Waithali

Waithali located in today's northern Rakhine State, Myanmar, was the capital of the Waithali Kingdom from 370 to 818 [1]. Like all of the Arakanese Kingdoms to emerge, the Kingdom of Waithali was based on trade between the East (Pyu city-states, China, the Mons), and the West (India, Bengal, and Persia) [1]. The kingdom flourished off of China-India maritime routes [1]. Waithali was a famed trade port with thousands of ships coming annually at its height [1]. The city was built on the banks of a tidal creek and was enclosed by brick walls [1]. The Waithali site is approximately 70 kilometres north-east of Sittwe, and east of Ram Chaung, a tributary of the Kaladan river [1]. Like its predecessor, Dhanyawadi, the former capital site has fallen into ruin and much of it is now deserted [1]. Only a few temples and traces of the old city wall remain [1].