Burma Pagoda & Temples

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Temple Cross Section and Layout Burma

The temple layout has its origins in the caves used by Buddhists of the very early days in India, the Burmese word is  gu, or cave.

The hollow structure of a temple allows the visitor to enter. With the time and the emergence of different building techniques the layout of Buddhist temples grew more sophisticated spreading out into chambers and passageways.

Pagoda or Stupa Cross Section and Layout Burma

Pagoda or Stupas are solid structures, the layout is usually square or  five sided.

Enshrined in a pagoda are sacred relics or a particular potent  image or figure of the Buddha, scriptures and / or precious items.

The pagoda structure is terraced, three or five times, with a bell shaped top. The terraces of pagodas indicate the slopes of the cosmic mountain Mt. Meru, the abode of Hindu gods. The stupa is a symbol of the Buddha and naturally functions as a protective structure for the relicts.

Burma Pagoda and Temple Bagan Sunset Pagoda Panorama

Burma Pagoda and Temple Bagan Gubyaukgyi Pagoda Stone Window       Bagan Pagoda Buddha

Burma Pagoda and Temple Bagan Thatbyinnyu Temple                        Bagan Pagoda Golden Dome

Burma Pagoda and Temple Bagan Balloons Panorama

Burma Pagoda and Temple Bagan Ananda Temple in the Morning Mist

Burma Pagoda and Temple Bagan Dhammayangyi Temple	Burma Pagoda and Temple Bagan Ayeyarwady River Boat
Burma Pagoda and Temple Bagan Oxcart and Pagodas	Burma Pagoda and Temple Monk Commuter

This terminates the Burma pagoda in a long finial bearing a vane (hngemmana) and at the apex a silver orb studded with, jewels (seimbu).

On lesser zedi a glass ball or bottle caps the finial. The tic is always gilt, the cone generally whitewashed. In wealthy towns the cone of the Paya-dyi is gilt from crown to platform (tamanthalin).

Unlike the ancient temples with their stairs and corridors, the later zedi - pagoda- is a solid mass of brick and earth, plastered over.

The summit is inaccessible, except by means of scaffolding. Zedi arc commonly spoken of as Paya, in the same way as are the images of the Buddha, for which the distinctive term is sindu. kyaung.

In addition to the zedi,

there are three other classes of religious edifices the tazaung, wut, and zayat.

All these may be decorated in the palatial style and are mostly of wood. But a public well or a roadside water-stand, the portal of a bridge or a wharf, may likewise be surmounted by the royal pyatthat in virtue of the religious distinction which attaches to every work dedicated to public use by private bounty.

Nothing adds so much to the picturesque ness of pagoda and temple pictures of Burma.

The temple zayat is intended for sojourners in the precincts on duty days.

The wut differs from the zayat in having a dais for images of the Buddha.

The Burma tazaung is only for the reception of images.

Pagoda and Temple Tours in Burma

Of the Southeast Asian nations, Burma attracts fewer tourists than the more 'trendy' spots such as Thailand, Malaysia and recently Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia. But a country that is known by two names evokes its own cloud of mystery and is sure to pique the interest of adventure seekers and the more intrepid traveler.