🏛️ Ananda Temple
Myanmar
About This Sacred Site
Ananda Temple is widely considered the finest, largest, and best-preserved of the thousands of temples in Bagan. Built in 1105 CE by King Kyansittha, it perfectly blends Mon and Indian architectural styles into a cruciform plan. The temple houses four standing Buddha statues, each nearly 10 meters tall, facing the four cardinal directions. Two of the original teak statues survive from the 11th century — they display a unique optical illusion where the Buddha's expression appears to change from smiling to sorrowful as you approach closer.
Key Facts
- •Built in 1105 CE by King Kyansittha of the Pagan dynasty
- •Houses four standing Buddha statues nearly 10 meters tall facing each cardinal direction
- •Two original 11th-century teak Buddhas create an optical illusion of changing expressions
- •Called the 'Westminster Abbey of Burma' by early European visitors
- •Survived the devastating 1975 earthquake that damaged many Bagan temples
Location
Coordinates: 21.1725, 94.8706
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