded by four smaller stupas at the corners, and a multitude of even-smaller stupas surrounding them. At the east of the temple, there is a recent (though about 75 years old) addition of a flight of stairs and tazaung.
There is a central hall at the heart of the temple, which can be easily accessed. Hundreds of Buddha statues line the main hall, some of them in their original positions, others moved from nearby excavation sites. However, the Shitthaung’s most prominent feature is not the central hall, but rather the three layers of maze-like corridors that encircle the main hall. The three corridors contain countless reliefs of Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, Kings of Spiritual abodes, Devas, guardian spirits, the 550 Jatakas, Arakanese culture and animals, both real and mythical.
Adjacent to it lies another famous temple, the Htukkanthein Temple (Htukkan Ordination Hall).
