Dhammayangyi Pahto, Bagan

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Mass that is Dhammayangyi .Dhammayangyi is similar to Ananda but on a grand scale. Though interior passages were for some unknown reason filled with brick rubble centuries ago, creating an unsolved mystery as to why. It is an excellent example of ancient brickwork.

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Dhammayangyi is known for its massiveness across the vast flat lands of Old Bagan. It is also the largest temple in Bagan

It is similar in architecture to the popular Ananda Temple. Built 3 years circa 1167 A.D by King Narathu also known as the king killed by Indians.

It is located East of Shinbinthalaung and Shwesandaw.

Must to see here is the original, two side-by-side Buddhas, historical Gautama and future Maitreya.

Temple is made from bricks, and very solid, not even a needle can go through in between interlocking bricks. Amazing craftmanship .

Visitors are not allowed to go up the temple terraces, its off limits.

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The Temple of Dhammayangyi was built by King Narathu, who seized power by killing his father and brother. The legend goes that he was possessed by the demon of Mt. Tangyi. It is said that he killed at least two of his wives, their sons and uncles. Because of his evil doing he was afraid of a bad Karma so he wanted to built the biggest tempel of all in Bagan - to wash away all sins.
But his tyranny didnt stop on the construction side. For this colossal building he needed forced labor, but not enough with that, he let the worker get his right hand chopped off or even get killed if a thin needle fit inbetween two bricks.

Still in fear of his bad Karma he asked a monk, who predicted him that people wont pray in his temple but avoid it, in memory of his evil doings. This temple is cursed.

In the end he got killed in revenge before he could finish his temple. The surpressed people wanted to destroy the building, which was prevented by a princess. Still all inside halls were sealed with bricks to weaken Narathus ghost.

There are many more legends about Dhammayangyi, like the one about a monk who is said to be inside the temple to fight the demon and to free Dhammayangyi from the curse.

For more details read Finger´s "Dhammayangyi - eine Reise ins Herz Birmas"

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Dhammayangyi Temple was built by King Narathu in 1170 AD.It is the largest brick structure in Bagan. From a distance it looks like a pyramid. You can only walk around the outer corridor because the rest is bricked up. All the top windows are also bricked in which makes it a very puzzling pyramid.

King Narathu was also called the Kalagya or the King killed by the kalas. He was regarded as a cruel King because he murdered his father, elder brother and the Queen.

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Along with Ananda, this really is a "must see". For sheer scale and grandeur, it is, in my opinion, unsurpassed in the Bagan region. Certainly, it doesn't have the great gilded "spire" that Ananda has, but there was just something about the almost Indian style architecture that really appealed to me.

As far as the basic facts go, well, it isn't easy. Opinions differ as to the provenance of the place with some suggesting it was the work of King Narathu who died in 1170 and others suggesting it was earlier. Whoever was responsible, it is a mightily impressive structure, and I spent a relatively long time here. Not that you'd forget your camera in Bagan, but this place is just one continuous photo opportunity.

the second picture gives some idea of the huge, vaulted cielings that seem to be home to a number of bats that you can hear squeaking.

Allow yourself at least a good hour to wander around in here.

This is one of the top 4 temple in Bagan. Recognised as the largest temple in Bagan. From far, it looks almost like a pyramid. Inside the temple, one can easily feel its hugness. Btw, there are bats staying inside the temple, so beware of bat droppings everywhere..

This is one of the more impressive buildings in the area. Dhammayangyi Pahto has a square base and is 85 metres long on each side. There are plenty of nooks and crannies to explore and you can take a good look at the structure outside too. I thought it looked a little different from the other temples around Bagan because of its shape and massive size.

This massive temple was completed in 1170 attributed to Kalagya Min. In a strange revenge to the king after he died the builders pilled rubble in the ambulatories for havin them build a motarless structure so labor intensive. This motoraless brick work is some of the best in Bagan, but unfortunately the upper terraces cannot be accessed like other temples in Bagan.