Bagan

Definitely the least visited Ruin that we have ever visited. Bagan is a wonder of Asia. Located in Myanmar (Burma) we took a ferry from Mandalay on the Irrawady River to the ruins. This Buddhist complex was built in 1057 and covers 16 square miles.

We hired a horse cart to take us through the complex and it was magical. Time stands still in most of Burma and this feeling is even heightened in Bagan. Farmers ride by on their ox carts, very few many locals pray at the temples and monks walk the street in the morning searching for alms.

Like most other ruins, the highlight is walking to the top of the highest temple; Thatbyinnyu Pahto to overlook the complex. But one of the most extraordinary temples is Ananda Pahto. Inside stands 4 giant Buddhas and two sacred Buddha footprints. Visiting Bagan made a believer out of me! It is a spiritual sight that gives off a feeling of calm and peace.

What we loved about Bagan was how we could enter almost all of the temples. We studied their scriptures up close and checked out the architecture. This was actually the only ruin that we spent 2 full days exploring. It is just to big and extraordinary.

It is sad that this extraordinary site is located in a country run by a military junta. They unfortunately are doing a terrible job restoring the pagodas. Shoddy work with no care for staying with its original design. But the temples that are restored and have weathered time are an incredible sight and worth a visit. It would have been higher on the list if the government didn’t repress its people so much. How can we give a site top marks if it isn’t staying true to the message of its ancestors and respecting its people.