Heritage in Bagan

There are more than 3,000 ruins of Buddhist pagodas and temples spread across Bagan plains. Here, we introduce the major ruins, as well as museums, by area.

Old Bagan

Ananda Temple

The Ananda temple is the one of most revered monuments in Bagan, together with the Shwezigon pagoda at Nyaung U. According to chronicles, Ananda temple was built by King Kyanzittha in early Bagan period, but its sure foundation date is uncertain.
The Ananda temple has a cruciform ground plan, with four devotional halls each side. It's in plan on a square of nearly 200 ft to the side. Above this rise the superstructure in diminishing terraces to a decorative height of 168 ft. The gilded Htee (umbrella) crowns and completes the edifice.

Bupaya Pagoda

“Bu” means “gourd" and “paya” is addressed as “Pagoda, so Bupaya literally means pagoda in a gourd shape. It stands on the bank of the Ayeyawady River. Built above rows of crenellated terraces, the small pagoda is a conspicuous landmark to navigators. The dome resembles that of the Nga Kywe Nadaung Pagoda assuming the form of a cylindrical relic casket. Above it stands a bold convex band upon which rises a tapering stupa finial.

Mahabodhi Temple

The only specimen of its classic in structure among over 2000 surviving monuments in Bagan, Mahabodhi Temple is situated on the north of the Shwe Gu Gyi Temple within the city walls of Old Bagan. This temple is a replica of the famous Mahabodhi temple in Bodhgaya, Bihar State in India.

Gawdaw Palin Temple

It's situated on the bank of Ayeyarwady River by the motor road, inside Bagan city-wall in the southwest sector. In its general arrangement, this double-storeyed temple resembles the Thatbyinyu. The temple grounds are surrounded by a wall with four entrance gates and the main entry to the complex on the east end is guarded by two large white lion statues.

Thatbyinnyu Temple

Towering over the other monuments of Bagan, it stands within the city walls, some 500 yards to the south-west of the Ananda. Thatbyinnyu is one of the first two-storey structures in Bagan. It rises to a height of 201 feet above the ground and thus visible from much of the Bagan plains.

Bagan Archaeological Museum

Bagan Archaeological Museum is situated on the south of Gawdaw Palin Pagoda, in Old Bagan. Except On Mondays and gazette public holidays, it is open daily from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
The New Archaeological Museum is a three storey structure built in an octagonal design as the base.

Lacquerware Museum

The Lacquerware Museum is located on a side street of Old Bagan, not far from Tharabar Gate. It was founded in 1972. It serves as a treasure trove of information and a visit to this museum is worthwhile for tourists.
Fine examples of a large variety of lacquerware atrifacts are displayed in the museum and many of them are protected by glass.

Around the Myinkaba village

Gu Byauk Gyi Temple (Myinkaba)

This temple lies to the north limit of Myinkaba village, so it's also known as Myinkaba Gu Byauk Gyi temple. Gu Byauk-gyi is a typically Mon-style temple which consists of a square basement surmounted by a sikhara with curvilinear roofs resting on terraces, and a mandapa projecting on the east of face.

Manuha Temple

The Manuha Temple in Bagan is located in Myinkaba Village about 500 meters south of Gu Byauk Gyi Temple. The earthquake in 1975 struck the temple, causing the collapse of the central roof. Consequently, the largest seated Buddha was badly damaged. It was renovated again soon after the earthquake.

Myazedi

It is a large gilded pagoda topped with a multi tiered umbrella called “Hti”. It sits on a number of square receding tiers. The first tier’s outer wall contains small ornamental niches topped with a golden “Hti”, in which are enshrined small images of the Buddha.
The corners of the first and third tier are adorned with small ornamental spires and the second tiers’ corners contain lion statues.

Naga Yon Temple

It foreshadows his crowning achievement, the Ananda. So, there are the same sloping roofs, the same terraces, the same corner stupas, the same spire and the same stupa finial.
But they are here used in a much more subdued manner than in the Ananda. A portico in the north, paved with green glazed stones and having niches holding stone reliefs of the life of the Buddha, provides access to the Nagayon.

Nan Paya Temple

The structure of the decorative brickworks reflects the fine architecture of Bagan. The exterior masonry was built of sandstone. The interior was built of brick and mud mortar surfaced with stone. It's square in plan with a porch projecting on the east face.

Seinnyet Ama Temple & Seinnyet Nyima Pagoda

Located within the same precinct somewhere in the north of New Bagan.The square-shaped Seinnyet Ama temple has four entrances through projecting porches, the main one facing the west.
The superstructure is composed of four steep receding terraces and a sikhara (a spire ornament shaped like an umbrella found on top of most Burmese temples) which rests on the square basement.

New Bagan

East Petleik and West Petleik Pagodas

These two pagodas belong to 11th century A.D. and were in ruins in 1905. It is learnt that the structure of the pagoda is similar to the gold earrings which the residents wore since the ancient times.

Lawka Nanda Pagoda

Lawka Nanda Pagoda is one of four pagodas in each of which a replica of the Buddha Tooth Relic was enshrined. The pali words “Lawka Nanda” means "Joy to the World". It was built by King Anawrahta during his reign in 1059.

Saytana Gyi Pagoda

Saytana Gyi pagoda is situated in the south of New Bagan city. It was built by King Zeya Theinkha (a) Nadaungmyar. The pagoda is one of the most massive and colossal monuments in Bagan region. The reliquary inside is the same design of Sri Lanka’s architecture.

Around Pwa Saw village, Minnanthu village

Dhammayazika Pagoda

The inscription records say that King Narapatisithu received for holy relics from the King of Sri Lanka in 1197 and built a massive pagoda in 1198 to enshrine Buddha’s holy relics. It took about one year to build the pagoda.

Lay MyetHnar Temple

Lay MyetHnar Temple is situated near Min Nan Thu Village south-east of Bagan. It was built by Minister General Anandathu and his wife in 1224 during the reign of King Htee Lo Min Lo.

Nanda Mannya Temple

Nandamannya Temple is a few hundred yards away from the Payathonzu. It is said that the name Nandamannya derived from Anantapyinnyar meaning Infinite Wisdom.

Paya Thone Zu

These temples are so called Paya Thone Zu because the monuments consist of three distinct small square temples with vaulted corridors and porticoes, joined together by two vaulted narrow passages leading from the one into the others.

Winido Temple

Winido is a group of temples which are seldomly visited and difficult to access. Very remarkable paintings in the style of the late period of Bagan can be seen inside the Winido Temple.

Izza Gawna Temple

Izza Gawna Temple is situated on the road from Myingun village to Ingone village. This rectangular brick monastery is 90 feet in length, 100 feet and four inches in width and 20 feet and 8 inches in height. It is low brick structure with the flat roof.

Nyaung-U

Shwezigon Pagoda

Glimmering in the sun, the huge gold plated Shwezigon pagoda is one of the oldest and most impressive monuments of Bagan. It was commenced and completed by the two very famous Kings in Bagan history, Anawrahta, the founder of Bagan Kingdom and King Kyanzittha. Construction started around 1059 and completed at the end of the 11th century.

Shwe Pyi Nann Thanakha Museum

To reveal truly useful Traditional Myanmar Thanakha, Shwe Pyi Nann, the biggest Thanakha Company in Myanmar, runs the Thanakha Museum which is named after its Thanakha brand “Shwe Pyi Nann”.

Central Plain

Htilominlo Temple

Located in the northeast of old Bagan on Bagan-Nyaung Oo Road, Htilominlo is one of the greatest temples of Bagan.

Gu Byauk Gyi Temple (Wetkyi-In)

Gu Byauk Gyi Temple near Wetkyi-In village lies to the south-east of Kyanzittha Umin, in Old Bagan. It was built in early 13 century with a spire resembling the Mahabodhi temple, and repaired in 1468 A.D.

Shwe Sandaw Pagoda

Shwe Sandaw Pagoda is a cylindrical stupa with five terraces, showing Mon style architecture of early 11th Century A.D. The pagoda was built by King Anawrahta, founder of the Bagan Kingdom after his conquest of Tha Hton in 1057.

Sulamani Temple

Sulamani temple was built by King Naraptisithu in 1181 A.D. Sulamani Temple is situated about three miles to the south-west of Nyaung-U and near Dhammayangyi Temple in the village of Minnanthu southwest of Bagan.

Dhammayan Gyi Temple

Dhammayan Gyi Temple was built by King Narathu in A.D 1170 and well noted for its "Massiveness and incredibly fine brickwork. It's located about a kilometer to the southeast of the city walls directing Minnanthu.

Pyathadar Gyi Temple

The double-cave type Pyathadar Gyi Temple is situated to the southeast of Sula-Mani pagoda. It was built by King Kya Swa. It is one of the most massive monuments in Bagan, with the fine work of stucco.