Bu Paya or Bu Pagoda
Bu Paya means the "a gourd
shape pagoda".
History
The legend says, the third king of Bagan,
Pyusawhti (AD 162-243), got rid of the gourd-like
climbing plant "bu" that infested the riverbanks,
before becoming the king. He was rewarded by his
predecessor, Thamuddarit, the founder of Bagan (AD
108) together with the hand of his daughter and the
heir to the throne of Bagan. He then in the
commemoration of his good luck built a gourd-shaped
pagoda on the bank of the Ayeyarwaddy River.
This cylindrical Pyu-style stupa is said to be
the oldest in Bagan. Bupaya was completely destroyed
when it tumbled into the river in the 1975
earthquake, but has since been totally rebuilt. The
distinctively shaped bulbous stupa stands above rows
of crenellated terraces. The view from the river is
also a breath-taking one.
Travel Tips
You can also hire a boat and take a ride in the
Ayeyarwaddy river, to get a better view of the
pagoda.
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