History and Cultural Significance
– Bagan was the capital of the Bagan Kingdom from the 9th to 13th centuries.
– Over 10,000 Buddhist temples, pagodas, and monasteries were constructed during this period.
– Bagan was a major trade and cultural hub in Southeast Asia during its peak.
– The city declined after repeated Mongol invasions in the 13th century.
– Bagan is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
– Bagan is considered one of the most important archaeological sites in Asia.
– The city’s temples and pagodas are revered as sacred places by Buddhists.
– Bagan hosts several festivals and religious ceremonies throughout the year.
– The local community preserves traditional crafts such as lacquerware and weaving.
– Bagan’s cultural heritage contributes to Myanmar’s national identity.
– Tourism revenue has contributed to the conservation and restoration of Bagan’s heritage sites.
Architecture
– Bagan’s temples and pagodas showcase a unique blend of Indian and Southeast Asian architectural styles.
– The temples were primarily built with bricks and decorated with intricate carvings and paintings.
– The Ananda Temple is one of the most well-preserved and iconic structures in Bagan.
– The Shwezigon Pagoda is a significant religious site and pilgrimage destination.
– Bagan’s architectural heritage attracts tourists and scholars from around the world.
Geography and Climate
– Bagan Archaeological Zone is a 13km × 8km area in Upper Burma.
– It is located on the bend of the Irrawaddy river.
– Bagan is 290km southwest of Mandalay and 700km north of Yangon.
– Bagan is in the dry zone of Burma, receiving little precipitation.
– It is sheltered from rain by the Rakhine Yoma mountain range.
– Annual monsoon rainfalls in coastal regions exceed 2,500mm.
3D Documentation with LiDAR
– The Zamani Project from the University of Cape Town documented 12 monuments in Bagan using LiDAR.
– The monuments documented include Kubyauk-gyi (Gubyaukgyi), Kyauk-ku-umin, Tha-peik-hmauk-gu-hpaya, Sula-mani-gu-hpaya (Sulamani), Sein-nyet-ama, Sein-nyet-nyima, Naga-yon-hpaya, Loka-ok-shaung, Than-daw-kya, Ananda Monastery, and the City Gate of old Bagan.
– The documentation was done during three field campaigns between 2017 and 2018.
– The purpose of the documentation was to spatially document the monuments after the earthquake in 2016.
– The Zamani Project conducted a reconnaissance visit to Bagan and met with UNESCO before starting the documentation process.
Transportation
– Bagan is accessible by air, rail, bus, car, and river boat.
– Nyaung U Airport is the main gateway to the Bagan region for international tourists.
– Domestic airlines offer regular flights from Yangon to Bagan, taking about 80 minutes.
– Flights from Mandalay to Bagan take approximately 30 minutes, and from Heho about 40 minutes.
– Bagan is connected to the Yangon-Mandalay Railway.
– Myanmar Railways operates a daily overnight train service between Yangon and Bagan, taking at least 18 hours.
– Overnight buses and cars operate between Yangon and Bagan, taking approximately 9 hours.
– An express ferry service runs between Bagan and Mandalay, taking around 9 hours to travel the 170 kilometers. Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bagan
Bagan (Burmese: ပုဂံ; MLCTS: pu.gam,IPA: [bəɡàɰ̃]; formerly Pagan) is an ancient city and a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the Mandalay Region of Myanmar. From the 9th to 13th centuries, the city was the capital of the Pagan Kingdom, the first kingdom that unified the regions that would later constitute Myanmar. During the kingdom's height between the 11th and 13th centuries, more than 10,000 Buddhist temples, pagodas and monasteries were constructed in the Bagan plains alone, of which the remains of over 2200 temples and pagodas survive.
Bagan ပုဂံ Pagan | |
|---|---|
 Temples and pagodas in Bagan | |
  Bagan Location of Bagan, Myanmar | |
| Coordinates: 21°10′21″N 94°51′36″E / 21.17250°N 94.86000°E | |
| Country | Myanmar |
| Region | Mandalay Region |
| Founded | mid-to-late 9th century |
| Area | |
| • Total | 104 km2 (40 sq mi) |
| Population | |
| • Ethnicities | Bamar people |
| • Religions | Theravada Buddhism |
| Time zone | UTC+6.30 (MST) |
| Website | |
| Official name | Bagan |
| Location | Mandalay Region, Myanmar |
| Criteria | Cultural: iii, iv, vi |
| Reference | 1588 |
| Inscription | 2019 (43rd Session) |
| Area | 5,005.49 ha (12,368.8 acres) |
| Buffer zone | 18,146.83 ha (44,841.8 acres) |
The Bagan Archaeological Zone is a main attraction for the country's nascent tourism industry.
