THE GREAT THATBYINNYU
A BRIEF BACKGROUND
“Thatbyinnyu” signifies “omniscience”, one of the attributes of the Buddha. The temple was built around the middle of the 12th century A.D. by King Alaungsithu, grandson and successor of the King Kyansittha who erected the Ananda Temple. Standing within the city walls, some 500 yards to the south-west of the Ananda, the Thatbyinnyu rises the height of 201 feet above the ground and overtops all other monuments. Its general plan is not unlike the Ananda, but it does not, like the latter form a symetrical cross. The eastern porch alone projects considerably from the wall. It has two main stories and the Buddha image is seated on the upper floor. The central stairways guarded by two standing figures of guardians faces the eastern hall and entrance. The steps lead to a circumambulatory corridor round the central mass. Climbing up one of the pair of stairs built in the thickness of the walls one reaches the top of the vestibule from where an external flights of stairs lead to the upper story. The pilasters combine to give a soaring effect to the monument. The two tiers of windows in each story make the interior bright and airy. But the walls are bare and the recesses along the plinth and terraces do not contain any glazed plaque.
FACTS
Its height earned it the title of BAGAN TOWER. In olden days, it was used as a library for monks. Today its height gives a vantage point for enjoying the famous scene of sunset at Bagan.
The name “Thatbyinnyu” signifies “omniscience”, one of the attributes of the Buddha…
Thatbyinnyu rises the height of 201 feet above the ground and overtops all other monuments…
The pilasters combine to give a soaring effect to the monument…
The corridors on the ground floor has numerous Buddha images adjacent to the windows…
Its height earned it the title of BAGAN TOWER. My tele shot from SHWESANDAW PHAYA…
Great!!!