Tuesday, July 27, 2021

Htilominlo temple, Bagan

North-east of old Bagan is the 46 meter high Htilominlo temple. It is the youngest temple, just 700 years and is made of red brick plastered with white stucco. The remnant of those can still be seen at places.
The temple suffered a heavy damage in 1975 earthquake and again in 2016.

History of temple:
Narpatisithu had five sons and he wanted to chose an heir. He made his sons stand in a circle with a white umbrella standing erect in center. It was decided that whichever direction the umbrella would face after falling down would be declared as the future king. The umbrella pointed towards Nadaungmya or Zeyathein-Kha who was youngest of sibblings. Nadaungmya came to be known as Htilominlo meaning "the one who is wanted by the umbrella and the king".
Htilominlo constructed this temple at the place where he was chosen as the king.

information slab outside temple
Upper part of the slab has information in Burmese while the lower part has it in English
The temple from outside looks Sulamani which was constructed by Narpatisithu almost 30 years back.
There are three receding terraces on the ground floor. The second storey which is smaller also has three receding terraces. The terraces have a stupa in their corners.
The eastern entrance like other temples too projects a little outside.
 Two temple guardians sit outside on either sides of entrance.
Beautiful stuccos adorn the sides.
Buddha image at entrance
Since, umbrella was an important part of Htilominlo's life, each image of Buddha is flanked by umbrella on each side.
There are Buddha images facing the four cardinal directions in the first storey as well.
faded fresco on wall
image at another entrance with beautiful mural behind

standing Buddha
part of arch with murals and frescos
Buddha image

almost faded mural
faded fresco on porch of temple
image at another entrance
image in an alcove

 passage between outer and inner wall
The main porticos are separated by a corridor which have arched alcoves in which are smaller Buddha images.

image in an alcove

another image
gate to temple from other side
Stucco work over brick wall can still be seen inside the temple.

This is the last temple to be built as after Htilominlo(Nadaungmya or Zeyathein-Kha), Bagan Kingdom started declining.