Bagan, formerly generally known as “Pagan”, was the capital of present-day Burma from 9–13 AD. It is situated within the Mandalay region of Myanmar. Of the ten,000 Buddhist temples, pagodas and monasteries built on the plains of Bagan between the eleventh and thirteenth centuries, only 2,000 remain. This could also be why the region is so popular with tourists. Below are some facts concerning the city.
- The Bagan Archaeological Zone is the town’s major tourist attraction. It can easily rival Angkor Wat in Cambodia.
- Bagan is usually called the “sea of temples”.
- Today, not less than 2,200 temples and pagodas may be present in Bagan, even though it is believed that there have been once greater than 10,000, with each monument dedicated to Buddha. Some of those temples include; Ananda Temple, Thatbinnyu Temple, Htilominlo Temple, Myinkaba Gubyaukgyi Temple and Shwezigon Pagoda and lots of more.
- Bagan has a comparatively stable climate that gives more sunshine than some other city in Myanmar.
- Bagan cuisines are considered the perfect in Asia. They mix the feats of Indian, Chinese and Thai culinary genius with their very own to create the perfect food you’ll be able to taste anywhere in Asia.
- Bagan is a highly religious, historic city situated in central Burma (Burma) in Southeast Asia, within the Mandalay region.
- Bagan was the capital of the Pagan Empire (which included most of recent Burma) until 1297, and a middle of Buddhist thought and activity, visited by many scholars from other civilizations.
- Historical records generally known as the “Burmese Chronicles” document that the Bagan civilization was founded around 100 AD, although many historians dispute this source and fairly cite the yr 800 because the founding age, as evidence for a kingdom sooner than this time is scant.
- The fall of Bagan occurred in 1287 AD, after the Mongols invaded the Pagan Kingdom for political reasons, which resulted in a drastic decline in the town’s population.
- While strolling through the narrow streets lined with temples and pagodas is the perfect method to see the town of temples, there are hot air balloon rides that may make riding around some other city you already know look like child’s play. The city is best photographed from a hot air balloon.
Here are a number of the hottest temples:
The Ananda Temple, Bagan’s most sacred temple was inbuilt 1105 through the reign (1084–1113) of King Kjanzitta of the pagan dynasty. The layout of the temple is in the form of a cross with several terraces resulting in a small pagoda on top covered with an umbrella generally known as hti, the name of the umbrella or upper ornament present in just about all pagodas in Myanmar. The Buddhist temple houses 4 standing Buddhas, each facing a cardinal direction, i.e. east, north, west and south.
Gawdawpalin Temple it was inbuilt the twelfth century by King Narapatisithu. It is the second tallest temple in Bagan. The temple was severely damaged within the 1975 earthquake and was rebuilt in the next years
Dhammayangyi Temple is the biggest temple in Bagan, it was built by King Narathu, who reigned from 1167 to 1170. Narathu, who ascended the throne by killing his father Alaungsithu and elder brother, probably built this largest temple to atone for his sins.
The Shwesandaw Pagoda was inbuilt 1057 by King Anawahta, the stupa preserves the Buddha’s hair. It is usually called the Ganesh Temple, after the elephant-headed Hindu god whose images once stood on the corners of every of the five terraces.
Mahabodhi Temple is a precise, though smaller, replica of the famous Mahabodhi Temple in Bodh Gaya, India (where the Buddha achieved enlightenment under the Bodhi tree). It was built through the reign of King Nantaungmya (1210-1234) and is totally covered with niches containing seated Buddha figures.
Shwezigon Pagoda it was built as a very powerful reliquary temple in Bagan. It is the prototype of Burmese stupas and consists of a circular stupa gilded with gold, surrounded by smaller temples and shrines. The construction of the Shwezigon Pagoda began through the reign of King Anawrahta and was accomplished in 1102, through the reign of King Kyansittha of the pagan dynasty. The pagoda is believed to contain several bones and hairs of the Buddha.
A big body of contemporaries stone inscriptions were essentially the most reliable source of the history of the Kingdom.
The best time to go to falls between November and February, when temperatures reach 30°C (86°F). Avoid March through May, when temperatures can reach 43°C (110°F). The heaviest rainfall occurs in June and October.
Source :
Royalcitytravel.com
Wikipedia.com
