Sapada Pagoda

Type of monument	: Type IV Temple (Sinhalese dagaba)
Location	: Near the entrance to Nyaung U
Region	: Nyaung U & Wetkyi-In
Built by	: Monk Sapada
Date	: A.D 1199
Monument Number	: 187

Sited close to the road as one approach Nyaung U from Kyauk Padaung or the airport, this late period pagoda from the 12th century was built by a monk named Sapada, who originally came from Pathein but became a monk in Sri Lanka.

His stupa is Sinhalese in style, with a square relic chamber above the bell. Sapada was one of the monks who were later sent to Sri Lanka in the 12th century. He returned back to Bagan in 1190 after spending 10 years in Sri Lanka. Although there was a lot of mixtures from the Mahayana and Theravada Buddhism, Sapada's interpretation was accepted by the King Narapatisithu and embraced by the people of Bagan.
 

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Seinnyet Ama Temple

Type of monument	: Type III Temple
Location	: North of Bagan Myothit
Region	: Thiripyitsaya & Bagan Myothit
Built by	: Queen Seinnyet
Date	: 11th Century
Monument Number	: 1085
	: View 5 Photos

Said to have been built by Seinnyet Queen in the 11th century A.D. but the design appears to belong to the later Burmese style of 13th century.

It is a square temple with four entrances through projecting porches, the main one facing west. The superstructure consists of the usual terraces and a sikhara resting on a square basement. It constitutes a dual with the adjoining Seinnyet Nyima.

 

Seinnyet Nyima Pagoda

Type of monument	: Type III Temple
Location	: North of Bagan Myothit
Region	: Thiripyitsaya & Bagan Myothit
Built by	: Queen Seinnyet's younger sister
Date	: 11th Century
Monument Number	: 1086

It is a pagoda of an unusual type.  The three receding square terraces and the bell-shaped dome do not differ much from those of other pagodas.

But above the dome rests a ribbed, bowl-shaped disc-the amalaka or myrobalan fruit- which makes the Seinnyet Nyima a distinctive type. Above the bowl-shaped disc rises a truncated conical finial which is made distinctive by the pronounced rings encircling it. Traditionally assigned to 11th century A.D.
 

Shin Arahan Oakkyaung Monastery

Type of monument	: Brick Monastery
Location	: West of Hnget Pyit Taung Compound
Region	: Nyaung U & Wetkyi-In
Built by	: King Anawrahta
Date	: 11th Century
Monument Number	:

Shin Arahan, the most vulnerable monk of Bagan period, was a native of Thatone known as Suvannabhumi. His ordained name was Shin Dhammadasi. Having accomplished the learning of Tipitaka (the three books of Buddha’s teachings) and later on attained the Arahathood, he became to be well-known as Shin Arahan. During the year of A.D 1053, Shin Arahan came from Thatone to Bagan to carry out religious missionary work. He dwelt in a solitary hermitage in a glade not too far from Bagan.

When Shin Arahan, the most vulnerable monk from Thaton came to Bagan, King Anawrahta who had long been desirous of embracing the true Faith of Theravada Buddhism, was so delighted and he so revered the most vulnerable that he built a place for him. This monastery was built at a place called “Hnget Pyit Taung” where the monk could reside in peace and harmony. The monastery was a complex of a wooden building and a brick structure. The monastery had height of 21 feet, length of 85 feet, width of 56 feet. The wall forming the compound was 119 feet East-West and 117 feet North-South.

THE MAIN PRAYER HALL AND IMAGE OF SHIN ARAHAN
 

In front of the brick structure was a Dhamma Sala or a Preaching Hall. This preaching hall was built out of teak, with 24 main teak columns, posted on a brick platform, and embellished with ornate wood carvings. It has a two-tired roof and on both sides of the main hall, were shed-roofed annexes. In this Dhamma Sala, Shin Arahan preached the Teachings of Buddha to the audience. On the immediate back of the Dhamma Sala was the brick monastery or the Vihara, were Shin Arahan resided and meditated. There were two entrances connecting the Dhamma Sala and the Vihara. The hipped-roof of the Vihara was the typical style of the Bagan time.

Due to the weather, earthquake and time, the whole complex had fallen into ruins and had been in that state for several years. The complex was later reconstructed as the original model and maintained.
 

 

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Shin Izza Gawna Temple

Type of monument	: Type III Temple (Zedi Pauk Gu)
Location	: East of Winido
Region	: Minnanthu
Built by	: Minister Maha Thaman
Date	: A.D 1237
Monument Number	: 588
Photo Gallery	: View 13 Photos

Shin Izza Gauna Temple is a two-storey Indian based style monument. The name Izza Gauna was the name of a powerful monk during the Bagan period who brought wealth to everyone in Bagan.

The temple was named after his name. There are stone inscriptions about describing the donor and the donation of the land and temple.

BAGAN STUCCOS
 

Many beautiful stuccos are still found on this temple. The jatakas of the lives of Buddha are painted on the walls too.

ANCIENT MURAL PAINTINGS
 

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Shin Mahtee Temple

Type of monument	: Type II Temple (Kundaung Pauk Gu)
Location	: South of Shwezigon
Region	: Nyaung U & Wetkyi-In
Built by	: Shin Mahtee
Date	: 13th Century
Monument Number	: 75

Shin Mahtee Temple is a square-based monument. There is a small entrance hall in front of the inner hall.

On the south and north sides of the temple are six windows, on each side. Inside the main hall lies a sitting Buddha Image at the height of 7 feet. Most parts of the ceilings are covered with mural paintings of the ancient time. The paintings consist of the lives of Buddha, spiritual beings, the foot marks of Buddha and many more.

 

Shwegugyi Temple

Type of monument	: Type III Temple
Location	: In front of the Bagan Palace
Region	: Old Bagan
Built by	: King Alaungsithu
Date	: 11th Century
Monument Number	:

Shwegugyi means "the Golden Cave" in Myanmar. It is located in front of the royal palace and therefore also known as the "Nandaw Oo Paya" meaning the "Pagoda in front of the palace".
 

It was built by King Alaungsithu in 1140 A.D. There is a legend saying, that there was a huge block of brick about 12 feet high sprouted from the ground in response to the king's greatness of accumulated merit. So with the huge block of brick, formed the plinth in the formation of the temple. It was mentioned that the Shwegugyi was completed in 7 months and 7 days.
 

BUDDHA IMAGE INSIDE THE TEMPLE AND THE ANCIENT WOODEN DOOR
 

Based on chronicles, there was also a saying that King Alaungsithu died at this place. When King Alaungsithu became old and suffered illness, his son removed him from the palace to this temple and left him to suffer. But Alaungsithu became conscious enough to ask where he was, but unfortunately his son came to kill him.
 

THE PASSAGE IN THE TEMPLE AND THE BUDDHA IMAGES

 

It is a two-tired monument. The base form a square cellar forming the main structure. There are four Buddha images seated around the sides of the central block in the cellar. There are two original inscriptions on each side. King Bayinnaung was known to have renovated some of the entrance of the Shwegugyi Temple later in his period.
 

STAIRWAYS TO THE UPPER LEVEL AND SOME SCENE
 

 

 

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Shwesandaw Pagoda Type of monument : Type II Pagoda (Zedi) Location : Northeast of Old Bagan Region : Old Bagan Built by : King Anawrahta Date : A.D 1057 Monument Number : 1568 King Anawrahta built Shwesandaw Pagoda after his conquest of Thaton in 1057. This graceful circular pagoda was constructed at the centre of his newly empowered kingdom. The pagoda was also known as Ganesh or Mahapeine after the elephant-headed Hindu god whose images once stood at the corners of the five successive terraces. The five terraces once bore terracotta plaques showing scenes from the jalakas, but traces of these, and of other sculptures, were covered by lather heavy-handed renovations. The pagoda's bell rises from two octagonal bases which top the five square terraces. This was the first monument in Bagan to feature stairways leading from the square bottom terraces to the round base of the pagoda itself. This pagoda supposedly enshrines a Buddha hair relic brought back from Thaton. The hti, which was toppled by the earthquake, can still be seen lying on the far side of the pagoda compound. A new one was fitted soon after tie quake. Before when people were allowed to climb up the terrace of the pagoda, it was a great spot to view the sunset of Bagan. But nowadays, to keep the ancient monuments in good shape, the stairways have been closed down.   LAYOUT PLAN

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