Thatbyinnyu temple

Majestic pagoda towering over the plains of Bagan

BAGAN TEMPLES OVERVIEW

Name

Thatbyinnyu temple, Thatbyinnyu phaya

Date

1144

King

Alaungsithu

Location

Northeast corner of old Bagan

Style

Middle period
Two storey

Nearby

Ananda, Mahabodhi, Gawdawpalin

With a height of just over 60 meters, the Thatbyinnyu pagoda is one of the highest monuments of Bagan. The majestic pagoda, towering above other nearby temples and pagodas is visible from much of the Bagan plains.

After the single storey pagodas built during the early period like the Shwezigon pagoda, the Thatbyinnyu is one of the first two storey structures built in Bagan.

Development in architectural style

After the Thatbyinnyu, Bagan architectural style evolved further with the Sulamani (1183), the Gawdawpalin (early 13^th century) and the Htilominlo temple (1211), that are all multi storey temples.

The square base of the Thatbyinnyu temple is about 58 meters long on each side. The brick structure coated with stucco is set on a low platform. On top of both the first and second storey are three receding terraces. Each terrace has a small stupa on each of its four corners.

The Jataka plaques are missing

Many of the large Bagan temples like the Ananda and the Sulamani have a set of glazed terracotta plaques with depictions form the Jataka tales on the base and terraces. Although the indentations for more than 500 plaques are present encircling the terraces of the Thatbyinnyu temple, the Jataka plaques are missing for some reason.

Principal Buddha image

On top of the massive base is a smaller cube shaped structure where the principal Buddha image is enshrined in a cella, a cubic space surrounded by a corridor.

Shikhara tower and a hti

The top of the pagoda is formed by a shikhara tower, which is shorter and more compact than that of the Ananda temple and not gilded. On top of the shikhara is a gilded hti, a spire ornament found in most Burmese temples shaped in the form of an umbrella.

Arched entrance halls

All four sides have an arched entrance hall protruding from the main building. The portico on the East side, which is the main entrance is longer than the other three, which breaks the symmetry of the temple. The corridors enshrine a large number of seated Buddha images seated in pedestals in receding arches in the walls.

A few statues of Nat spirits who were worshipped in Burma before the arrival of Buddhism can also be found in the temple.

The temple was badly damaged during the 1975 earthquake and has been renovated a few years later. The terraces of the Thatbyinnyu are closed to the public to prevent further erosion to the structure.

Tally pagoda

Near the Thatbyinnyu is a small temple, called the tally pagoda. Apparently, during construction of the large Thatbyinnyu, one brick was laid aside for every 10,000 bricks used to keep count of the number of bricks used. The tally pagoda was constructed after completion of the Thatbyinnyu with the bricks that were laid aside.

On the grounds of a monastery next to the Thatbyinnyu are two stone supports that used to hold an enormous bronze bell donated by the builder of the temple, King Alaungsithu.

Getting to the temple

Check out Getting around Bagan for ways to get to the Thatbyinnyu.

Other temples in Bagan

Among the other temples & pagodas in Bagan are:

History

History of Bagan