Bagan

Bagan

The ancient city of Bagan is the ultimate destination for any trip to Myanmar or even all of Asia. It is one of the three major Buddhist heritage sites in Asia, once home to over 4.486 million stupas and temples that earned it the reputation as the "City of Ten Thousand Pagodas." Among the pagodas in Bagan, Shwezigon is the most famous. Built by King Anawrahta, this golden pagoda houses a sacred tooth relic and was the first pagoda constructed in Bagan. Its construction began in 1059 and was only completed after the death of King Anawrahta. This magnificent and grand golden stupa stands as one of the enduring monuments of King Anawrahta.

There are four pagodas in Bagan’s pagoda forest that house Buddha's tooth relics. In addition to Shwezigon Pagoda, the other three are Tan Kyi Daw Pagoda, Lawkananda Pagoda, and Gu Byauk Gyi Pagoda. These three are somewhat smaller in scale compared to the golden Shwezigon Pagoda. Ananda Temple is also among the renowned pagodas, featuring a wide variety of Buddha statues inside, along with rare bas-reliefs, murals, and intricate patterns seldom seen in other pagodas. Some refer to it as Myanmar’s “Longmen Grottoes.” Dhammayangyi Temple is also notable for its large scale and well-preserved structure. The Buddha statues enshrined in these and other pagodas across Bagan—whether seated, standing, or depicted as attendants—are often shown wearing form-fitting robes with shawls draped over the left shoulder, some adorned with jade crowns. These artistic features reflect the influence of Indian Theravada Buddhist art. Since the Bagan Dynasty, Theravada Buddhism has spread throughout Myanmar and played a significant role in unifying the country.