Information AboutBagan |
|
Bagan ( in Myanmar (Burma). It is located in the dry central plains of the country, located on the western banks of the Ayeyarwady River (Irrawaddy River), and is 145 kilometres (90 miles) southwest of Mandalay . UNESCO has long tried unsuccessfully to designate Bagan as a World Heritage Site . However, Bagan's chance of becoming a World Heritage Site is now slim, as the Government has renovated many temples and pagodas without taking into consideration their former architectural styles. ARCHITECTURAL STYLES The religious buildings of Bagan are often reminiscent of popular architectural styles in the period of their constructions. The most common types are:
HISTORY The ruins of Bagan cover an area of 16 square miles. The majority of its buildings were built in the 11th to 13th centuries, during the time Bagan was the capital of the Burmese dynasty. Bagan was not made a major city until King Pyinbya moved the capital to Bagan in 874 A.D. However, in Burmese tradition, the capital shifted with each reign, and because of this, Bagan was once again abandoned until the reign of Anawratha . In 1057 , King Anawratha conquered the Mon capital of Thaton , and brought back Pali scriptures, Buddhist monks and craftsmen, and were utilised to transform Bagan into a religious and cultural centre. After he converted to Theravada Buddhism ,he sent a samgha mission to Sri Lanka , and by the help of the samgha, he successfully converted his country. Bagan then became the sole centre of religious studies, and the university in Bagan attracted students from as far as the Khmer kingdoms. In 1287 the kingdom fell to the Mongols , after refusing to pay tribute. The city was ransacked, as many religious relics were stolen.
CULTURAL SITES
NEIGHBOURS
MORE PHOTOS |