Gawdawpalin - 4 Things to Know Before Visiting

Amongst over 2000 surviving monuments in Bagan, this Pagoda is the one which is closely identical with the Maha Bodhi Pagoda at Bodhgaya in India. It was built by King Zeya Thein Kha in A. D. 1215. Just like at Bodhgaya, there are seven sacred places in the environ of this Pagoda. With the exception of slight differ¬ences in position, the seven sacred places are similar to those at Bodhgaya.

The Nathlaung Kyaung Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Vishnu. It is one of the oldest temples in Bagan and was built in the 11th century, during the reign of King Anawratha. The temple is set on a square template with steep-rising upper terraces. It may have been built by Indian artisans brought into Bagan, during the 10th century AD, to work on it and other temples. It is one of the famous spots in this area which is both architecturally and historically important.

The Shwegugyi temple and the nearby ruins of the former royal palace form an interesting juxtaposition of Bagan sites. According to a contemporary Pali inscription on stone slabs in the building the temple was built in 7 1/2 months in 1131 AD under orders from King Sithu I. The temple is reflective of a slow change in architectural style to a lighter, airier and more decorated form with a stress on the vertical and reminds one of the transitions between the Romanesque and Gothic styles in Europe

Thatbyinnyu Phaya was one of King Sithu I's finest legacies to the Bagan region. Although there are no contemporary inscriptions that identify him as the builder, reliable chronicles from the 14th century affirm his role in its construction. It is Bagan's tallest temple at almost 200 ft and represents a transition from the Mon period to a new architectural style. It was one of the famous temples in this area.

The Pagoda was built in 1277 by King Narathihapati. It was the very last of the large late period monuments to be built before the kingdom's decline, thus representing the final flowering of Bagan's architectural skills. Being the westernmost monument at Bagan, it's a particularly good spot for a panoramic afternoon view of all the monuments lying to the east.

Ananda Temple is titled the "Westminster Abbey of Burma" and displays a fusion of Mon and Indian type of architecture. This temple is the main attraction in Bagan. Ananda Temple is like a museum. You can study all kinds of Myanmar arts here — architecture, stone sculpture, stucco, glazed plaques, terra cotta, wood carving, the artwork of blacksmith, etc. It is one of the key attractions in this area.