In the centre of the modern town, a low walled enclosure marks the site of the Rakhine royal palace. The wooden buildings burned long ago — the Burmese armies who sacked Mrauk-U in 1784 destroyed nearly everything that would not survive a torch — but the stone foundations, the moats and three concentric walls give a sense of the scale. The palace at its height housed several thousand people.
Adjacent to the site is the small but worthwhile Mrauk-U Archaeological Museum, with carved stelae, gold coinage from Mrauk-U's coastal trade, Rakhine bronzes, and exhibits explaining the kingdom's diplomatic links with Mughal India and Portuguese mercenaries. Entry is included in the Mrauk-U archaeological zone ticket.