Little steps to enlightenment

Bagan in central Myanmar is the place of dreams. It served as the first royal capital during 1044–1287 AD and was the centre of Theravada Buddhism. Scattered along the banks of the Irrawaddy river, over 2,000 pagodas now occupy an area one sixth of Chennai. Built between 11th and 13th centuries, mostly in brick, these magnificent Buddhist Temples or the Pagodas of Bagan, are a feast for the eyes. It was a wonderful sight to see young Buddhist monks start their morning ritual walking along the corridor along the Shwezigon Pagoda in Bagan.

Text and picture by M Swaminathan