Pictures of Central Burma

This region is around Bagan and Mandalay. Central Burma is one of the top sacred sites on the globe with around 2000 pagodas & temples of still standing, many are ruins only. There is continuous restoration going on but since the walls are not insulated against the down pouring water its a Sisyphus job.  Pagodas and Temples have different architecture, the first is a solid structure where nobody can walk in, the second is an open structure where people can enter.This architecture has its pros and contra, in general the second is more constructed like a Hindu shrine, a Church or a Mosque and the first is more a direct object to pray to.

At Bagan especially just before sunset the view over the plains with temples and pagodas and the Irrawaddy in the back is marvelous. It needs to come early because plenty of tourists have the same idea and the best places on the Shwesandaw Pagoda are quickly occupied since all people come to watch from there, it is the best view.

In general it is almost mandatory to hire a local tour guide because they know the best perspectives and also how to get into the temples because many interesting one are closed and it needs to get the key to get in and maybe climb up.

The Thatbyinnyu Temple is a huge structure, one of the five biggest in the city, from outside it looks quite impressive but the inside was not finished. It want matter anyway since the view above is already great. Since there is no isolation of the brick walls the whole monument becomes black after the rain, read more. 

During the 250 years existence of the Empire the capital was formed into a multifaceted and unique urban complex. If one looks at the city for the first time, it gives the impression of a random accumulation of different types of larger and smaller buildings. Everywhere picturesque groups of sacral monuments of various diverse architectural compositions are visible. Their different distances from the viewer create a varied structured depth perspective.

The Dhammayangyi Temple with a pyramid form is one of the most interesting in town. A remarkable monument of epic appearance. Climb up one of the other temples to get a good view of it, it's in the hearth of Bagan, read more.

The Bupaya Pagoda at the banks of the Ayeyarwady is one of the most beautifully located, in the late afternoon it gets a remarkable illumination. Breath some fresh air in the dusty environment, sit down and let the pictures impress you, read more.

View from the Irrawaddy River