Though Bagan is undoubtedly one of the most impressive – at least as far as the scale is concerned – ancient cities in the world, till today it has not yet managed to make it to the Heritage List.
The application of the Department of Archaeology and National Museum to nominate Bagan a UNESCO heritage site has been submitted earlier this year, but the final decision of the 21-strong World Heritage Committee will be announced between June and July next year. In the meantime the through study and the assessment of the site will be made.
Located in the Mandalay region of Myanmar, Bagan saw its heyday between 11th and 13th centuries when over 10,000 Buddhist temples, pagodas and monasteries of different size and importance dotted the Bagan plain. Even today, with only one fifth of the monuments having survived, Bagan is undeniably a remarkable place. Not surprisingly, it is one of the 'Big Four' most popular tourist destinations in the country sharing the title with Yangon, Mandalay and Inle Lake. If you were a member of the Heritage Committee, would you agree that Bagan deserves being listed?
Will Bagan Get UNESCO World Heritage Status?
News in Asia
A representative of the International Council on Monuments and Sites has started evaluation of temples and structures in Bagan to make the decision on whether the site will be included into the world heritage list or not.