Religious edifices in Bagan Era are based on the flourishing of Buddhism in the early period of 11 Century AD. At that time, people built in various shapes of small and massive buildings with beautiful interior and exterior decorations.

Ancient buildings within 19 square miles of Bagan can be classified into solid type and hollow type, including the kinds of single-storey temples. Among them, the Ananda is the most wonderful and significant single-storeyed temple built in the early Bagan period.

As the Ananda Temple is abundant in artistic craft, it is the most beautiful in Bagan. According to a saying, “Ananda excels in architecture”, the temple grandly stands out as the most wonderful one in Bagan Ancient Cultural Heritage Zone.
The Ananda was built by King Kyansittha who ruled Myanmar in 446-473 Myanmar Era or 11AD as well as 1090BC. It is 168 ft high. The upper part of the temple forms a pyramidal spire which is 35 ft high and decorated with riches.
Above the spire, a 30 ft high stupa in plain design is built. You can observe the curvilinear roof which depicts the stylistic craft popular in early Bagan Era. It is really a distinguished architectural feat of that time.
Not only the roof of the Ananda Temple but also that of the prayer hall is curvilinear. We are proud to observe this kind of difficult art which seems to have grandly developed in early Bagan era.

The Ananda has 7 levels of terraces and approach ramp archways. On each side of the terrace, 3 archways are found. So, there are altogether 12 archways on the upper terrace. The 4th, 5th and 6th terraces have those approach ramp archways.
Approach ramp archways have many small arches. Moreover, they have steps which are obviously far from one another and you can go up and down on these.
Many small stupas encircling the Ananda Temple. On the third terrace, four small stupas with pyramidal spire are seen. The other tiers of the terraces have 8 corner stupas, and the roof of the prayer and roof tiers of holes for light have 12 stupas. Therefore, on the roof of the Ananda, 24 small stupas are built.
If you are on the upper terrace, you can view the distant pagodas like Dhammayangyi, Sulamani and other stupas and also their environs, the beauty of which gives you satisfaction and a tranquil mind.
On every step of upper terraces, you can observe stucco work in the shapes of lions. In Bagan period, lion figures appear to be made plainly. Therefore, you may see those lion figures which have not much carvings and decorations but only the manes. Although they are simply made, the lion figures resemble the real, depicting courage.
By studying Lion statues at the Ananda, you may slowly and steadily think that utensils like brace and file were used skillfully in Bagan period in creating the decorations in detail.

What remains of glazed plaques with amazing pictures show they themselves are the most fashionable handicraft among those at pagodas in Bagan.

Plaques depicting Buddha’s life, 10 Jatakas of the previous lives of Gautama Buddha and 550 minor Jataka stories are really impressive. They appear beautifully because of skilful and artistic creation in the stage of the terra-cotta castings even before glaze is applied. Especially, on the upper terrace of the Ananda, you can see significant plaques depicting human being and animals. They are very proportionate and illustrious and also reflect the customs, costumes and life styles of ancient Bagan people.
Most of the glazed plaques are inscribed the brief account of the event which is shown on each plaque with a mixture of Mon and Pali languages. Therefore, these plaques stand as inevitable historical and cultural evidence of successive eras.
In addition, being the four vestibules at the Ananda Temple is the most wonderful formation. Instead of building one vestibule commonly found in Bagan pagodas, those four of the same size are situated on each face of the Temple.
That’s why the foundation plan of the Ananda is so systematic and outstanding. The form of such stylistic plan is known as “Perfect Greek Cross”.
We will continue to present more of the marvelous architectural creations at the Ananda in the near future programme.