In Bagan, the mystifying and ancient city with thousands of pagodas, it is hard to look any direction without taking sight to some sort of ancient building. The vast openness of the land will take your breath away. You can almost feel the holiness of this place as you are surrounded by earth colored temples and open farmland. Located along the grand Ayeyarwaddy River, Bagan is a cultural and historical treasure located in the heart of Myanmar.

 

The temples and pagodas of Bagan can be dated from the 11th and 12th centuries. This city was once called “the city of four million pagodas,” and still to this day Bagan is the world’s largest area of temples, pagodas, stupas and ruins. The exact number of temples and ruins varies depending on what is considered a temple or ruin, but the number ranges from 2,200 to 4,000. You can easily consume three or four days here wander in the awe inspiring ruins of Bagan.

 

The temples are not the only sight to see in Bagan. This town is culturally rich and we want to show you that. The vast farmland occupied by local farmers is rather impressive. Their ox drawn wagons and farming equipment is that of the past, and the people of this land have used these techniques for ages. It is really something to see the acres of farmland scattered between ancient temples. To really enjoy yourself, hire a bike and take a ride throughout the rural countryside. You can go off the beaten path to explore the area on your own and climb the narrow stairways of the temples to get a real sense of these mystifying structures.

 

There are many different ways to enjoy the city of Bagan. You can take a pony cart ride that will take you up and down the back alley ways of the city. You can stroll the open land by foot and explore the temples at your own pace. Hire a bike and tackle the semi desert land while peddling your way down dusty roads. If your feeling a little tired and don’t want to break we will take you by air-con car to each of the destinations you choose. For a real treat make reservations to soar over Bagan with the birds in a hot air balloon (Balloons Over Bagan). No matter which way you choose to explore this ancient city we assure you won’t be disappointed.

One of the main highlights of Bagan is the sunset. Each night the earth colored temples seem to glow as they reflect the deep red sunset. We will take you to the top of a tall pagoda where you can go back in time as the sun sets behind the mountains that sit along the river. Just relax and breathe the fresh air as the thousands of temples vanish in front of your eyes. It is truly one of the best sunsets you can enjoy within Myanmar.

 

Shwezigon Temple

Situated about half a mile west of Nyaung U, Shwezigon Pagoda has three terraces, bell shape, embossed circular rings, down-turned and up-turned lotus petals, celestials stairways and so forth, like a sacred reliquary of typical early Bagan architecture, built by King Anawrahta of Bagan, as guided by Shin Arahan in 421 ME, finished by King Kyansittha, enshrining various relics of Buddha. At its four facades were all standing-posture images of Buddha. It has nine wonders:

(1) Its umbrella being stead-fast without being fastened without being fastened with cable
(2) Its shadow not extending beyond its walls
(3) Gold leaf papers dropped from atop not getting beyond the walls
(4) Its walled envious never being congested regardless of number of pilgrims
(5) No human could be the first in offering food at the first bowl
(6) The stupa seeming to be higher than it is
(7) The drum sounded from one side is not heard from the other
(8) No rainwater remains within the walls
(9) The star flower plants bear flowers all year round.

 

Tantkyitaung Pagoda

It is among Bagan pagodas, as it was one among four enshrining tooth relics of Lord Buddha, although it lies across the Ayeyarwaddy River in Pakokku District, Magway Division. It was built by King Anawrahta in 397 ME on Tantkyi Hill, where the royal white elephant bearing the tooth relics rested for the second time. Thankyitaung Pagoda is 90 feet high with the base of 60 feet. It nine tiers of umbrella contained a silve vane and the diamond bud. It has been renovated in successive periods. It has an image of Lord Buddha, a statue of Shin Ananda and that of the guardian of the forest.

 

Tuyintaung Pagoda

It is the fourth Tooth Relic Pagoda built in the year 421, illustrating Bagan sasana and Bagan arts ad prowess. It is known by the various names given to the hill atop which it is situated. It was the fourth place where the royal elephant bearing the Sacred Tooth Relics rested for the fourth time. It was also in the locality where King Alaung Sithu had demonstrated his prowess in horsemanship and martial arts even at old age. The place was adorned with rock buildings and sculptures. It is situated at about six miles southeast of Bagan, west of Nyaung U Kyaukpadaung motor road. It also seemed to demarcate the boundary of Bagan. It also appeared as a natural wall for the city state. From Tuyin Hill one can have a view of another Sacred Relic Pagoda atop Tantkyi Hill on the other bank of Ayeyarwaddy River.

 

Ananda Temple

Ananda Temple is one of the finest, largest and best preserved of the Bagan temples. It was built by King Kyanzittha in 1105 AD and contains statues of Buddha and stone sculptures of exquisite workmanship representing various scenes in Buddha's life. It is one of few hollow pagodas and is perfectly proportioned temple that holds the stylistic end of the Early Bagan period and the beginning of the Middle period. The Ananda Temple built after the Shwezigon in 1090 is the masterpiece of the early temple architecture. There are four huge Buddha images in the standing position and eighth reliefs depicting the life of the Buddha from his Birth to his Enlightenment.

 

Alodawpyi Phaya

It was built by King Kyansittha in the year 426. It lies on Anawrahta Road. In the reign of King Anawrahta, Kyansittha was his commander-in-chief general. At that site he prayed for victory, for peace from all dangers and for a chance to promote the Sasana. His wisher were fulfilled and hence the name of the pagoda 'wish-fulfilling pagoda' that was built with the guidance of Ashin Arahan. An ink writing of 16 lines on the wall in Gandha Kutitaik says it was renovate over 100 years after that by a monk named Ngatokthin. It is a single-entrance cave pagoda. On the walls inside can be ink writings of Bagan Period of over 100 sutta desanas and murals of Buddha giving sermons.

 

Hgnet Pyit Taung Zedi

Hnget Pyit Taung is about half a mile south east of Nyaung U. The zedi was built by King Pyusawhti on the hill by that name in 92 ME in early Bagan period. The hill was only about 25 feet high. It was the place the King shot the giant bird, one of the scourges at that time. Inside the zedi there were art works depicting the life of King Pyusawhti. By the side of the road to the zedi, there is a zedi called Sappadaw and in the vicinity, another called Sappada Zedi. Near the Hnget Pyit Taung zedi, it is said there are over a thousand tunnels built and dedicated by King Narapati Sithu.

 

Kandawpalin Phaya

It is a looming edifice on the bank of Ayeyarwaddy River, by the motor road in the east of the amcient city of Bagan. It was also called Kandawpalin Temple. Kantawpalin P haya built there in the year 565 by King Narapate Sithu. It was completed only in 588 by son Zeya Theinkha.

 

Htilominlo Temple

It is situated near Upali Ordination Hall east of Bagan-Nyaung U motor road, about a mile east Bagan. It was built in AD 1211 by king Nadaungmya (Htilominlo), the youngest of the five sons of King Narapati Sithu. The king put the royal umbrella at the centre of the five sons positioned in circle and took an oath for the umbrella to bend towards the one who should be King. The umbrella bent towards Zeya Thinkha. Thus he was known as Hitilominlo, meaning favoured by the Royal Umbrella as went as the king. When the prince became king; he built the pagoda at the venue of the Royal Umbrella. It is the only Bagan pagoda. It was among the last-built of the great pagodas and temples of Bagan.