ANCIENT CITY OF BAGAN. Capital of the Kingdom
of Bagan from the 9th to the 13th centuries, this
prosperous city had more than 10,000 Buddhist
temples and monasteries constructed on its nearby
plains, drawing Buddhist pilgrims from as far away as
India and Ceylon. The remains of some 2,200 of these
comprise the Bagan Archaeological Zone. Highlights
include Shwezigon Pagoda, Ananda Pagoda and the
Tharabar Gate.
After explorer Marco Polo visited Bagan around 1275
AD, he wrote, "They make one of the fi nest sights in
the world, exquisitely fi nished, splendid and costly.
When illuminated by the sun they are especially
brilliant and can be seen from a great distance."
Bagan's golden age ended when Kublai Khan's forces
invaded in 1287. For centuries the city was nearly
deserted, but Burmese people returned during the
British colonial period and have maintained the site
ever since.
BAG A N , M YA N M A R
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