Bagan

The town of Bagan (formerly spelled as "Pagan"), central Myanmar (Burma), situated on the left bank of the Irrawaddy River and approximately 90 miles (145 km) southwest of Mandalay. The site of an old capital city of Myanmar, Pagan is a pilgrimage centre and contains ancient Buddhist shrines that have been restored and redecorated and are in current use. Ruins of other shrines and pagodas cover a wide area. An earthquake on July 8, 1975, severely damaged more than half of the important structures and irreparably destroyed many of them. The whole of the Buphaya Pagoda, for nine centuries a landmark for river-boatmen, tumbled into the Irrawaddy and was carried off by the waters. The village also has a school for lacquerware, for which the region is noted. 

Probably the finest largest and best preserved of all the Bagan temples. Ananda Temple suffered considerable damage in the earthquakes in history. The Ananda, built by Kyansittha in 1090, is on a larger scale than the pahtothamya and the Apeyadana and is significantly different in form. The temple is said to represent the endless wisdom of the Buddha.

Thatbyinnyu (or That-byin-nyu, "the Omniscient") Phaya was one of King Sithu's (or Alaungsithu, r. 1113-1167) finest legacies to the Bagan region. The temple was built in 1144. Located just inside the southeastern corner of the old city wall, Thatbyinnyu is Bagan's tallest temple at almost 200 ft.

The Gawdawpalin Pahto was built during the reign of Narapatisithu (1174-1211) and completed during the reign of his successor, Nadaungmya (or Htilominlo, 1211-1234). It is Bagan's second tallest and most imposing of the Bagan temples. The Gawdawpalin a large eastward-facing two-story temple set on a low platform in the center of a walled enclosure with four gateways. Severly damaged by the earthquake of 1975. The tip of the temple, was as high as 180 feet (55m). It is located just to the north of the present Archaeological Museum.

Situated right on the river bank of the Ayeyarwaddy, this pagoda has been claimed to be the oldest in Bagan, dating back to 3rd century AD. The shape is extraordinary being in the shape of a gourd. It was completely destroyed when it tumbled into the river in the 1975 earthquake, but has been totally rebuilt. The Bupaya is setting on a polygonal platform made up of a series of crenulated semi-circular terraces overlooking the river; it has long served as a conspicuous landmark for river travelers. The Bupaya is also a favorite place to watch the sunset.

King Anawrahta built this graceful stupa. The pagoda bell rises from two octagonal bases, which top the five square terraces. The upper terrace of Shwesandaw Pagoda has become a popular sunset-viewing spot. Following his conquest of Thaton, Anawrahta built this very graceful circular pagoda in 1057.

The gateway was built during the 9th century, by King Pyin Pyar Min (A.D 846-878). He built the fortress of Bagan with 12 gateways. The Tharaba Gateway was located on the east side of the palace. It was used as the main gate to the city. "Tharaba" meaning "The Gate which can prevent the arrows of the enemy". The gate is guarded by Min Maha Giri (the brother) and Namadaw (the sister) spirits on each side of the gate. They were brutally killed by the king lest the mighty brother would become a rival to the throne. The images are still kept in the gate shrines and given respect by the people of Bagan and the neighbouring area.

The Sulamani (occasionally Sulamuni) Guphaya, or Pahto, is one of Bagan's premier temple attractions. The name itself means Crowning Jewel or Small Ruby. It was the first and most important temple of the late period (1170-1300) of Bagan monument building. It was one of many temples and stupas built by Narapatisithu. This temple is similar to Htilominlo and the Gawdawpalin in architecture but with better interior lighting. It stands beyond the Dhammayangyi Temple. Important features of the Sulamani include its fine brickwork and use of stone in both load-bearing areas as well as on vulnerable external corner elements. The interior was once painted with fine frescoes but only dim traces can be seen today.

It is one of the four famous pagodas in Bagan. King Narathu built Dhammayangyi temple during A.D 1165. The name Dhammayangyi came from the word Dhamma Ranthi. The Dhammayangyi, extending approximately 255 feet on each of its four sides, is Bagan’s most massive shrine. Among the four extraordinary temples in Bagan, Dhammayangyi is well known for the mass and thickness of the temple. The Dhammayangyi remains one of the most unique and intriguin.

The new Bagan Archaeological Museum was opened on 17 April 1998. It is now a three storey building built in an octagonal design as the base. The building is fully furnished with Myanmar handicrafts.

The ground floor consists of (1) the main hall, (2) Arts and Crafts of Bagan Era, (3) Languages and Literatures, (4) Portraits of the Bagan's society and battle fields, (5) Archaeological Designs.

The first floor consists of (1) Ancient Pagoda's portraits, (2) Ancient wall paintings (3) Buddha's artistical designs, (4) Buddha's imagas.

On the top floor, you can see the most scenic view of Bagan and it's prehistoric pagodas. The Bagan Archaeological Museum is one of the most important places you should visit while you are in Bagan.

Shwezigon Pagoda is located in the town of Nyaung Oo four miles to the northeast of the ancient city of Bagan. It is 160 feet high and 160 feet wide at the base. Built in the early Bagan period on an open plain, this pagoda inspires faith even today, bringing joy to the hearts of monks and laymen alike as they behold its brilliant golden color.

The Htilominlo Pahto was built by King Nandaungmyar (Htilominlo) (A.D 1211-1230). There was a commemoration of the selection on this spot as crown prince from among five sons of the king. The white umbrella had tilted toward him, and he became his father's successor. "Htilominlo" descended from the Mon words "Tri Lawka Mingalar", meaning "the most prestigious place among the three phases".

A 13th century temple with a spire resembling the Mahabodhi Temple at Buddha Gaya in India: the Gubyaukgyi is noted for its wall paintings, depicting scenes from the previous lives of the Buddha. The ceiling of this temple is full of wall paintings and the halls have enough lights to view these clearly. There is a Buddha Image in the first hallway and with the marvelous paintings of the Man-Nat at the back of the image.

The main entrance of the temple is large and the paintings of the halls can be seen very clearly. Located on the northern and southern side of the temple, are the twenty eight Buddha images. The walls are full of carvings in many different ways. Tourists can have a great chance in viewing the ancient carvings, paintings and more.

The Manuha temple is on the right side of the main road going south from Bagan,and right in Myinkaba village. King Manuha's inscription says that it was built in AD 1067 about a decade after the Mon king was brought to Bagan. Traditionally, Manuha was considered one of the earliest temples at Pagan.

This Gubyaukgyi located in Myinkaba is to be differentiated from another temple of the same name situated near Wetkyi-in village. The Gubyaukgyi, which was built to enshrine the golden image, is a fine temple in the Early Style, square, with a vestibule in the east. The Gubyaukgyi is also noted for the paintings, which cover the walls of the vestibule, the corridor and the sanctum. These paintings are among the earliest now extant in Bagan.

The Lawkananda Stupa is believed to have been built in 1059 by King Anawratha. It is located on a promontory above a small bay in the east bank of the Ayeyarwaddy that probably served as a port for Bagan and marked the southern extent of the city. Today, the structure displays a columnar bell with vertical sides resting upon three octagonal terraces, two of which are connected by a short staircase. The exterior decoration or this stupa has been repeatedly refurbished and changed over time and has recently been encased in gilded metal plaques.

The Lawkananda Pagoda was built in Thiripyitsaya at the edge of Ayeyarwaddy river to shelter a counterpart of the tooth, relic sent by the king of Sri Lanka and preserved in Shwezigon. Situated at the edge of the river, this large gilded Stupa is one of the prominent visual landmarks of Bagan and can be seen by all boats that pass along the Ayeyarwaddy River.