Southeast Asia Tour 2015
Bagan | Myanmar
30 Nov 2015 | Mon
Day 12 of 46
Htilominlo Temple Nyaung-U
Htilominlo Temple is an ancient temple located in the city of Nyaung-U, Burma. Built in 1218 AD, this magnificent structure is a major tourist destination and one of the most impressive examples of ancient Burmese architecture. The temple stands out with its three terraced buildings, massive archways, and detailed stucco carvings that have remained intact for over 800 years.
According to legend, a dying King Narapatisithu used a sacred umbrella (protected by a guardian spirit) to pick one of his five sons to be the next king of Bagan. The king prayed to the spirit to choose one of the sons while they stood around this sacred umbrella. The spirit using the umbrella selected Prince Zeya Theinkha Uzana. From this day forward, he would be known as King Htilominlo. It is also said that the Htilominlo pagoda/temple was built on the exact spot where he was selected to be king.
It should be noted that to Burmese/Myanmar Buddhists, the umbrella (or “Hti”) is considered the most important part of the pagoda/temple, and it should be placed atop the highest part of the religious structure.
YouTube Video
Note: Sorry for the video being so dark, the camera had a hard time dealing with the bright sunlight.