Rome in the Footsteps of an XVIIIth Century Traveller

Myanmar's authorities and tour operators regard Bagan as a location which could attract as many foreign visitors as Angkor Vat in Cambodia does. It could happen because the view of the 2000 pagodas of Bagan is impressive, but some visitors may not be pleased by discovering that many of them are modern reconstructions and that others have been repainted and gilded too much.
In a November 2012 tour of the country of the local guide was on leading the group to shopping centres, factories, "museums" (which were just shops), money changers and other business enterprises. There was no time for visiting some important pagodas such as Gawdawpalin and Dhammyangyi.

View from Dhammayazika Pagoda which for its location at the south-eastern end of the plain of Bagan enjoys commanding views over many other pagodas: (upper left corner) Gawdawpalin Pagoda (1235); (upper right corner) Dhammyangyi Pagoda (1170); (below) view westwards of Dhammayazika Pagoda (towards the mountains behind the Irrawaddy, the main river of the country)

One of the four temples of Dhammayazika Pagoda (1196) and details of its decoration

Dhammayazika Pagoda: details

Dhammayazika Pagoda: tiles depicting episodes of the life of Buddha

Ananda Pagoda (1105)

Ananda Pagoda: large statues of Buddha in the four chapels of the complex

Ananda Pagoda: (left) one of the corridors; (right) a reclining Buddha

Ananda Pagoda: paintings

Ananda Pagoda: tiles

Shwezigon Pagoda (1102)

Shwezigon Pagoda: statues of Buddha

Shwezigon Pagoda: nats, traditional Burmese deities

Shwezigon Pagoda: details

The image used as background for this page shows a statue at Ananda Pagoda.

Go to page two or move to:
Introductory page
Inle Lake
Inle Lake - Phaung Daw U Pagoda Festival
Mandalay
Yangon (Rangoon)