The Temple Fields of Bagan
2,000 Temples on a Plain
Bagan (officially a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2019) is one of the most breathtaking archaeological sites in the world. Over an area of 36 km², more than 2,200 temples, pagodas, and monasteries from the 9th to the 13th century stretch out — the remnants of a once powerful city with over 10,000 religious structures. Only Angkor Wat in Cambodia can rival Bagan in scale and impact — but while Angkor is enveloped by jungle, Bagan's temples lie open in a vast, dry plain, intersected by the mighty Irrawaddy River.
The Kingdom of Bagan (1044–1287) was the first unified Burmese empire and a power center of Theravada Buddhism. King Anawrahta began the massive temple construction after establishing Theravada Buddhism as the state religion. For over 250 years, kings, nobles, and wealthy citizens donated temple after temple — each one an act of religious merit meant to secure the builders a better next life. The Mongol Empire under Kublai Khan ended this era in 1287 — the city was abandoned, the temples remained.
The Most Important Temples
- Ananda Temple (1105): The most elegant temple in Bagan and a masterpiece of Mon architecture. White building with a golden spire, four standing Buddha statues (each 9.5 m high). Depending on the viewpoint, the Buddhas smile or look serious — an optical effect created by the sculptors.
- Shwezigon Pagoda: The most significant pagoda in Bagan, gleaming golden and a prototype for all later Burmese pagodas. Allegedly houses a tooth and a frontal bone relic of Buddha. Started by King Anawrahta, completed by his successor.
- Dhammayangyi Temple (1170): The most massive temple in Bagan, built by King Narathu — who murdered his father and brother and constructed the temple out of fear of karmic retribution. The brickwork is so precise that supposedly not even a needle can fit between the stones. Narathu had the hands of workers whose joints were not perfect cut off.
- Sulamani Temple (1183): Known as the "Crowning Jewel" for its harmonious proportions and well-preserved murals with scenes from Buddha's life and daily life in the Bagan era.
- Htilominlo Temple (1218): The last great temple of the Bagan era. Fine stucco work and glazed terracotta tiles. The name means "Throne of the King's Wish."
- Bu Paya: Small golden pagoda right on the Irrawaddy bank — the perfect place for a sunset by the river. Damaged in the 2016 earthquake and restored.
