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Capital of Rakhine State, Myanmar
Photo: Mutt Lunker, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Sittwe or Akyab (Burmese: စစ်တွေမြို့; Shan: ၸိတ်ႉတူၺ်ႇ) is a city (pop. 120,000 in 2019) and district in Rakhine State, Western Myanmar. It is off limits due to the Myanmar Civil War.
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Built in 1255.
A different and modern building and the No.1 sight on Tripadvisor.
U Ottama monastery.
Leftovers of a dark and very near past. Built in 1859, this is what remains after the crackdown on the Muslim population (Rohingya) after riots broke out in 2012, which killed 200 people. Most of this community (140,000) has been displaced and now lives outside of the city in camps, not accessible to tourist.
Maka Kuthala Kyaungdawgyi
An odd museum with a mixture of colonial era and Buddhist artifacts. This is almost a must for a stay in Sittwe. A little tour is included. The museum is in a colonial mansion that is itself well worth a visit.
An easy way to get up to speed on the culture of the region. The visit takes less than an hour.
At sunset, visit this point for a glimpse of the sun setting over the Bay of Bengal. Walk back along the Strand to the City Point Restaurant/Music for some beer and music by the water.
The city is known for its fruit bats which take wing by the hundreds at dusk. Try this location for a good sight.
A group of islands, which are used for oil production and by local fishermen. A chartered or regular boat can be used to get there, but you will need a permit to go there. The regular boat starts from the quay at Kaladan River.
To enjoy the fresh fish you saw at the market, try this restaurant.
Similar to River Valley Seafoods, but mostly cheaper.
The guesthouse offers simple rooms with fan and shared bathroom, as well as more expensive ones with AC, en-suite and fridge.
The rooms have fan and en-suite bathroom.
A decent budget option with 20 rooms with en-suite bathrooms and some have AC.
Air-con; private bath; generator.
New hotel, decent, clean and business-style rooms with TV. Air-con; restaurant; private bath; generator. Restaurant on the upper storey.
A decent guesthouse.
New and fresh, including everything a not so tight budget longs for. The restaurant on top is recommended.
AC, en-suite bathroom, big rooms, pool and restaurant.
This is actually more a See than a Buy. If you like seeing various kinds of fish by the thousands, this is your place. Busy and fascinating.
A lively town market.
By car or bus
The road to Sittwe (via Pyay) is quite comfortable if you have your own car. Buses also travel the route. Either way, set aside two days for the journey from Yangon.
By boat
The journey through the backwaters and then up the river is a wonderful trip. There are some concerns regarding the security on the boat, robberies have occurred.
By plane
Most sights can be reached on foot if you stay in one of the guesthouses in the centre. Trishaws and motorbike taxis are readily available and the easiest way to get around for destinations outside this range.
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Sittwe · Regional · AKY
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