Gu Byauk Gyi Myin Kabar

A nice little temple that does not allow photography inside. Inside there are some of the best preserved paintings in all of Bagan. It is dark and can be tight if larger groups are inside, but it is well worth a visit.

Don’t miss the wall paintings inside the temple! You will need to use your own light to see them but they are amazing and that experience of using your flash light to look at paintings is nice too.

Very old 13th century temple..

It is a very beautiful place and an ancient heritage site.

The Gubyaukgyi temple near Wetkyi-in village North East of old Bagan was built by King Kyanzittha in the early 12th century. During his reign the empire saw prosperity and the construction of grand temples like the Ananda and the Myazedi pagoda. The Gubyaukgyi’s architecture shows Indian influence, particularly the spire which resembles that of another temple in Bagan, the Mahabodhi. Both are based on the Mahabodhi temple of Bodh Gaya in India, the place where the Buddha reached enlightenment some 2,500 years ago. The Gubyaukgyi is a cave temple; the first syllable of the temple’s name (“gu”) translates to “cave”. The interior walls and ceilings are decorated with fragments of ancient mural paintings that depict scenes from the Jataka tales, the stories that tell about the previous lives of the Buddha. The temple is oriented towards the East, where an antechamber containing the entrance protrudes from the structure. On the other three sides are false entrances in which large stone perforated windows are fitted. The exterior walls were plastered with stucco. Some of the fine stucco decoration is still intact, especially on the Eastern wall and the main entrance porch. The Gubyaukgyi temple is topped with a spire. Unlike those of most temples and pagodas in Bagan its design is not bell shaped or cylindrical; its four sides are straight and diminishing in size towards the top. The temple’s interior is lit by daylight that comes in through large perforated stone windows. The first room from the Eastern entrance contains a large Buddha image seated on a high pedestal. The brick, plastered image is in the “Calling the Earth to witness” posture. The wall behind the image and the ceiling above contain well preserved murals with Buddhist depictions. The other rooms contain smaller images of the Buddha. On the North and South wall of the Gubyaukgyi are murals depicting the 28 Buddhas mentioned in the Tripitaka, the ancient Buddhist manuscripts that contain the teachings of the Buddha. Photography inside the temple is not allowed, as the flash light would damage the ancient murals.

The Gubyaukgyi temple, located just south of Bagan, Myanmar, in Myinkaba Village, is a Buddhist temple built in 1113 AD by Prince Yazakumar, shortly after the death of his father, King Kyansittha of the Pagan Dynasty. The temple is notable for two reasons. ( Wikipedia )

Built in 1113 by Prince Yazakumar, it best known for colorful murals the interior walls, giving it the nickname "the great painted cave". Anothet claim to fame is a stone inscription written in four languages, where Burmese writing is first seen in the history, sort of "Rosetta Stone" equivalent.

This pagoda has probably the most awesome paintings in any pagoda in Bagan, unfortunately we couldn’t see much as you are not allowed to take your phone inside (so no light). When asked why couldn’t one take the phone inside, the reply was “because photos will damage the paintings” One doesn’t know where to begin arguing. You can however carry a torch, but they do not rent it at outside. You can leave your belongings (like phones) at the lockers outside.