Address Bagan Shwe-san-daw Pagoda, Myanmar Nyaung-U, Myanmar (Burma)        Moolavar Buddha Introduction             Shwe-san-daw Pagoda (built 11th century) is located near the center of the Bagan archaeological zone and is tall enough to serve as a landmark for many kilometers around. Built by King Anawrahta (r. 1044-1077), it is among the earliest large stupas constructed at Bagan, […]

Address Bagan Shwegugyi Temple, Myanmar Bagan, Old Bagan, Myanmar (Burma) Moolavar Buddha Introduction                                 Shwegugyi Temple (built c. 1131) (or Shwe-gu-gyi, “Great Golden Cave”) temple and the nearby ruins of the former royal palace form an interesting juxtaposition of Bagan sites. According to a contemporary Pali inscription on stone slabs in the building the temple was […]

Address Bagan Sein-Nyet-Ama & Nyima Temples, Myanmar Nyaung-U, Bagan Myanmar (Burma) Moolavar Buddha Introduction                    Sein-nyet-ama Temple and Sein-nyet-nyima Stupa (12th-13th centuries) are a rare pairing of large monuments set within a single enclosure. Literally meaning “Elder Sister” and “Younger Sister”, respectively, the monuments are oriented east-west and stand on a small hill on the east […]

Address Bagan Po-daw-mu-hpaya Stupa, Myanmar Bagan – Chauk Rd, Nyaung-U, Myanmar (Burma) Moolavar Buddha Introduction               The Po-daw-mu-hpaya (11th century) is a small stupa located directly southwest of Naga-yon Hpaya. It consists of three major elements: an octagonal base, a barrel-shaped body, and a pyramidal four-sided spire. It is one of about 50 “encased” stupas found throughout […]

Address Bagan Paya-thon-zu Temple, Myanmar Paya Thone Zu, Nyaungu, Myanmar (Burma) Moolavar Buddha Introduction                              Paya-thonzu Temple (2nd half of 13th century) The Paya-thon-zu, whose name means “Temple of the Three Buddhas”, is the only triple-monument at Bagan with interconnected shrine corridors. Built in the second half of the 13th century, it stands 500 meters north of […]

Address Bagan Pahto Hamya Temple, Myanmar Pahto-thamya, Bagan, Myanmar (Burma) Moolavar Buddha Introduction                 Pahto Hamya Temple (built late 11th, early 12th century) The Pahto Thamya is a large two story temple located just inside the old city wall near the modernistic Bagan Archaeological Museum. It is near the presumed site of the old palace and immediately […]

Address Bagan Nga-myet-hna Temple, Myanmar Nyaung-U, Bagan, Myanmar (Burma) Moolavar Buddha Introduction                              Nga-myet-hna Temple (13th century) is one of only seventeen known Bagan-era monuments with a pentagonal plan. The informal name of the temple, Nga-myet-hna, is simply the Burmese phrase for “five sided”, and thus may be applied to any of the pentagonal monuments. The […]

Address Bagan Nga-kywe-na-daung Stupa, Myanmar Old Bagan, Myanmar (Burma) Moolavar Buddha Introduction                                  Nga-kywe-na-daung (built c. 9th century) is a medium size early Pyu type brick masonry stupa. Its date of construction remains uncertain. Paul Strachan suggests that it most likely is from the 9th century because of the somewhat crude molding of its brick; […]

Address Bagan Nathlaung Kyaung Temple, Myanmar Nat Hlaung Kyaung, Anawrahta Rd, Bagan, Myanmar (Burma) Moolavar Vishnu Introduction                             Nathlaung Kyaung (or Nat-hlaung-kyaung) (built c. 931), located slightly to the west of Thatbyinnyu and inside the old city walls, is the only remaining Vaishnavite temple in Bagan. Puranic Significance  It was possibly built by legendary King Taungthugyi (r. […]

Address Bagan Nan-hpaya Temple, Myanmar Myin Ka Bar, Myanmar (Burma) Moolavar Brahma Introduction                 Nan-hpaya Temple (also spelled Nanpaya) (11th century) is likely one of the first free-standing ‘cave’ type temples at Bagan. Built during the reign of King Anawrahta (r. 1044-1077), the founder of the Bagan Empire, it is startlingly sophisticated for such an early […]