As you walk around, you’ll run into locals worshiping and monks praying. The detail of this pagoda is seriously impressive. This Buddhist pagoda is believed to house a tooth and bone from Gautama Buddha. Shwezigon Pagoda is a big, beautiful gilded pagoda that is surrounded by smaller shrines and various temples. The shape, color and overall build are very similar to other pagodas found in other countries in Southeast Asia. Of the pagodas on our list, Shwezigon Pagoda is, in our opinion, is what people expect pagoda’s to look like when visiting Southeast Asia. It has a lot of significance and plus, it’s pretty. So yeah, this temple is like Myanmar’s Rosetta Stone. These four languages are considered some of the most ancient Southeast Asian languages and due to their discovery, has now played a critical role in cracking the Pyu language. In addition to Old Mon, Pali, Old Burmese and Pyu inscriptions were found on two pillars. On these frescoes, captions are written in “Old Mon” which has supplied archeologists with the earliest examples of written language in Myanmar. These frescoes are among the oldest to be discovered in There are about 547 of these frescoes that all depict stories, legends and historical chronicles of Bagan’s past.
It also has helped crack some linguistic codes around the earliest languages spoken in Myanmar. This temple not only houses a wide array of well-preserved frescoes (murals) that line the interior walls. Gu Byauk Gyi is probably one of, if not the most important temple tied to Myanmar’s past. 4) Gu Byauk Gyi Templeīuilt in 1113 AD, Gu Byauk Gyi Temple is a must for all those history buffs and ruin enthusiasts.
Reconstructed back to its full glory Bu (pumpkin/gourd in Burmese) Paya (pagoda in Burmese) shines on.
Originally constructed between the years of 168 to 248 AD, the 1975 earthquake completely cracked the structure causing it to fall into the river below. Located on the banks of the Ayeyarwady River, this gilded, dome shaped pagoda is unlike any that you’ll see on our list. While this pagoda may not be the most impressive, the views around it are. Built in 1144, this temple is a beauty and one of the first two-story temples built in Bagan. One of the highest temples on the plains of Bagan, Thatbyinnyu stands just over 60m (229ft) tall, and can be seen from almost anywhere on the plain. Why is this pagoda so significant? It’s rumored to house the hairs of Gautama Buddha. The pagoda was built by King Anawrahta, who is believed to be “the father of the Burmese nation.” 1) Shwesandaw PagodaĬonstructed in 1057 this Buddhist pagoda has five stone terraces with a stupa situated on top of those terraces. Rent a eBike or hire a tuktuk guide to get you to the must see temples in Bagan. The temples are scattered about so walking to each is out of the question. Use our map to help plan your time in Bagan. Get our list of the top 10 must see temples and pagodas when in Bagan, Myanmar. We know what you’re thinking, “2,000 TEMPLES AND PAGODAS!!” We thought the same thing but lucky for you, we got you.
Your guide will do all the work for you while you sit back and enjoy the historic sites that make up Old Bagan. Thankfully, for those looking learn about the culture and history of Bagan while exploring the highlights, we suggest taking a ebike day tour of Bagan’s pagodas and temples or a tuktuk tour of the plains of Old Bagan. We get it, seeing the best pagodas in Bagan can be overwhelming. Gu-style – The gu-style is more hollow making it’s purpose more for meditation and worship.Stupa Style – The stupa style is a massive, solid structure that typically houses a relic of some kind.There are two types of architectural styles that make up the remaining 2,000 pagoda’s and temples of Bagan…. The centuries of conflict and natural disasters have paid a toll on this place making Bagan a one-of-a-kind destination and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Of the 10,000 pagodas and temples, a little over 2,000 remain standing. Historically, Bagan is known for being home to over 10,000 Buddhist temples and pagodas and being the first kingdom to unify the regions that make up the modern day Myanmar.