Pahtothamya Temple
 Pahtothamya Temple is popularly held to be one of
five temples built by the non-historical King
Taungthugyi (931-964) referred to history. But some
of the archeologists also mark that it was built by
King Sawlu by the references of the wall paintings
which dates back only to the 11th Century. King Taungthugyi was also known as Nyaung U
Sawrahan. This temple was known to have been built
like one of those in Thaton. Therefore, the temple
compose of many Mon style paintings in the inside.
But the temple was renovated during the reign of
King Kyanzittha (1084-1113).
Pahtothamya temple has a long hall which
lengthens towards the East. This monument has a
harmonious proportion, having a height of 26 meter,
30 meter on the side and the hall has 17m of length.
The interior of this single-storey building is
dimly lit, typical of the early type of Pyu-influenced
temples with their small, perforated stone windows.
In its vertical superstructure and lotus-bud sikhara,
however, the monument is clearly beginning to move
forward from the Early period.
 The bell shaped principal stupa in the center was
constructed differently entirely from other stupas.
The main body has 12 angles. At the bases of the
angles there used to be Nagar heads. Upon the main
body is the relic chamber, on top of which are
concentric rings of plaster moldings. The 1975
earthquake damaged the concentric rings which were
now restored by the Archeology Department. In each
of the four walls were installed five perforated
brick windows. At the north and south devotional
halls there is no such window. There is a spiral
staircase built in the thickness of the north wall
of the devotional hall. It leads to upper storey
where there are small surrounding stupas. Inside the
niches of these stupas are Buddha statues of plaster
moulding. They are the original works still
unspoilt. The earthquake of 1975 damaged one
original statue of plaster in the northern niche but
it had been restored. Painting remnants along the interior passages may
rate as the earliest surviving murals in Bagan.
There are four smaller temples surrounding
Pahtothamya Temple and inside theses temples are
magnificent artistic Buddha Images.
Nearby Attractions
 Nathlaung Kyaung
The Nathlaung Kyaung (or Nat-hlaung-kyaung),
located slightly to the west of Thatbyinnyu and
inside the old city walls, is the only remaining
Hindu temple in Bagan. It was believed to be build
during (A.D 931-964). In the early days of Bagan,
people used to believe in Hinduism, and worshipped
Vishu, Brahman and many other Hindu gods. This used
to be a place to worship those gods. But afterwards,
King Anawrahta brought Theravada Buddhism to Bagan
with the conquest of Thaton, and made the Hinduism
vanish. It clearly is one of the earliest of the
Bagan temples.
 Ngakywenadaung Paya
Nga-kywe-na-daung is a medium
size early Pyu type brick masonry stupa. Its date of
construction remains uncertain. On the external
walls and each face had been carved in brick the ten
misadventures of Vishnu. These statues were placed
upright in niches decorated with the pilasters. The
murals are contemporary sculptures. The center of
the temple is occupied by an enormous brick mass
surrounded classically bricks. It is this mass which
supports the dome and will sikhara it. The name even
of the temple is curious, it means: "the temple
where the spirits are confined" and perhaps
announces a relation with the nats, which had taken
refuge here, not being able to do it in a
traditional Buddhist temple.
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