All the best information on historical sites | Bagan

Bagan History
The Bagan ruins cover a 16 square mile area. Most of its buildings were built in the 1000s to 1200s. Bagan was the capital of the First Burmese Empire during the construction of the temples. Once King Pyinbya moved the capital to Bagan in 874, it became a major city. The capital shifted with each reign because of Burmese tradition, so Bagan was again abandoned until the Anawrahta’s reign, when, in 1057, he conquered Thaton’s capital of Mon in an effort to transform Bagan into a religious and cultural centre. King Anawrahta made Theravada Buddhism a state religion with the help of a monk, and it is estimated that upwards of 13,000 temples and stupas were built in the 42 square kilometer area in central Burma Bagan became a cosmopolitan center of Buddhist studies after this, and monks from all over, including India, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and the Khmer Kingdom. The kingdom fell to the Mongols in the late 13th century and the city was abandoned as a political centre, thus beginning the decline. It did continue to flourish as a Buddhist place of worship despite the population being reduced to a village remaining amongst the ruins of this once great city. This village remained for hundreds of years before being forcibly relocated in 1998. They moved a few kilometers south and formed New Bagan. Here you can find places to stay in a variety of cheap, quaint, clean hotels and religious centers.

Despite Bagan’s history and historical importance, it is still not recognized as a Unesco World Heritage Site. They claim that it’s because not all temples were built in a “historic” way. Regardless of its omission by Unesco, Bagan is arguably as impressive as some of the world’s other most historic sites like the Egyptian Pyramids and Cambodia’s Angkor Wat.

About 2,200 temples and stupas remain today in various states of maintenance. Some are in great shape, and some are in overgrown and small relics of their former selves. All temples and stupas are considered sacred sites, so be sure to dress appropriately and take off your shoes before entering any temples.

Bagan Visitor Information
All visitors to Bagan pass through a ticket booth upon entrance where you present your passport. You can purchase your US$10 ticket here that remains valid for your entire stay (March 2008). You also need these passes for accommodation. Local hotels and hostels record the ticket number when you check in.

There are many ways to reach Bagan. Travelers can fly from Yangon or Mandalay. If taking the overland route, prepare to have some extra time on your hands. Overnight trains from Yangon take close to 24 hours, and night buses leave Yangon in the afternoon and arrive early the next morning. The train from Mandalay takes about seven hours and has two daily departures, while comfortable bus rides are also available.

Some of the things to highlight when visiting Bagan include:

• Temples. There are over two thousand temples and stupas still standing in Bagan, and they are the main highlight of any trip here. Most Popular Temples:

1. Ananda Temple houses the four standing Buddhas, with each one facing the East, North, West and South. The temple is an architectural masterpiece and has been known as the “Westminster Abbey of Burma.”
2. Dhammayangyi Temple is the largest temple in Bagan. Dhammayan was built during the reign of King Narathu, who assassinated his father and older brother. He is said to have built this temple to atone for his sins.
3. Thatbyinnyu Temple is Bagan’s tallest temple at 200 feet high and is shaped like a cross, though it is not symmetrical. It has two primary stories, with the seated Buddha image located on the second story.

• Hot Air Balloon Ride: Not necessarily for the budget traveler, but a hot air balloon ride will give you a view of Bagan like no other. A sunrise balloon ride is offered by Balloons Over Bagan for US$ 295 per person. All balloons are made in England and have a perfect safety record.
• Horse and Driver: A horse cart and driver can be hired to take you around Bagan for about US$5/day.
• Bike: A bike can be rented for about US$1/day and is a great alternative to walking or hiring a driver. There isn’t much traffic on the roads, making riding easier, and if you’re an early riser and get up before 8am, chances are you won’t be competing with many other people, not to mention the cooler weather.

Bagan Conservation Efforts

Most of the Bagan  site was damaged by the 1975 earthquake and cooperation with UNESCO on projects helps with some experimental conservation work, restoration of mural paintings and maintaining some of the rare monuments.  From 1993 to 2008 the site underwent extensive restoration work; at least 1,299 Buddhist temples, monasteries and stupas were rebuilt from mounds of rubble since and a further 688 damaged buildings also received major repairs.