Bagan
Bagan was ancient capital of the first Myanmar Empire, founded by King Anawrahta. What is more, Anawrahta accomplished another great task for the country: he introduced Theravada Buddhism into Myanmar with the help of Shin Arahan, a mission monk from THATON. It is one of the richest archaeological sites in Southeast Asia. Bagan preserves 2200 well-renovated Stupas, Pagodas and Temples representing the diversity of ancient Myanmar architectural styles in the 11th to13th centuries. Intricate frescoes or mural paintings depicting the life of Buddha decorate the interiors of the Pagodas and Stupas. Bagan has so many mesmerising scenes that impress one's memory forever.

At BAGAN no monuments are the same. All are highly original in design and conception. The structural techniques, similar to the gothic form of Western Cathedral architecture, were in advance of contemporary engineering in Europe. Technologically daring in notion, and exquisite in execution, the Temples of BAGAN are of a splendour rarely witnessed anywhere else in the world.


Shwezigon Pagoda
Shwezigon is simple, massive and imposing. It was built by Anawrahta King, founder of the first Myanmar Empire, and fined by King Kyansittha in 1084. The Shwezigon was held in special reverence by successive kings and became the prototype for later Myanmar pagodas. There are three pagoda terraces. Around the terraces mothers are many scenes from the previous lives of Lord Buddha. At another corner of the platform, there are spiritual figures, collected and ordered to be kept in a shed eternally by King Anawrahta.


Arnandar Temple
Ananda is sleek, slim, sophisticated and infinitely more fascinating. The Ananda Temple is the masterpiece of early style temple architecture. There are four huge Buddha images in the standing position at the four faces and a series of eighty reliefs depicting the life of the Buddha. It is the most beautiful of all the Bagan Pagodas. It is a felicitous and harmonious blending of the best Myanmar, Mon and Indian architectural styles of those days. It was built by Kyansitthar King in 1090.


Thatbyinnyu Temple
Thatbyinnyu Temple ("omniscient" Temple), the highest temple in Bagan, rises to 66 meters, standing proudly on the plain and is located just inside the southeastern corner of the old city wall. It was built by King Alaungsithu in the middle of 15th century. The temple itself reflected that era's innovative architectural and artistic creativity. Thatbyinnyu is a brick masonry building covered in white stucco and with stone in pavements. There is a series of square terraces on both the lower (three terraces) and upper (four terraces) levels. The terraces contain indentations for the planned series of over 500 ceramic plaques.


Gawdawpalin Temple
This 60 meters high temple was built in the 12th century by King Narapatisithu. It is Bagan's second tallest and most imposing of the Bagan temples. The Gadawpalin a large eastward-facing two-story temple set on a low platform in the center of a walled enclosure with four gateways. The temple was badly damaged in a 1975 earthquake but has been completely reconstructed. From the upper terrace of the temple, one can leisurely watch the panoramic view of ancient Bagan and the sunset over the scenic beauty of the Ayeyarwaddy River.


Dammayangyi Temple
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 intriguing. Dhammayangyi Temple is located in Old Bagan, over a kilometer in the southeast of the city walls.


Gubyaukgyi Temple
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. Gubyaukgyi Temple was built during the A.D 1113, by Raza Kumar, the son of King Kyansitthar and Queen Thanbula. After King Kyansitthar ruled over Bagan for 28 years and he became ill. At that time, Prince Raza Kumar made a golden Buddha image and donated for his father. He also built this temple at Myinkaba, in return of his love and care towards his father's kindness.


Shwesandaw Pagoda
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 five terraces once had terra-cotta plaques showing scenes from the Jataka. The pagoda bell rises from two octagonal bases, which top the five square terraces. Close to the Shwesandaw stands the Lawkahteikpan Temple - small but interesting for its excellent frescoes and inscriptions in both Myanmar and Mon.


Sulamani Temple
Sulamin is located in Minnanthu region, in the center of Bagan. Like the Htilominlo and the Gawdawpalin this is a prime example of later, more sophisticated temple style, with better internal lighting. It stands beyond the Dhammayangyi Temple and was built in 1181 by Narapatisithu. The interior was once painted with fine frescoes but only traces can be seen today. Sulamani Temple was built by king Narapatisithu, in 1183 AD. It is a cave pagoda and massive in Structure. Its entrance was decorated by superb architectural works of art.


Htilominlo Temple
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". 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. The Htilominlo is a large three story red brick (with some stone) temple on a low platform. Originally covered in carved white stucco, some of its exquisite finely detailed plaster still remains.


Dhammayazaka Pagoda
At first glance looking much like the famous Shwezigon, the Dhammayazaka is unusual because it has pentagonal terraces instead of the usual square ones. Above the three receding terraces, which are ornamented with glazed Jataka plaques raises a bell-shaped dome, which merges directly into a sharply tapering conical finial. On each of the five sides of the pagoda there is a small temple. The temples themselves are of the usual form, square in plan, with a porch for entrance, and surmounted by terraces and a curvilinear spire. Dhammayazaka Pagoda was established in September 1198 by King Narapati Sithu. On the stone tablets of the Pagoda, the name was carved as Dhammayazaka.


Tharabar Gateway
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 mean 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 neighboring area.


Shwegugyi Temple
Built by King Alaungsithu, the Shwegugyi has not much left to see but historically this dark little temple is famous for the last day of a great king who was a noted sea traveler. The king was also the donor of the temple. When he was seriously ill, his son quickly removed him from the golden palace to this temple. The dying king, on his death bed, miraculously regained consciousness. But it was too late that the son immediately came down from the palace and suffocated him with a pillow.


Archaeological Museum
Bagan Museum Houses various archaeological items excavated throughout the times. One can also view paintings of pagodas, Buddha images with different posture (Mudra) made of gold, silver, bronze, stone and wood. Among them, one can see the significant bronze lotus Bud, a masterpiece of bronze sculpture of Bagan period. Myazedi lithographed inscription of four languages in Pali, Pyu, Mon, and Myanmar will surely catch your curious mind. Actually, all these exhibits displayed in the Bagan However Bagan Museum is the best place where one can witness numerous archaeological items in clay, wood, sandstone, glazed ceramic, lacquer, metal etc.


Bu Phaya Pagoda
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 Bu Phaya 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 Bu Phaya is also a favorite place to watch the sunset.


Lawkanannda Pagoda
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.


Nanphaya Temple
It is one of the rare types of temples where stones were widely used. The main structure is brick and soft sandstone was also added for aesthetic purposes. It builds with perforated windows and curved stone relieves, Nanpaya is an example of workmanship from the early Bagan period.


Manuha Temple
Traditionally, Manuha was considered one of the earliest temples at Bagan. Legend says that it was built by a Mon king named, Manuha, who had been defeated and brought to Pagan as a captive by Anawrahta. In Bagan the kings and queens, the princes and princesses all built pagodas large and small. Manuha the Mon king, detained in Bagan, also wanted to build a temple of his own. He did not have ready money in cash, so he sold his priceless Manaw Maya jewel to a rich merchant of Myinkaba and obtained six cartloads of pure silver. The temple is a series of reduplicated squares with the lower storey larger than the upper. There is a large seated Buddha image, 46 feet high, with the right hand touching the earth. Two smaller Buddha images, each 33 feet high, flank this large image on each side.


Arnandar Okkyaung Monastery
Just a few yards from Ananda, there are Arnandar Okkyaung Monastery. The building was a residence for monks. It is considered an unusual piece of art because the whole structure is made of fine workmanship demonstrate the life of the ordinary people but seem to have been painted in 18th century A.D. Ananda Okkyaung Monastery simply meaning Brick Monastery.


Bagan Environments

Mt Popa
Mount Popa is located 67km southeast of Bagan. It is an extinct volcano rising 1518 meters high out of the plains. This solitary peak is home of Myanmar's most powerful "NATS"- a collection of 37 magical spirits both feared and honoured by some Myanmar people. They still believe that nats can make life difficult if they are not accorded sufficient respect. Thousands of Myanmar gathers here twice yearly to honour the spirits and attend the festivals (May/June). Mount Popa is so lush and green that it is called the Oasis of the Dry Zone. Mt. Popa is established as the National Park for medicinal herbs, sandalwood plantation and reforestation projects. It can be visited on a day trip from BAGAN or as a brief stop en route to MANDALAY.


Salay
Salay is an ancient town rich in Myanmar culture. Salay has ancient pagodas which date from the Bagan Period. Visitors to the ancient capital Bagan often make a 20 miles (15 kilometers) trip south to see Salay, an ancient town rich in Myanmar culture. Salay is also on the great Ayeyawady River, like Bagan, another pleasurable way to get there is to go by one of the small motor boats available for hire and which usually leave Bagan from the Bu-Hpaya jetty. Sitting in comfortable cushioned chairs you can watch the river crafts on the big waterway, once the only real life-line of Myanmar, with all the old towns lining its banks.

Salay has ancient pagodas which date from the Bagan Period. There are over a hundred ruins around Salay, but unlike Bagan many of them have never been systematically studied by archaeologists and historians. Salay seems to have developed as a town in the latter part of the Bagan Period and has been a centre of Myanmar culture for at least over 700 years.


Salay: Yoke Sone Monastery
Salay is famous for its Yoke-sone Kyaung (a 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.