Aggmeda Khyang

18th-century Buddhist monastery with brass Buddha and old manuscripts

Cox's Bazar has a significant Marma Buddhist community descended from Arakanese migrants who arrived in the 18th and 19th centuries, and Aggmeda Khyang is their most important monastery. The main hall holds a large brass Buddha and a collection of old religious manuscripts. The compound is active, well-maintained, and open to respectful visitors.

The monastery sits on the edge of the old town, a short walk or rickshaw ride from the main beach. Dress modestly and remove shoes before entering any of the religious buildings. The best time to visit is in the morning when the monks are around. The site is less visited than the beaches or Ramu but gives a more direct insight into the area's Arakanese Buddhist heritage than the village 10 kilometres away.

things to do sight
A story
Aggmeda Khyang was founded in 1710 during the Arakanese migration into what is now Bangladesh. The monastery's main Buddha figure, cast in brass and measuring nearly three metres, was brought from Arakan (present-day Rakhine State in Myanmar) and is said to predate the monastery itself. The Marma Buddhist community that maintains the temple descends from those same Arakanese migrants, giving the place an unbroken cultural thread across three centuries.