Pyay, one of Myanmar's oldest archeological sites

A well preserved temple, probably dating back to the 9th century

 

Pyay, or Prome as it was called during the colonial times, is a small stuppa-studded riverside town, located approximately 285km northwest of Yangon. Just east of Pyay can be found the ancient Pyu capital of Sri Ksetra, a kingdom that flourished between the 7th and 9th centuries. This site, along with two others (Halin and Beikthano), was recently inscribed into UNESCO’s World Heritage List. Whilst there is an on-going debate into their exact age, some of the stupas on display here are said to date back as far as the 4th century, with one of the most impressive being the cylindrical, brick-built Baw Baw Gyi Pagoda. Remains also include excavated palace citadels, burial grounds and early industrial production sites, as well as monumental brick Buddhist stupas, partly standing walls and water management features.

 

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