|
2,200 monuments
 Bagan
is the main tourist attraction in Myanmar. One of the richest
archaeological sites in Asia, it is located on the eastern
bank of the Ayeyarwaddy River. Also being the capital of first
Myanmar Empire, Bagan covers an area of 42 sq. km containing
over 2000 well-preserved pagodas and temples of the 11th -
13th century.
There are daily flights between Yangon and Bagan which take
an hour and ten minutes. There are regular Express Coach services
to Bagan from Yangon and Mandalay. There are also regular
flights from Mandalay and Heho to Bagan which take only 20
minutes. Express Trains from Yangon and Mandalay stop at Thazi
Junction, from where it is accessible to Bagan by a 3 hour
drive. There is a double-decker steamer service between Mandalay
and Bagan and a luxury cruise 'Road to Mandalay' by E &
O Express.
Bagan and Nyaung U have hotels and guest houses or motels
with modern facilities at reasonable prices.
Among the significant temples and pagodas are:
Ananda Temple
Built by King Kyansittha in 1090, 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.
Thatbyinnyu Temple
Over 66 metres high: the Thatbyinnyu Temple, built by
King Alaungsithu, in the middle of the 12th century, overtops
all other monuments and it terrace affords visitors a magnificent
panorama of the Bagan plain.
Gubyaukgyi Temple (Wetkyi-in)
A 13th century temple with a spire resembling the Mahabodhi
Temple at Bodha Gaya in India: the Gubyaukgyi is noted for
its wall paintings, depicting scenes from the previous livers
of the Buddha.
Htilominlo Temple
Built by King Nadaungmya in 1211: the 50 metre high Htilominlo
is one of the largest temples of Bagan; and is noted for its
fine plaster carvings.
Dhammayangyi Temple
This massive temple: built by King Narathu in the 12th
century, displays the finest brickwork in Bagan.
Shwezigon Pagoda
Built by King Anawrahta, founder of the first Myanmar
Empire, and finished by King Kyansittha in special reverence
by successive kings and became the prototype for later Myanmar
pagodas.
Around Bagan, Mount Popa
About 67 km southeast of Bagan is Mount Popa, an extinct
volcano over 1,500 metres high, rising out of the plains.
It is famed as the abode of the Mahagiri Nats or Spirit gods
to whom the Kings of Bagan paid annual homage and their shrines
can be seen at a nearby rocky crag.
Note: Information on this page supplied
by the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism, Myanmar.
|
