( Innwa )
The grand Bagaya monastery, decorated with splendid Myanma architectural works, is in the ancient city of Innwa.King Bagyidaw of Innwa era built the Bagaya monastery at the confluence of the Ayeyawady and the Myitnge rivers in 1196 Myanma Era.
The site of the monastery is about (11) miles from the Mandalay City. The grand Bagaya Monastery has a three-tiered roof and its adjacent religious lecture hall, in the eastern side of the monastery, has a seven-tiered roof. The monastery has (267) teak posts. The largest teak post is (9) feet in circumference. The post is (60) feet high. The monastery is (118) feet long and (103) feet wide. The monastery has tour brick stairs.
The entire building of the monastery is decorated with carvings, floral arabesques, the ornamentation with curved figurines and the reliefs of birds and animals as well as small pillars on the wall decorated with tunnery, the artistic works of Innwa Era. Large teak of the doors monastory are also beautifully dsigned with sculptures and reliefs.
There is a reverential statue on a throne in the Marabin or a large hall with its partition reaching from the floor to the ceiling of the monastery. The statue was sculptured with the handiwork of Innwa Era.
The grand Bagaya monastery is still existing today in its original form. All the Myanmar nationals can be proud of the splendid monastery which is like an ancient arts museum.
