Bagan (Pagan) (the cultural heritage of Myanmar)

Bagan is one of the richest archeological sites in Asia. This first capital of Myanmar Empire is situated on the eastern bank of the Ayeyarwady River, about 193 km south of Mandalay. Bagan is the source of the Myanmar history, testimonial richness and cultural heritage of Myanmar. The whole space is thickly studded with pagodas of all sizes and shapes. Bagan covers an area of 42sqkm containing over 2000 well-preserved pagodas and temples of the 11th –13th century. A visit to Myanmar would not be completed without seeing this enchanting city “Bagan”. There are many ancient pagodas and temples in Bagan. Among these pagodas, the most famous pagodas, which have the special features as follows:

Ananda Temple:
The Ananda temple built after the Shwezigon in 1090 is the masterpiece of the early style temple architecture. Probably the finest largest and best preserved of all the Bagan temples. There are four huge Buddha images in the standing position and the base and terraces are decorated with a great number of glazed tiles showing scenes from the earlier lives of Buddha.

Thatbyinnyu Temple:
The Thatbyinnyu Temple with a white stucco building is the Bagan's highest pagoda, over 66m high. It was built by King Alongsithu in mid 12th century. The view from its terraces is spectacular both at dawn and dusk. The temple was originally built not only as a temple but also as a kind of a monastery, a place for monks and nuns. The walls consisted of ancient paintings but the temple was painted with white paste and all the paintings were ruined. Now, only a small part of the paintings can be seen.

Shwezigone Pagoda:
It was built by King Anawrahta and completed by King Kyansittha in 1084. Shwezigon Pagoda is the prototype for later Myanmar pagodas. There are green glazed plaques depicting scenes from the Jataka. The pagoda festival is held from late October to early November. “Nat” Spirit images can be found within its precincts.

Dhammayangyi Pahto:
Similar in plan to Ananda Pahto, this later temple seems massive in comparison. It is usually ascribed to Narathu (1167-70). As at Ananda, the interior floor plan of the temple includes two ambulatories. Almost all the entire innermost passage, however, was intentionally filled with brick rubble centuries ago. There out of the four Buddha sanctums were also filled with bricks. This temple was not finished but it displayed the finest brickwork.

Htilominlo Temple:
Built about 1211 AD by King Nantaungmya. It is one of the greatest temples of Pagan, double storied structure rising 150 feet about the ground level. Portions of fine plaster carvings on the arch pediments, frieze and pilasters. The mural paintings in the interior nave weathered. The terraces are decorated with pieces of sandstone glazed in green. Htilominlo is a misreading of Tiluikmanuiw, which is the Mon tendering of the Pali-Tiloka Mingala (the blessing of the Three Worlds).

Sulamani Pahto:
It was constructed about 1181 by Narapatisithu(1174-1211), two stories standing on broad terraces assembled to create a pyramid effect. The brickwork throughout is considered some of the best in Bagan. The interior face of the wall was once lined with 100 monastic cells, a feature unique among Bagan’s ancient monasteries. Carved stucco on moldings, pediments and pilasters represents some of Bagan’s finest ornamental work and is in fairly good condition.

Tharaba Gateway:
The ruins of Tharaba Gateway, on the eastern side, are all that remain of the old 9th century city wall. Terraces of old stucco can still be seen on the gateway. The gate is guarded by highly revered brother and sister nats, the male (Lord Handsome) on the right, the female (Lady Golden Face) on the left. In their human histories, the siblings died in a fire, so worshippers offer the images flowers and water, rather than candles or incense. Anawrahta’s original palace is thought to have been located near Tharaba Gate.

Myinkaba village:
South of Bagan, Myinkaba has a number of interesting Pagodas and stupas from the Early Bagan period, including Gubyaukgyi, which contains the oldest mural paintings in all of Bagan. Nearby is Manuha Paya, built by Mon King Manuha, the ‘captive king’. Excellent lacquer ware workshops can be visited in Myinkaba. Some of these accomplish the complete process of producing lacquer ware in the one center, while others specialize in a single phase of the production – such as making the bamboo frames on which the lacquer is coated.

Archeological Museum:
A small brick building in which, more than 2,000 items including some ancient stone inscriptions, Buddha images and other cultural objects collected from the Bagan era were displayed. For foreigners entrance fees have to pay 3$ per person. Open daily except Monday and public holidays.

Nyaung U & Wetkyi-In:
Nyaung U, about 5km northeast of Old Bagan, is the major population center in the Bagan area. It has lots of shops an excellent and colorful market. The small village of Wetkyi-in, roughly halfway between Nyaung U and Old Bagan, flanks the mouth of Wetkyi-in Chaung (Wetkyi-in Canal).

Around Bagan
Mount Popa:
Known as the ‘Oasis of dry zone’, Popa is a steep side volcanic peak dedicated to the legendary ‘nat’ spirits of Myanmar. Popa is a great extinct volcano last active 250,000 years ago, is a forest clad landmark rising to 1,520 meters from the flat, surrounding Myaingan Plains, It is a country’s history and culture. The natural spring, flowers and wooded hillsides greatly contrast to the arid lands surrounding it. Mt. Popa is famous for its wealth of medicinal plants and rare orchids: home for over 90 different species of birds. Apart from the Mountain itself, there is a tower like volcanic plug called as Taung Kalat. Shrines along the staircase with about 777 steps to the top of the mountain are dedicated to these nats. On the top are a picturesque complex of monasteries, pagodas and Buddhist shrines. The famous Popa Nat Festival is held here during the month of Nayon (June-July), following the lunar calendar.

Salay:
Sale is a more religious center than Bagan for it’s numerable working monasteries. It can easily be visited on the return trip from Mount Popa. Sale has ancient pagodas, which date from the Bagan Period. There are over a hundred ruins around Sale, but unlike Bagan, its had never been systematically studied by archaeologists and historians. Sale seems to have developed as a town in the later part of the Bagan Period and has been a center of Myanmar culture for at least over 700 years.

Yoke-sone Monastery:
Sale is famous for its Yoke-sone Kyaung (19th century wooden monastery) with exquisite wooden carvings. The whole building is built of wood and is a fine example of monastic architecture of the late Konbaung Period. The main attraction of the monastery is the decorative wooden panels made by the master carvers of the period whose meticulous workmanship is in many ways superior to those of later periods.