Ananda Temple, A Sanctuary of Serene Magnificence
Ananda Temple, located in Wetkyi In, Nyaung U Township, Nyaung U District, Mandalay, Myanmar with the address of Anawratha Road, 100500
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Introduction
The Ananda Temple, built in 1091, is the most complete and beautiful Buddhist temple in Bagan and is also known as the first pagoda of Bagan. The temple is square-shaped with four long corridors leading to the central courtyard. The garden covers an area of nearly 100 acres and is filled with colorful flowers. In the center of the courtyard is the Ananda Pagoda, which is over 70 meters high and has a square-shaped Buddha cave in an Indian style at its base, with animal statues around the outside. Inside the pagoda, there are four gold Buddhas about ten meters high, each in a different posture, facing in each of the four directions. At sunrise, local people and pilgrims come to worship and offer flowers, and the temple is bathed in golden light, creating a solemn and holy atmosphere. At night, the top of the pagoda glows with lights, creating a golden and dazzling symbol of Bagan. During the construction of the Ananda Temple, craftsmen had accumulated rich experience and made qualitative leaps in bricklaying, mixing bricks and stones, and lighting and ventilation. More importantly, they began to incorporate traditional Burmese elements into their designs, creating a unique style. The Ananda Pagoda became a masterpiece of architectural design during this period. The base of the pagoda is an Indian-style Buddha cave covered in gold, with 1183 reliefs on the walls and 1304 Buddha statues on both sides of the passage inside the pagoda. The entire pagoda is crafted in a complex and orderly manner, representing the essence of ancient Burmese architectural art. Address Ananda Temple, located in Wetkyi In, Nyaung U Township, Nyaung U District, Mandalay, Myanmar with the address of Anawratha Road, 100500
Opening hours 7:30-11:00,13:00-16:00
Transportation From the Lanmadaw Road in Nyuang-U town, you will see several pagodas scattered along the way until you see the sign for Ananda. Turn left onto the gravel road, and after walking less than 200 meters, you will see a white pagoda with a golden top, which is the Ananda Temple.
Exquisite murals can be vaguely seen inside the temple
