MINGALABAR - MYANMAR IS ANOTHER JEWEL IN OUR BACKYARD

Ananda Temple is quite contemporary compared to the other places of worship or study in Bagan. Between the 11C and 13C, when Bagan was the Capital of Burma, some 10,000 temples, pagodas and monasteries were erected. Today, 2,200 of them remain. Many are subject to wear and tear, others are run down while some have been or are being renovated.

Ananda Temple at night. It is still used as a place of worship with beautifully carved teak doors and ornate adornments.There are four tall Buddha statues each pointing to the different cardinal points.

This one looks run down.

It looks like something on the stupas are shaved away? There are so many such structures I can't remember their names.

As part of the renovation process, well to do persons may pay a sum of money to upkeep a temple and so gets to be its sponsor. A name plate is placed outside it to indicate so. 

These two look like they have been renovated.

These are called the "Leaning Towers of Bagan".  Resulting from an earthquake, one stupa leans East and the other West. They have been left in harmony since.

Many temples were adorned with nice murals like this. Due to termite infestation and weathering many murals have dropped off.

An image of the Buddha is one of the temples. The Buddha may look different depending on the Century the statue was made.

Travelling around by horse carts is a novel way to see temples, etc.. At the end of the day, one gets free massage of the posterior too.While we were riding the carts, we saw some runners who took part in the Bagan Marathon, many of them stragglers who we cheered on. Perhaps, it's organised to try and promote Bagan as a tourist destination.

After the rough horse cart rides, the hotel is so comforting.