Ananda Temple
အာနန္ဒာဘုရား
A white cross-shaped temple built around 1105 by King Kyanzittha, with four 9-metre standing Buddhas facing the four directions. It is widely regarded as the most beautiful temple in Bagan.
Ananda Temple lies on the east side of the walls of Old Bagan and was completed around 1105. It is the peak of early to mid-Bagan architecture, with a plan in the shape of a Greek cross. The central white tower steps back in tiers, and its gilded spire gleams in the sun. Four entrances lead to four gilded standing Buddhas, each about 9.5 metres tall. The southern and northern figures are original. It is said that the southern Buddha appears to smile from a distance but looks solemn up close. The corridor walls are set with thousands of glazed tiles and stone reliefs depicting the Jataka tales of the Buddha's past lives, making the temple an important source for studying Bagan's art. The temple was restored after the 2016 earthquake, and its exterior walls were returned to white. Around the Burmese New Year (about January), the Ananda Pagoda Festival is held with a fair that lasts several weeks. You must enter barefoot, and a visit takes about an hour. Stalls at the entrance sell lacquerware and sand paintings, and prices are negotiable.
Opening hours
About 08:00–17:00
Nearby sights
- Thatbyinnyu Temple
- Bagan Golden Palace
- Shwegugyi Temple
- Nathlaung Kyaung Temple
- Shwesandaw Pagoda & Sunrise Viewpoints
- Mahabodhi Temple, Bagan
- Tharabha Gate
- Pahtothamya Temple