Pahtothamya Temple

Type of monument	: Type III Temple (Zedi Pauk Gu)
Location	: West of Nathlaung Kyaung
Region	: Old Bagan
Built by	: King Taungthugyi (or) King Sawlu
Date	: 11th Century or earlier
Monument Number	: 1605
Photo Gallery	: View 10 Photos

This temple is popularly held to be one of five temples built by the non-historical King Taungthugyi (931-964) referred to history. But some of the archeologists also mark that it was built by King Sawlu by the references of the wall paintings which dates back only to the 11th Century.

King Taungthugyi was also known as Nyaung U Sawrahan. This temple was known to have been built like one of those in Thaton. Therefore, the temple compose of many Mon style paintings in the inside.

But the temple was renovated during the reign of King Kyanzittha (1084-1113).

BUDDHA IMAGES INSIDE THE TEMPLE
 

Pahtothamya temple has a long hall which lengthens towards the East. This monument has a harmonious proportion, having a height of 26 meter, 30 meter on the side and the hall has 17m of length.

NARROW PASSAGES LEADING TO THE SECOND LEVEL
 

The interior of this single-storey building is dimly lit, typical of the early type of Pyu-influenced temples with their small, perforated stone windows. In its vertical superstructure and lotus-bud sikhara, however, the monument is clearly beginning to move forward from the Early period.

TERRACES OF THE SECOND FLOOR
 

Painting remnants along the interior passages may rate as the earliest surviving murals in Bagan. There are four smaller temples surrounding Pahtothamya Temple and inside theses temples are magnificent artistic Buddha Images.

PANORAMIC SCENES TAKEN FROM THE SECOND FLOOR OF PAHTOTHAMYA TEMPLE
 

LAYOUT PLAN

 

Pawdawmu Pagoda

Type of monument	: Type II Temple
Location	: Near Soemingyi Temple
Region	: Myinkaba
Built by	: Unknown
Date	: 11th Century
Monument Number	: 1193

Pawdawmu Pagoda is a small pagoda of unique form and architecture. It is about 16 feet in height and located just across the Somingyi kyaung.

 

It was built during the 11th century. It is a well-preserved building, because it was encased in a covering of brick. It rests on three triple terraces, which are in the form of a hexagon. Between the rims, of the bell-shaped dome and the highest or third terrace is generally found a circular or octagonal protuberance. In this monument, the second protuberance is in the form of a hexagon. Over the hemispherical dome in the place of the usual concentric rings, there is an obelisk supporting a small conical finial resting on a capital of lotus petals.

LAYOUT PLAN

 

Pebingyaung Pagoda

Type of monument	: Type IV Temple (Sinhalese Style)
Location	: Near Bupaya
Region	: Old Bagan
Built by	: Unknown
Date	: 12th Century
Monument Number	: 1653

Near the Bupaya, lies this pagoda in Sinhalese character. This pagoda contains relics mounted on top of the bell-shaped main structure in a square-based relic chamber.

It was probably built in the 12th century and stands towards the river, near the Bupaya. During the12th century, there were good ties between the people of Bagan and the people Sri Lanka, so the cultural influences were all mixed up in such small building.
 

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Ashe & Anauk Petleik Pagodas

Type of monument	: Type IV Temple (Sinhalese)
Location	: North of Lawkanandar Pagoda
Region	: Thiripyitsaya & Bagan Myo Thit
Built by	: King Anwarahta
Date	: 11th Century
Monument Number	:

Ashe meaning east and Anauk meaning west in Myanmar, defines theses pagodas as the pagodas in east and west Petleik. Theses were built by King Anawrahta. The two pagodas are similar to each other but the Eastern pagoda is larger than the other one. Petleik means "Rolled leaves" resembles the shape of the pagodas in wrapped leaf form. The Western pagoda is better preserved and has a bell-shaped dome. There are unusual features of the dome and are four deep niches at the cardinal points to house images of the Buddha. Anauk Petleik Pagoda has a damaged bowl-shaped disc rests on the dome, while Ashe Petleik has a box-like relic chamber occupying the corridor. Series of Jataka plaques were originally complete, but many are now missing and some are broken into fragments.

In 1905, an excavating group revealed a twin 11th century pagodas near Thiripyitsaya village. The pagodas were built not on a solid base as expected, but on vaulted corridors, the walls of which were lined with hundreds of unglazed terracotta tiles illustrating scenes from the jatakas. New roofs were built over these twin tiers of tiles, many of which are still in excellent condition, particularly in the better preserved Anauk Petleik Paya. The buildings themselves are not very impressive but are of ancient architecture.

Payathonzu Temple

Type of monument	: Type II Temple (Kundaung Pauk Gu)
Location	: North of Minnanthu village
Region	: Minnanthu
Built by	: Unknown
Date	: 13th Century
Monument Number	: 477, 478, 479

Payathonzu means "three pagodas" is a complex of three interconnected shrines. It was abandoned shortly before its construction was complete, could have been due to the invasion of the Mongols. This monument has been built during the 13th century.

Since there are some possible Mahayana influence in the late time, the monument has mural paintings referring bodhisattva figures. Some define that the three monuments was designed to show the worshipping of Hindu gods such as Vishnu, Shiva and Brahma. But in another way, it is the representation of "Triple Gems" of Theravada Buddhism which as Dhamma, Buddha, and Sangha.

MURAL PAINTINGS INSIDE THE TEMPLE
 

Two of the shrines contain vaguely Chinese or Tibetan-looking mural paintings that contain bodhisattva figures. The complex is usually locked. It's best to inquire at the museum in Old Bagan to make an appointment for an inspection; in high season, it will probably be open most of the day for group tours.

 

LAYOUT PLAN

 

Pitaka Taik

Type of monument	: Library / Cave Style
Location	: North of Thabyinnyu
Region	: Old Bagan
Built by	: King Anawrahta
Date	: A.D 1057
Monument Number	: 1587

Pitaka Taik means the "library of Buddhist scriptures". After the conquest of Thaton, King Anawrahta carted off 30 elephant-loads of Buddhist scriptures. The he built this library to house them in 1058. The design follows the basic Early Bagan Cave Style known as "Gu", perfect for the preservation of light-sensitive, palm-leaf scriptures.

This is the only Library of ancient times, seen today. Each side of the monument measures (51) feet. There are three entrances in the front way and three windows on each side. The windows are decorated with carvings of lion images. There is a passage way between the walls and the inner hall.

It was repaired in 1738 by King Bodawpaya of the Kongbaung Dynasty. The architecture of the square building is notable for the perforated stone windows and the plaster carvings on the roof in limitation of Myanmar architectural woodcarvings.

LAYOUT PLAN

Pyathadar (Pyathatgyi) Temple Type of monument : Type III Temple (Double cave) Location : West of Minnanthu Village Region : Minnanthu Built by : King Kyaswa Date : 12th Century Monument Number : 803 Photo Gallery : View 13 Photos Pyathadar Temple is a double-cave type monument. Most of these kinds of monasteries were built out of wood. But some were built out of bricks and testify to the power of these monasteries.   The architectural design explains the expansion of vaults and broad corridors which made it possible to pass from one building to the other. This monastery has Indian influence. It even contains a hall of ordination and a small palate. BUDDHA IMAGES INSIDE THE TEMPLE   Pyathadar is really the most interesting monastery in Bagan especially if one is interested in the last pagoda of Bagan, and with the techniques of construction. HIGH PASSAGES BETWEEN THE WALLS AND THE HALLS   It was perhaps the last great construction of the dynasty of Bagan. The technique of the vaults on corridors intersected from and to each other is completely exceptional. PANORAMIC VIEWS FROM THE UPPER LEVEL OF PYATHADAR   This elegance in the construction industry is doubled of a massive superstructure but not compared to the Dhammayangyi, which is the most massive one of all.   LAYOUT PLAN

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