Bagan, Myanmar

Located on the banks of the Ayeyarwady (Irrawaddy) River, a few miles south of Mandalay and north of Yangon. During Bagan’s heyday, it was the largest center of the Pagan Kingdom, now Myanmar. More than 11,000 Buddhist works have been built here. However, today only about 2,000 structures remain. These Buddhist works are the main reason attracting tourists to Myanmar.

Thousands of ancient temples and stupas stretched endlessly in the Bagan landscape, the silhouette of the majestic temple against the sky at dawn or sunset is a magical sight. The area is known to be home to the most numerous Buddhist temples in the world, many of which were built in the 1000s and 1100s, when it was the capital of the Pagan Kingdom.
Shwezigon Paya: This is the most famous and most beautiful religious building in Bagan. Built in the 11th century, this is a model work for the temples built later in Myanmar. This is also believed to be the place to keep the Buddha’s forehead and collarbones.
Htilominlo Pahto: This is a remarkable red brick Buddhist temple. The name of the temple is taken after the king who built it. This temple was built at the exact spot where this king was crowned.

Ananda Pahto: This is considered the most important temple in Bagan, so it is very well preserved by being regularly painted and repainted.
Shwesandaw Paya: This is the tallest temple in Bagan. Tourists love coming here to see the panoramic view of Bagan, especially at dawn.
Dhammayangyi Pahto: This is a temple with a dark past. It was built by a mentally ill king named Narathu. King Narathu was assassinated inside this temple. It was later believed to have been haunted.
Sulamani Pahto: This temple is famous for an elaborate brick construction with sophisticated carvings. It is called the “crown gem” of Bagan.
Pya-Tha-Da Paya: The way to this temple is difficult to find. If you are not careful, you will easily turn the wrong way or have to turn around. However, this is the ideal place for you to spend the end of the day as you can climb here and watch the beautiful sunset.

Some of these have been restored, and others are just rubble. They also come in a variety of size and complexity, creating a compelling combination of structures that leaves visitors wanting to continue exploring the site. You can tour the area on rickety old bicycles, rent horses and trolleys, take a hot air balloon around the area or simply rent a taxi. Each of these methods has its own appeal.