Picture
Caption: Magical Bagan
Picture of Irrawaddy River
Caption: 1000 years ago, Buddhism grew explosively in Bagan, Myanmar, along the banks of the Irrawaddy River. Thousands of temples in 40 square miles are the vestiges of this period.
Picture of Irrawaddy River
Picture of Irrawaddy River
Picture of Irrawaddy River
Picture of Irrawaddy River
Picture of Irrawaddy River
Picture of Irrawaddy River
Picture of Irrawaddy River
Picture of Irrawaddy River
Caption: Many of the Buddhas inside the temples are still intact, and most of the temples are still places of worship.
Picture of Irrawaddy River
Picture of Irrawaddy River
Picture of Irrawaddy River
Picture of Irrawaddy River
Caption: Worshippers pay for gold leaf, and have the privilege of applying a leaf at a time to a stone Buddha. Eventually, the entire Buddha will be covered in gold
Picture of Irrawaddy River
Picture of Irrawaddy River
Picture of Irrawaddy River
Caption: In a parallel world to European cathedrals, Bagan's many temples show decorative wrought iron, gargoyles, and design elements with a Southeast Asian flair.
Picture of Irrawaddy River
Picture of Irrawaddy River
Picture of Irrawaddy River
Picture of Irrawaddy River
Picture of Irrawaddy River
Picture of Irrawaddy River
Caption: Within some temples, you can still see the interior paintings with their original colors. The phantasmagorical figures and characters are unlike anything else in this world.
Picture of Irrawaddy River
Picture of Irrawaddy River
Picture of Irrawaddy River
Caption: Thanks for looking at this on your smartphone.
To look at too many photos of my time in Bagan, please check out - http://www.drkim.com/2014/03/13/bagan-one-most-magical-places-world/
