| |
|
|
|
|
Bagan Myanmar, Pagodas, Temples,
Photos
and
Irrawaddy.
|
We are focused on individual and small group trips throughout the country, tell us what you want via contact.
Bagan in Deutsch |
|
Today the remains of
over 2,000 stupas,
and
temples made mainly from brick
and
monasteries made
mainly from teak wood,
lie scattered over a
40-kilometre radius,
this is the ancient city
and the new parts such
as the airport area and
the part called new
Bagan. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Old buildings range in
size from around
3 meter high for smaller
stupas up to
appr.
60 meter high temple
structures such as the Ananda Temple, Shwezigon
pagoda and other. Most have relics
of the Buddha and
religious items
enshrined.
Bagan origins are in the
9th century but the
construction of temples
and pagodas started only
in the 11th century
under the greatest ruler
the city has seen until
today, this was Anawrahta
(1044-77).
The
coming up of the
city in this
very dry,
although there
is enough water
because the
Irrawaddy River
runs through,
area is somehow
strange.
There are some
indications that
this was not
always so, there
could have been
forests around
which just
disappeared
since trees
where cut on a
large scale and
nothing was
reforested. |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Shwezigon pagoda
is a
monumental construction and one
of the most
venerated pilgrim destination. |
Great
ancient pagodas. |
|
|
Bagan
temples
is one of the
reasons why
people
visit the
place, this is a
real culture
destination. |
History at
Tharabar Gate,
this city gate
is one of the
very few
buildings left.
|
|
|
The growing of
the city was driven by Buddhism
which brought plenty of people
into the area for studying and
teaching this functioned as a
catalysator to bring the various
ethnic groups together plus
people from India and China
created a cultural life.
Myanmar ‘s city
always have several names, e.g.
this city was also known as:
Arimaddanapura, the City of the
Enemy Crusher and Tambadipa the
Land of Copper this are some,
there are more. The name itself
came up in 1050 inscription at
the Panrang River in Annam, they
wrote about Pukam which was the
name before Bagan, also called
Pagan, this has nothing to do
with “Paganism”.
|
The King at
a celebration.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Irrawaddy river, a cruise on this
great Asian waterway should
be done when visiting
the place. |
One of the better hotels is
the Tharabar Gate Resort. |
Here
is
a typical up market resort at Bagan
Myanmar
with
buffet
around the pool. During high season
they bring dance and acrobatic shows at dinner time, they are doing a good
job to make the tourists feel good, more. |
|
|
A few hours drive to
Shan State
with a totally
different
environment, lush
greenery at over
1000m elevation.
|
|
Mahagiri
Nats at
Mount Popa
the abode of
the Nats.
This are
ghosts,
spirits with
various
diffuse
functions,
they have
never been
seen but
people
believe in
them. |
Mahagiri
Nats and Mount Popa
|
Mount Popa
is
close, its
just about a
2 hour
car ride and
should be
visited on a
tour. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Murals or wall paintings
in the temples show sacral
scenes and what happen everyday
long time ago. Very often Jakata
Stories of Buddha's live adorn
the walls and ceilings.
|
A monastery
is almost as famous as the
temples and pagodas, this is,
among others, at Sale, a bit
outside the ancient city. There
are many monasteries in the
area, they have been built over
centuries, most have a combined
wooden and brick architecture.
|
Temples
are
great Buddhist shrines
conserving art and architecture
over several hundred years.
There are simple and
sophisticated temple
structures, embedded into a
"sea" of other temple and
pagodas.
|
A
Irrawaddy cruise
should be done by everyone
visiting the area. The cruise will open up a totally
new view of the scenery. There is also intense river life, novices and
schoolboys are bathing in the
Irrawaddy, women do their
laundry, other people clean
their livestock and totally
overloaded boats move. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
If
you
don't have more than maybe a couple of days in particular for
shooting photos, hire a Myanmar photographer to come with you
just like you hire the tourist guide, its worth it, doesn't cost
lot of money and makes sure you will find the REAL places.
If you look for a photo guide in
Yangon, Mr. Ko Oo is a excellent choice, you can reach him
through the e-mail contact above. All other places have
their own local photographer ask at the
hotel or us. We also have a pool of
writer available who can do a excellent
text on almost any subject.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
