Description of the attraction
In the small town of Bagan, which has known better times, once playing the role of the capital of the brilliant Kingdom of Bagan, there are about 3 thousand temples. They are not mothballed, but continue to receive believers. These include, perhaps, the only Hindu temple in this area, dedicated to the god Vishnu. It is called Nathlaung Kyaung, which means "House of Spirits".
This is one of the oldest temples in Bagan, built in the 11th century, during the reign of King Anavratha. However, some historians believe that this sanctuary appeared earlier - in the 10th century, when King Nyaung-i-Savrahan was in power. The temple was intended for Burmese Hindus, including merchants and Brahmins who were in the service of the king. Many buildings of the original temple were demolished over time, but the main hall has survived to this day in relative integrity. Originally, 10 statues of the avatars of the god Vishnu, including Gautama Buddha, were installed in the open niches on the facades of the Nathlaung Kyaung temple. However, now there are only 7 sculptural images: 3 were lost. The temple, built, like other sacral structures of Bagan, of red brick, was damaged more than once in its history by earthquakes.
The Nathlaung Kyaung Temple, with steep upper terraces, is set on a square base. It may have been built by Indian artisans who came to Bagan during the 10th century to work on this and other local shrines. In the construction of other temples, architects were inspired by the design of Nathlaung Kiaung.
