Page 136 - The Rough Guide to Myanmar (Burma)

134 The DelTa anD wesTern MyanMar Mrauk u and around
InFOrMaTIOn anD TOUrs
Tourist information The tourist office (signed “Regional Tours Tours (to local Chin villages and elsewhere) can be
Guides Society”; T09 421 720 168, Ergs.mrauku@gmail arranged through most guesthouses and hotels, or try Aung
.com) is opposite the ferry jetty, although it’s not often Zang (“Mr Fix-It”; T09 421 722 241, Eaungzanmrauku
manned. If you want to arrange a local guide to show you 2015@gmail.com), who can usually be found hanging out
round the temples it’s best to call or email in advance. at the Lay Myoe River Resort Guesthouse (see below).
aCCOMMODaTIOn
2 Electricity supplies to Mrauk U can be temperamental – most upmarket places have their own generators, while budget
options will leave you in the dark.
Golden Star Resort Guesthouse 116 Minbar Gyi Rd Nawarat Hotel Yangon–Sittwe Rd T043 50203. Offers
T09 2507 6538. This is a friendly and competitively priced functional chalets a few minutes’ walk from the main
guesthouse (with singles for just $13). The whole place northern group of temples. It hardly lights a fire of
feels a bit makeshift and tumbledown, but the communal excitement, but it’s comfortable enough. If you pay $13
garden is pleasant. They can be a bit reluctant to rent the more, you can have a quieter room at the back of the
cheaper rooms to foreigners. $15 gardens. $55
Lay Myoe River Resort Guesthouse Minbar Gyi Rd Prince Hotel Myaung Bwe Rd T09 260 701 079,
T09 253 770 556. One of Mrauk U’s cheapest Wmraukuprince.com. In a pleasant rural setting a 10min
accommodation options, with simple boxy rooms with fans walk from town. The rooms here are only so-so, but the
and attached bathrooms (cold water only). It’s basic but family who run this place make up for any discomfort –
reasonably clean, and comes at a very fair price. $15 you’ll barely have time to put your bags down before
Mrauk U Hotel Yangon–Sittwe Rd T09 977 990 036. they’re plying you with tea and snacks. The $40 rooms
First impressions are of a large, moribund hotel, so it comes contain a double bed and bunk beds, making them a good
as a surprise that the rooms are some of the best around bet for young families. They also have six-bed dorms ($15),
with good mattresses, blue sashes on the beds and bright which are probably the cheapest beds in town. $30
bathrooms. The lack of wi-fi is a drag. $50 Royal City Guesthouse Near the ferry dock T043
Mrauk U Palace Resort Alodawpyi St T09 853 2277, 50257. This place is spread across both sides of the road,
Wmraukupalaceresort.com. A palace it most certainly conveniently close to the town and ferry dock. The cheaper
isn’t, but it is a good-value, clean, reliable but rather rooms (fans and cold water only) on the reception side of
unexciting mid-range hotel. Rooms are in individual the road are one of Mrauk U’s better deals – neat, tiled and
bungalows arranged around a garden, which needs a few clean, with writing desks. The handful of fancier bungalows
more years to grow in. $30 opposite (with a/c, hot water and TVs; $40) are spacious
Mrauk U Princess Resort Riverfront T09 850 0556, and nicely furnished, although right next to the road. Don’t
Wmraukuprincess.com. The town’s only upmarket option rely on their wi-fi working. $30
at present – attractive enough, but overpriced in the ★ Shwe Thazin Hotel Yangon–Sittwe Rd T09 265
absence of any competition. Accommodation is in 33 rather 923 233. Mrauk U’s best mid-range option by a long way,
stern-looking black-wood “village houses” lined up next to with attractive stone-and-wood chalets decorated with
a gorgeous lotus pond, which has a swimming pool fancy traditional carvings, which give the impression of
plonked in the middle of it. But considering the price, it’s sleeping inside a temple. Pretty gardens and excellent staff
not all that. $266 round out the deal. $65
eaTInG
For You Minbar Gyi Rd. A decent lunch stop in town, Moe Cherry Northeast corner of the palace complex
serving up a short menu of tasty fried rice, noodles and T09 421 733 711. Deservedly popular with visiting
soups (most featuring either chicken or pork) for around foreigners, the Myanmar curries (around K4000) here are
K3000. Daily 8am–8pm. nicely cooked and served with a decent selection of
Happy Garden Minbar Gyi Rd. Cheery little local café- vegetable side dishes, plus soup. Daily 7am–10pm.
cum-bar set in a cute little wooden building on stilts River Valley Near the ferry dock. An offshoot of the
(although the “garden” below is just a sandy space under popular Sittwe restaurant, set on a pleasant terrace hung
a large awning). The inexpensive mains (K2000–4000) with multicoloured lanterns and serving up an identical
include no-frills noodles and fried rice dishes, plus menu (mains K3500–5000) to its sister, with a big and
grilled fish and the usual Chinese staples. Daily competent (if unremarkable) selection of Chinese-style
7am–11pm. seafood and meat dishes. Daily 7.30am–10pm.

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