Destinations >> Bagan's
Environs
 Bagan, one of the great sights of Asia, Bagan is not to
be missed. Temple after temple, large and small rises up, a
great deserted royal city. This was the era of the temple
builders and they left a monument to their art as stunning
as the Pyramids in Egypt. Bagan flowered from AD 1057 to
1287 when it was overrun by the west-moving Kublai Khan.
During its heyday, 13000 temples were built to honor the
Theravada Buddhism.
Bagan’s temples are endlessly different and fascinating, each
one with its own legend.
Tour highlights include Nyaung Oo market, Shwezigone Pagoda;
the prototype of later Myanmar
 Stupas, Kyansitha Umin; a
tunnel with an interesting feature of paintings, Shwegugyi
temple; transitional in style between early and late Bagan
period, Archaeological museum, Ananda temple; an
architectural masterpiece, Ananda Okkyaung; a brick
monastery with mural paintings, Myinkaba Gupyaukkyi temple
with nice mural paintings, lacquer-ware workshop to see the
process of making lacquer-ware from the basic stage to
finished products ready for sale, Manuha temple with
gigantic Buddha Images as a captive king’s impression of
life in prison and Thatbyinnyu; the highest of Bagan
temples.
Mt. POPA
 Mt. Popa, an extinct volcano is a one hour drive from
Bagan on the road to Mandalay, rises 1520 metres into the
sky. It is the legendry home for Nat or Spirit. Climb to the
summit by stairway takes about 45 minutes and there is
Mahagiri Shrine dedicated to the " Nats" (Spirits) at the
top.
SALAY
Salay can easily be visited as a day trip from Bagan. It
is a 106-km trip via Kyauk Padaung, about 2.5hr drive, or
via chauk. On the other side of the main road from
Kyaukpadaung is the oldest surviving wooden monastery known
as Yoke Sone. Brick and stucco stairs with a dragon design (naga)
lead up to the hall which is supported by 170 teak pillars.
Only two sides of the hall bear the original over 170 years
old sculptures of 19th century court life, jataka (stories
from the Buddha’s life). Inside the hall is a collection of
antique religious objects. A lacquer Buddha image about a
metre high can also be seen in Salay.
PAKKOKU
It is situated along the way by river from Bagan. The
town itself has little to offer but at PAKHANGYI, 20km
northeast of PAKKOKU is a 19th century town with old city
walls, and an archeological museum. There is also one of the
oldest surviving wooden monasteries in upper Myanmar known
as PAKHANGYI with 254 teak pillars.
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