The World Heritage Site of Bagan is the wonder of wonders in the "Golden Land". About 3,000 ancients Temples and Stupas, dating from the 11th century, adorn the vast arid plain of Bagan. Views across the red brick Pagodas are stunning and quite unforgettable. The traditional date of the foundation of Bagan is 849 AD but the actual Golden Age began only in the 11th century after King Anawrahta (1044-1077) ascended the throne and became the 42nd ruler of the Bagan Dynasty. As a former center of Buddhist spirituality and learning, Bagan rank amongst the great sites in India and Tibet.

As a manifestation of a dynamic and original form of architecture, Bagan stands alongside the other great Buddhist centers of Southeast Asia, like Angkor Wat in Cambodia or Borobudur in Indonesia. Originally there were 10,000 Temples at Bagan, largely constructed of brick between the 11th and 13th centuries. During this time, Myanmar was unified as the First Myanmar Empire under the King Anawrahta. What is more, Anawrahta accomplished another great task for the country: he introduced Theravada Buddhism into Myanmar with the help of Shin Arahan, a mission monk from Thaton.

At Bagan no monuments are the same. All are highly original in design and conception. The structural techniques, similar to the gothic form of Western Cathedral architecture, were in advance of contemporary engineering in Europe. Technologically daring in notion, and exquisite in execution, the Temples of Bagan are of a splendour rarely witnessed anywhere else in the world.

During your stay in Bagan, you should not miss, among others, Shwe Zigon Stupa (prototype for later Stupas of Myanmar), Ananda Temple (a masterpiece of King Kyansittha in the shape of a perfect Greek Cross), Damayan Gyi Temple (perhaps one of the best preserved in Bagan and has motor-less brickwork), Shwe Sandaw Pagoda (one of the best places for sunset) and Thatbyinnyu Temple (the tallest in Bagan).