| Situated in the Rakhine State, Thandwe is located only 10km north-east of Ngapali, a golden sandy beach and often visited on the way through. Thandwe has been a key Rakhine centre for many centuries and may originally have been an independent principality with the Sanskrit name of Dvaravati (roughly translated as ‘Gated Kingdom’). When the British stationed a garrison here at the turn of the century, they twisted the name into ‘Sandoway’. An important trading centre for centuries with many buildings dating back to colonial times, Thandwe is another town in Myanmar that has a distinctive atmosphere of days once been. Three stupas perched on hillsides at the edge of town are Sandaw Paya, Nandaw Paya and Andaw Paya which are of mild interest. |
