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The ruins of the main gate on the east wall are all that remain of the old 9th century city. The gate is guarded by brother and sister
nats, the male on the left, and the female on the right. Traces of old stucco can still be seen on the gateway. |
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One of the finest, largest and best preserved of the Bagan temples, the Ananda suffered considerable damage in the earthquake and in 1979 reconstruction took place. Built in 1091 by
Kyanzittha, the temple is said to represent the endless wisdom of the Buddha. The central square has sides of 53 metres (175 feet) and rises in terraces to a hit 51 metres (168 feet) above the ground. In the center of the cube, four standing
Buddhas, nine and a half metres (30 feet) high, represent the four Buddhas who have attained Nirvana.
Only those facing north and south are original, the east and west facing images are replacements for the figures destroyed by fires. The base and the terraces are decorated with a great number of glazed tiles showing scenes from the
Jataka. In the western sanctum, there are life size statues of the temple's founder and his Primate, while in the west porch there are two footprints of the Lord Buddha, on pedestals. |
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