Description of the attraction
The last of the "big temples" of Bagan, Khtilominlo was built between 1211 and 1218 by the king of Nandungma, who was nicknamed Khtilominlo. It is said that the construction of this temple took place on the site where King Narapatisithu chose an heir from among his five sons. The sons stood in a circle, in the center of which an umbrella was installed - a symbol of strength, which suddenly leaned towards the youngest son - Nandungma, who eventually became the king. Translated from the Burmese language, "Khti" means "umbrella", and "Khtilominlo" is "the ruler pointed out by the umbrella."
Khtilominlo Temple is a majestic three-storey building with a height of 46 meters, which has the same structure as the Sulamani Sanctuary, which appeared in Bagan three decades earlier. Brick Khtilominlo was originally covered with white plaster. The square-shaped temple is located on a low platform, which is surrounded by three galleries. The upper part has three more open terraces, which are decorated with many terracotta plates, which depict scenes from Jataka - the narration of the previous lives of the Buddha. Unfortunately, some of these tiles have not survived to this day.
There are richly decorated portals on each side of the square temple. The east porch protrudes slightly forward, breaking the symmetrical proportions of the temple.
In the walls of the corridors leading to the inner sanctuary, arched recesses are made in which small images of the Buddha are installed. There are also large gilded statues of Buddha on two floors of the sanctuary. The upper floors and terraces are closed to visitors.
