Thamewhet Umin and Hmya Tha Umin

Thamewhet Umin and Hmya Tha Umin are located north of the Hgnet Pyit Taung.

Thamewhet Umin and Hmya Tha Umin are twin cave-temples. These temples are about half a mile southeast of Nyaung U and are subterranean passages which were used as residences of the Buddhist monks in the almost torrid climate of Bagan. The cave created a place of cool tranquility conductive to prayer and meditation.

The legend says, long ago, at the time when the huge bird lived and when the people of Bagan lived in fear, the caves were built to keep the children, women in the caves. But later on, some say its only a legend and the caves only serve as halls for meditation and to protect the people from severe weather of Bagan.

Thamiwhet is a cave fromed by digging into the side of a hill and contains a stone inscription. It is constructed with zig-zag corridors as the principal features of the building. Dug into hillsides of the sandstone hills, the caves date from the 13th century. Thamiwhet Umin contains an image of the Buddha, murals and a stone inscription belonging to the 15th century.