Bagan

　　The ancient city of Bagan is the ultimate destination for a trip to Myanmar or even all of Asia. It is one of the three great Buddhist heritage sites in Asia, and was once home to over 4.486 million stupas and temples, earning it the title "City of Ten Thousand Pagodas." Among Bagan’s pagodas, Shwezigon is the most famous. Built by King Anawrahta, this golden stupa enshrines a sacred tooth relic of the Buddha. Construction began in 1059 and was not completed until after the death of King Anawrahta. This magnificent golden stupa stands as one of the enduring monuments of King Anawrahta’s reign.

　　Among the numerous pagodas of Bagan, there are four that house Buddha’s tooth relics. In addition to Shwezigon Pagoda, the other three are Tant Kyi Taung Pagoda, Lawkananda Pagoda, and Gubyaukgyi Pagoda. These three are somewhat smaller in scale compared to the grand Shwezigon Golden Pagoda. Ananda Temple is also one of the renowned pagodas, notable for its diverse and expressive Buddha statues, as well as rare bas-reliefs, murals, and intricate patterns not commonly found in other pagodas. Some have referred to it as Myanmar’s “Longmen Grottoes.” Dhammayangyi Temple is another iconic structure, notable for its massive size and excellent state of preservation. The Buddha statues enshrined across these pagodas—and throughout Bagan’s many other temples—often depict seated, standing, or figurative forms clad in fitted robes with left shoulder drapes, some adorned with jade crowns. These artistic styles reflect the influence of Indian Theravada Buddhist art. After the Bagan Dynasty, Theravada Buddhism spread across Myanmar and played a significant role in unifying the country.