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 BAGAN History

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Founded in 849 AD by King Pyinbya, on the banks of the vast Ayeyarwady river, it became the capital of the first Unified Kingdom and the first multinational Union of Myanmar in 1044 AD.  Covering 25 sq.  miles and home, in its hey day to over 13,000 pagodas.  The golden era for Bagan (or Pagan), started in 1057 when King Anawratha returned victorious from Thaton with artists, artisans, monks and 30 elephant loads of Buddhist scriptures.  Over the next two centuries thousands of magnificent buildings were erected, dedicated to Buddhism, but in 1287 Kublai Khan’s forces overran the city, demolishing and ransacking many temples and pagodas.  An earthquake in 1975 and the continual effects of the mighty river has dwindled the number of pagodas in this magical land.  Today, after 7 long centuries only 2,217 remain standing.  But, it is still a unique and plentiful archaeological site that offers a rich heritage from a 12th century empire panoramic view of this land at sunset will leave you with a lingering sense of awe and wonder; one red brick pagoda after another, with an occasional white spire reaching heavenward with the greatest Burmese river in the background.  In many respects Bagan has changed very little in the past century.  It remains a veritable elephants-graveyard of medieval Burmese culture and religion.   After unifying the country, Anawratha accomplished another noble deed for the country: he introduced Theravada Buddhism into Myanmar with the help of Shin Arahan, a missionary monk from Thaton.  It was Buddhism that influenced the rulers of Bagan Dynasty to build innumerable pagodas and temples in and around the city.  The endless pagodas stand testimony to the rich cultural heritage of the Myanmar's and also to the beauty and grandeur of ancient pagoda.  Ancient Bagan is indeed an interesting place to visit for scholars and tourists who have an interest in archaeology and architecture.