Attractions
Get a bird's eye view of monumental and ancient temples on the plain of Bagan
MYANMAR (BURMA) // Between the 11th and 13th centuries, a vast city of Buddhist temples and shrines arose in central Burma. Over a millennium later, having endured wars, neglect and devastating earthquakes (the most recent of which, in 2016, damaged some 400 of the 3595 monuments), Bagan stands as Myanmar's most magnificent archaeological site. Don't be put off by the fact that past restorations haven't been conducted in the most pukka fashion: Bagan is a living, breathing site of pilgrimage where many of the temples are functioning places of worship. Awarded World Heritage status in 2019, its prospects are bright. Watching the sun rise or set over the temple-sprinkled plains is as magical today as it ever has been.
How many temples are in Old Bagan?
The Bagans built the Valley of a Thousand Temples - more than 10,000 religious temples in 40 square miles. Only 2,500 of the original temples remain, and today they can all be found in the Bagan Archaeological Zone. The temples are still admired for their extraordinary craftsmanship and unique architectural styles.
Why are there so many temples in Bagan?
From the 9th to the 13th century, it was the capital of the Pagan Kingdom, and the political, economic, and cultural nerve center of the Pagan Empire. During the kingdom's heyday between the 11th and 13th centuries, wealthy pagan rulers ordered the construction of thousands of temples in the plains of Bagan.
Which temple is one of the most important temples among the thousands located in Bagan?
Visit five of the most prominent temples in the Bagan Archaeological Zone, including the Ananda Temple, a 12th-century architectural masterpiece built during the reign of the Kyanjita Kingdom.
Where are the temples of Bagan?
Earlier this month, UNESCO officially designated Myanmar's ancient city as a World Heritage Site. More than 3,500 pagodas, temples, and other ancient Buddhist religious buildings occupy approximately 16 square miles of Old Bagan in the Greater Bagan Archaeological Area.