Bagan Temples & Pagodas

Bagan Has Over 3,500 Ancient Temples and Myanmar Is Currently Under Military Rule

Both things are true. As of 2026, multiple governments including the United States, Australia, Canada, and the UK maintain high-level travel advisories for Myanmar – Level 4 (Do Not Travel) in the US case – due to the ongoing military conflict following the 2021 coup. Most international airlines have suspended or significantly reduced routes to Yangon. Travellers who still go do so through dedicated operators with current knowledge of the security situation. This context is essential before any discussion of what Bagan contains.

Bagan was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2019. It was the capital of the Pagan Kingdom from 1044 to 1287, and the scale of what the kingdom built here is staggering: over 3,500 temples, pagodas, and religious monuments concentrated in a 60-square-kilometre plain. It is one of the most concentrated archaeological landscapes on earth.

The Essential Temples

Ananda Temple, completed in 1091, is considered the finest example of Bagan’s architectural achievement. Four colossal standing Buddhas face the cardinal directions in a cruciform structure of perfect symmetry. The gold spire and whitewashed exterior make it the most immediately recognisable building on the plain.

Shwezigon Pagoda, one of Bagan’s oldest shrines, was built in the 11th century as a pilgrimage centre containing relics. The gilded stupa remains an active place of Buddhist worship.

Dhammayangyi Temple is the largest temple in Bagan and the most atmospheric: the inner corridors were bricked up at some point in antiquity, the intended chambers never completed, giving it a labyrinthine and slightly eerie quality that the finished temples lack.

Sulamani and Htilominlo are later 12th-century temples with more elaborate decorative programmes than the earlier structures, showing the evolution of Bagan architectural style over two centuries.

Important note: many temples had climbing access restricted after a 2016 earthquake damaged structures. Verify which temples permit visitors to ascend before planning your visit.

Getting Around

Cycling is the best way to explore Bagan. Bicycles are available throughout the main towns and the flat landscape makes the plan feasible in any direction. E-bikes are also widely available for those who want to cover more ground with less effort. The early morning hours – before the heat builds and before tour groups arrive at the major temples – are the best time to be moving between sites.

Hot air balloon rides at sunrise are consistently described as the defining Bagan experience. The scale of the temple plain only becomes apparent from above. Book well in advance for November through February, the peak season.

Practical Notes

The three main towns are Old Bagan (the core archaeological zone), New Bagan (with more hotels and restaurants), and Nyaung-U (the main commercial hub). November through February is the dry season with tolerable temperatures; March through May is extremely hot; June through October is the monsoon. Dress conservatively at religious sites – covered shoulders and knees, shoes removed before entering.

The ethical dimension of visiting is real: any money spent in Myanmar during military rule contributes in some form to the economy that sustains the junta. Using local guides and buying from small independent vendors rather than government-connected businesses is the standard recommendation from those who have researched the issue most carefully.