Temples of Bagan
So, granted, this is an overused descriptive: Bagan is incredible. Unbelievable, maybe, would fit more accurately?
The immediate comparison is to Angkor Wat, in Cambodia. While the two are similar in idea (ancient temples, old cultures, Buddhist sculpture), the vibe is completely different. The joy of Angkor is riding your bike around a corner on a dirt track and finding a temple almost completely overtaken by the jungle.
The joy of Bagan is riding your bike along a dirt track, finding a temple with an accessible climbing route to the top, and getting a panorama of FOUR THOUSAND OTHER TEMPLES. And that’s the low-end estimate.
Literally anywhere you go anywhere on the Plain of Bagan you will run into another temple. Granted, this involves a lot of hard-work. Pedaling through the desert and doffing footwear to explore 4,400 temples of Bagan for more than a day or two in a row is exhausting. Not to mention, it works up the weirdest tan lines if you do it for enough days in a row!
At the end of the day, though, while finding yourself on a 1400 year-old monastery watching the sun set over a valley full of ancient temples; all the exertion seems worthwhile.
Of all the places I’ve visited in Southeast Asia, this is the one I think I’d be happiest to go back to. Especially given the new camera I’ve bought in the intervening years, I can only imagine how much I’d enjoy the temples of Bagan this time!
The crazy thing about Bagan is that so many of the temples would be superstars if they were anywhere else.
Some just make a good place for pause from biking in the heat. In summer, for sure, you’ll need the break.
This, of course, was one of those for me. 
And some are just so well located that they beg to be explored and photographed.
Which is, of course, also the best thing about the place. One could spend days here ‘discovering’ new temples that saw just a handful of visitors per year. If its off the main road, you’d be intrepid for hitting it.
As if the outsides of all these temples weren’t enough, each one contains paintings or statues inside which are also worth browsing. Indeed, my Bagan pictures are some of my favorite from all of Myanmar.
Sometimes, just a mostly-empty but atmospheric hallway that serves as a bit of a respite from the desert heat outside.
Sometimes, A Buddha so large that it takes a few moments to really take it all into consideration.
Go to Bagan. Tell it I said I miss it.
At the end of the day (haha!), though, sunset is the highlight of hours spent exploring Bagan.
From most of the taller temples in the area, there’s a view of temple roofs fronting a big dusty sky as the sun goes down.
Most special, though, is finding a random temple where you have the place almost to yourself. On a clear day with a pretty sky and a bit of solitude, the effect is entrancing.
In fact, I almost missed my bus out of Bagan because I was so wrapped-up in sunset my last day there!
B and its thousands of temples is still one of my favorite spots in all of SouthEast Asia and perhaps even the world. From morning to sunset at Bagan, every day was one big mess of temples and exploring and climbing and photography. Here, then, a video that explains a bit as to why I enjoyed the place so much:
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I actually visited Bagan back 2011 or so, before the big changes that are currently taking place. When I was there, it was pretty easy to just hire a horse or bicycle for the day and explore at leisure, but I have legitimately no idea what it is like now. If you’re worried about visitng Bagan independently, check out the growing list of partners with GetYourGuide.
That is a big ol dirty American foot…
Ha… at least you can be confident that much hasn’t changed!
I think you should remove the first photo, may be you are not intent to do that,
but in the view of other people I think it’s show disrespect to other culture.
by take your dirty foot with “Bagan” temples background.
do you think you should remove it?
Hi Saimout,
While I appreciate you perspective, I have to respectfully disagree. I think it shows respect to the temples at Bagan, given that I’m standing on the terrace of one of the temples as I’m taking this picture and so respectfully took my shoes off. If the conditions of the area means my feet got quite dirty over the course of the day as I was exploring Bagan, well, then that strikes me as a simple reality rather than a source of disrespect.
Thanks for you comment, though.
hey i am myanmar citizen ..ur leg photo is too rude because the background of ur picture is our worship pagoda.
Hi Thet, somebody has made this comment before (As I’m sure you see in the post), but never answered when I asked. What makes you feel like this is disrespectful, exactly? I think it shows respect to the temples at Bagan, given that I’m standing on the terrace of one of the temples as I’m taking this picture and so respectfully took my shoes off. If the conditions of the area means my feet got quite dirty over the course of the day as I was exploring Bagan, well, then that strikes me as a simple reality rather than a source of disrespect. Where, then, am I mistaken?
Hey Man,
Can you delete your first photo on your this block which one I mean in your photo has foot and the pagoda together . This is not good for our Burmese Buddhist please. Thank you for your understand.
Hey Mr. Smith, thanks for you comment. Again, I’m happy to consider it providing anybody can offer me a reasonable explanation as to why this would be offensive? Please see the two comments above your for reference.
Hi Stephen
Regarding the “foot against the backdrop of Pagan temple”.
Every culture /society has specific norms, rules, and sensibilities.
In Myanmar Buddhist culture it is considered MOST disrespectful to point with the foot towards somebody or something this applies especially to Buddhist artifacts, temples, Buddha statues etc. but also books. For instance, one is not supposed to put books on the floor and step over them.
Thus, your dirty foot is very insulting for a (Myanmar) Buddhist.
If you respect the culture of Myanmar Buddhists, I would strongly recommend to remove it.
Best,
Maung Ko
Grow up, people! Although the photo is highly controversial, it is not ill-intended. That’s what matters. We should be thankful that they acknowledge our country’s existence.