Andaw Thein Temple
Andaw Thein Temple first became famous as a reliquary for one of the Buddha's teeth, which historians believe may have originally come from Sri Lanka. The name literally translates to “tooth shrine,” and tours of Mrauk U stop here to appreciate the distinctive pagodas, very much unlike what you’ll see in other parts of Myanmar.
Like the rest of Mrauk U, this site dates back to the 16th century and the height of the Arakan kingdom. Unlike the ruins of sites like Bagan , the site here hasn’t been overly restored. Instead, it’s still very much a part of the local community.
This is one of the many bell-shaped pagodas that surrounds the famous Shitthaung Temple, and you’ll find this one near the temple’s northwestern corner. It comrpises eight outward facing Buddhas – eight carries significant symbolic weight in Buddhism and is considered an auspicious number. There’s one artifact you’re guaranteed not to see: the tooth that the shrine originally housed. The relic has since been moved to a monastery to protect it from treasure hunters.
