Bagan & Its environs
Bagan, an ancient city, can be reached either by boat, road or by air.
Flights fly daily to and fro Bagan-Yangon. Bagan is the birthplace of
Myanmar civilization. Bagan is situated on the left bank of the
Irrawaddy River and about 145 km southwest of Mandalay. It was the
capital of the first Myanmar Empire in the 11th-13th century. The ruins
of Bagan cover an area of 42 km with thousands of pagoda and temples and
monuments. It is said to be one of the richest archeological sites in
Asia. The buildings of Bagan were built both with wood and into brick,
but the wooden buildings have been destroyed and only the brick remain.
In 1343, when the glory of Bagan was already passing away an inscription
recording the donation of a monastery noted. An earthquake in 1975
severely damaged more than half of the important structure and
irreparably destroyed many of them.
Shwezigon Pagoda
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Shwezigon Pagoda located in the town of Nyaung Oo
four miles to the northeast of the ancient city of Bagan. It was
built by King Anawrahta in 1059 AD in Bagan. The pagoda is a solid
cylindrical structure resting on three-square terraces. It is
prototype of Myanmar Stupa. The four shrines are facing with terrace
stairways, each of rich houses a 4m -high bronze standing Buddha of
the Gupta school art (cast in 1102). Surrounding the Stupa is
clusters of shrine and rest houses. The figures of the 37 nats (or)
sprit can be seen in a shed to the south east of platform. The
previous lives of Buddha have been illustrated around the Stupa
base. |
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Htilominlo Temple
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The Htilominlo temple was built by King
Nandaungmya (r. 1211-c.1230 AD) early in his reign to commemorate
his 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. The 50 metres high Htilominlo is one of the
largest temples of Bagan; and is noted for its fine plaster
carvings. There are the remains of fine murals on the interior
walls. |
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Gubyaukgyi Temple (Wetkyi-in)
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.
Ananda Temple
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It is the finest largest and most venerated temple in Bagan. Ananda
Temple suffered considerable damage in the earthquakes in history. Built
by King Kyanzitthar in (AD 1091), the temple is said to represent the
endless wisdom of the Buddha. The central square has sides of 53 m and
rises in terraces 51 m high. In the center of the building are 4 famous
standing Buddha images each 10 m high. The base and terraces are
decorated with a great number of glazed tiles showing scenes from the
earlier lives of Buddha. In the western hall, there are two statuses of
the temple's founder and his primate while in the west porch there are
two footprints of Buddha on pedestals. |
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Nearby Attraction Ananda Okkyaung Monastery
Ananda Okkyaung Monastery simply meaning Brick Monastery. This is
situated within the temple compound. It is a small red brick building.
The inside walls are covered in 18th century paintings depicting
Buddha's life and elements of the history of Bagan.
Thatbinyu Temple
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It located just inside the southern center of the old city wall and the
highest temple in Bagan of 61 meter height. Alaungsithu built this
temple in 12 AD. Northeast of the temple stands a small 'tally pagoda'
built of one brick per 10,000 bricks used in the main temple. In a
monastery compound southwest of the temple, there are stone supports,
which one hold the temple's house bronze bell. |
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Dhammayangyi Temple
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This temple was built in 12th century, displays the finest brickwork in
Bagan. It is Bagan's most massive and is of great interest. It is worth
visiting there. |
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Mingalarzedi
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Mingalarzedi was built in 1277 by King Narathihapati. It was completed
just ten years before the kingdom's collapse at the hands of the
Mongols. It is noted for its fine proportions and for the many beautiful
jataka tiles around its three square terraces. |
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Shwesandaw Pagoda
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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. |
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Manuha Temple
At the southern end of Myingaba village is the Manuha Temple complex.
When in 1057 King Anawrahta returned victorious to Bagan, it was here
that the captive King Manuha was brought to live. By 1059 Manuha had
built himself this two - storey square white temple and through it
conveyed a melancholy message. The three Buddhas are uncomfortably large
for their enclosures, thus illustrating his captivity and mental stress.
The facial expressions of the two-seated images are grim. That of the
one reclining Buddha, on the other hand, is smiling and serene. He faces
north and is therefore on the verge of Nirvana and release from the
transitory World.
Nearby Attraction Nanpaya
Built in the 12th Century this attractive pagoda is a combination of
sandstone and brick, particularly noteworthy is the elegant perforated
stone windows. The four primary stone pillars in the central sanctuary
illustrate the Hindu god Brahma.
Gubyaukgyi Temple (Myingaba)
This Gubyaukgyi located in Myingaba 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.
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