Bagan

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.