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Bagan, which is an archaeological treasure, is also known as the city
of four-million pagodas and is a place full of wonders as one writer
puts it: “Words cannot convey the strange, lost other world, long
ago feelings of Bagan. There is a mystic splendors about, enhanced by
the cooing of doves from the acacia trees which grow among the ruins
and by the soft tinkle of the temple bells.”
A visit to Myanmar cannot be termed complete without a visit to Bagan.
Once you arrive there, you’ll be transferring yourself some 1880
years back into history before the time of Kublai Khan and you’ll
rediscover the lost world of Bagan which to this day remains one of
the richest archeological treasures of South-East Asia surpassing Angkor
Watt. You’ll recapture the golden age of Bagan as you wander through
the cool cage man hills and the corridors of the once magnificent temples
and try to unravel the mysterious message of the ancient sculptures
which through remaining mute seem wise in the secrets they tell.
You can visualize on history as the whole of Bagan spreads itself
out in a breath-taking panorama of innumerable temples and pagodas
which still retain their magnificent proportions despite a splendor
dimmed by the ravages of time.
Bagan, lying on the left bank of the Irrawaddy in the dry zone of
Central Burma, is the most important historical sites in the
country. It was a capital for two and a half centuries and it is to
Bagan that the religion of the people owes its greatest debt, and it
was here that the Myanmar art and architecture passed through the
golden age. The ancient capital was founded by King Pyinbya, the
34th king of the dynasty in 847 A.D. Authentic history begins with
the accession of King Anuruddha, commonly known as Anwarahta 1044-77
in whose reign that religious enthusiasm was aroused and the
construction of the pagodas and temples on large scale began.
Successive kings followed his example in erecting pagodas. That part
of history is aptly known as the age of temple builders. Up to the early
part of the 12th century the architectural style at the Myanmar capital
was considerably influenced by that of the Mons. Thousands of religious
buildings sprang up during two-and-a-half centuries but owing to the
ravages of wars and other weathering factors of the past, the monuments
now lie in all stages of decay.
Since Bagan days Buddhism has flourished through the entire length and
breadth of the country, and Bagan became the seat of Buddhist learning
and the centre of Burmese culture. This golden age of both secular and
religious history lasted over 240 years; and now it remains as the most
impressive relics of the past.
Interesting places in Bagan: Small villages between enormous Pagodas,
The Shwezigon Pagoda at Nyaung U, Kyan-zit-tha Umin, Sapada Pagoda,
Kyaukgu Umin Temple, Wetkyi-in Gubyauk-gyi Temple, Upali Thein and Hti-lo-min-lo
Temple, Ananda Temple, Ananda-ok-kyaung Temple, Tharabha Gate, That-byin-nyu
Temple, Dhamma-yan-gyi Temple, Sula-mani Temple, Mya-zedi pagoda, Myinkaba
Gubyauk-gyi Temple, Manuha Temple, Nanhpaya Temple, Pwa-saw and Minnanthu
villages, Dhamma-yazika Pagoda, Tayok-pye-min Temple, Lacquer ware factory,
Other different Architecture Styles and plaster work and Paintings.
 
 
 
 
 
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