Burma/ Myanmar: Buddha statues in Gawdawpalin Pagoda in Bagan, Upper Burma, c.1920s.

The ruins of Bagan (also spelled Pagan) cover an area of 16 square miles (41 km2). The majority of its buildings were built between the 11th and 13th centuries, during the time Bagan was the capital of the First Burmese Empire. It was not until King Pyinbya moved the capital to Bagan in 874 CE that it became a major city. However, in Burmese tradition, the capital shifted with each reign, and thus Bagan was once again abandoned until the reign of King Anawrahta who, in 1057, conquered the Mon capital of Thaton, and brought back the Tripitaka Pali scriptures, Buddhist monks and craftsmen to help transform Bagan into a religious and cultural centre. With the help of a monk from Lower Burma, Anawrahta made Theravada Buddhism the state religion.

Construction of the Gawdawpalin Pagoda began during the reign of King Narapatisithu (1173–1210) and was completed during the reign of Htilominlo (1210-34). Gawdawpalin Temple is the second tallest temple in Bagan and is similar in layout to Thatbyinnyu Temple. Gawdawpalin Temple is two storeys tall, and contains three lower terraces and four upper terraces. The temple was heavily damaged during an earthquake in 1975 and was reconstructed in following years.

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