The old capital of Arakan up the Kaladan, long past its political height: an irregular circle of brick walls about 9.6 km round enclosing about 4.4 square km, a walled palace site of about 0.26 sq km with a moat, and aerial evidence of irrigation channels and tanks; most archaeology dates to the fourth to sixth centuries (or the first century) (English Wikipedia, Dhanyawadi).
The chronicle legend makes it the Buddha's visit of 554 BC and the casting of the Mahamuni, the bronze image that Arakanese belief says was made in his presence; Anawrahta is said to have come for it and failed to move it; the Burmese carry it off in 1785. The keepers are not named.
Who holds it
- Title
- Headman or the king's officer
- Since
- not known
- Born
- not known
- Family
- not known
- Confidence
- low
No source we read names a holder.
Lord in 1200
The king of Arakan; the keepers of the Mahamuni.
How things stand that morning
A decayed old city and a shrine that is the holiest object west of the Irrawaddy.
Walls and castle
The brick circuit of the old city and the palace moat (archaeology).
Places of note
- Dhanyawadi: Walled old city.
Where the sources disagree
Evidence: Archaeology of the walls is firm and early; the shrine's keepers and 1200 life are not known.
Primary sources for Kingdom of Arakan (the Lemro)
Chronicles, registers, sagas and inscriptions written in or near 1200 that cover this entry. Each has its own page with editions, translations and where to read it.
- The Glass Palace Chronicle of the Kings of Burma, The Royal Historical Commission of King Bagyidaw (Monywe Sayadaw and others), drawing on U Kala's Maha Yazawin (about 1724) and earlier chronicles (1829 to 1832). The standard Burmese court chronicle, compiled six centuries after 1200 from older chronicles now lost. Read online
- Epigraphia Birmanica, being lithic and other inscriptions of Burma, Various, edited by Taw Sein Ko, C. Duroiselle and C. O. Blagden (inscriptions of the 11th to 15th centuries; the series ran from 1919 to 1936). The Archaeological Survey of Burma's series of edited inscriptions with full translations. Read online
- Inscriptions of Pagan, Pinya and Ava; Inscriptions of Burma, Various (the Pagan kings, queens, ministers and donors), edited by Tun Nyein, Taw Sein Ko, G. H. Luce and Pe Maung Tin (inscriptions of the 11th to 14th centuries; editions 1899 and 1933 to 1956). The dedicatory inscriptions of Pagan are the only contemporary texts for the kingdom of Narapatisithu (reigning 1174 to 1211). Read online
Sources and studies
Last revised 4 November 2026. Published 4 November 2026. Suggest a correction on the OMNIA Discord.