• Burmese
Saturday, July 12, 2025
No Result
View All Result
NEWSLETTER
The Irrawaddy
25 °c
Yangon
  • Home
  • News
    • Burma
    • Politics
    • World
    • Asia
    • Myanmar’s Crisis & the World
    • Ethnic Issues
    • War Against the Junta
    • Junta Cronies
    • Conflicts In Numbers
    • Junta Watch
    • Fact Check
    • Investigation
    • Myanmar-China Watch
    • Obituaries
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Opinion
    • Commentary
    • Guest Column
    • Analysis
    • Editorial
    • Stories That Shaped Us
    • Letters
  • Junta Watch
  • Ethnic Issues
  • War Against the Junta
  • In Person
    • Interview
    • Profile
  • Books
  • Donation
  • Home
  • News
    • Burma
    • Politics
    • World
    • Asia
    • Myanmar’s Crisis & the World
    • Ethnic Issues
    • War Against the Junta
    • Junta Cronies
    • Conflicts In Numbers
    • Junta Watch
    • Fact Check
    • Investigation
    • Myanmar-China Watch
    • Obituaries
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Opinion
    • Commentary
    • Guest Column
    • Analysis
    • Editorial
    • Stories That Shaped Us
    • Letters
  • Junta Watch
  • Ethnic Issues
  • War Against the Junta
  • In Person
    • Interview
    • Profile
  • Books
  • Donation
No Result
View All Result
The Irrawaddy
No Result
View All Result
Home News

Bagan Civil Group Demands Action Over Ancient Temples On Hotel Grounds

Zarni Mann by Zarni Mann
June 8, 2018
in News
Reading Time: 3 mins read
0 0
A A
Bagan’s famous temples, some of which are now behind hotel walls. / The Irrawaddy

Bagan’s famous temples, some of which are now behind hotel walls. / The Irrawaddy

5.4k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Mandalay – Locals from Bagan, the archaeological heart of Myanmar, urged the government on Thursday to declare safe and free zones for ancient pagodas and temples located inside hotel grounds and private compounds.

The Save Bagan civil society group told journalists there are about 100 pagodas and temples situated on land leased by hotels and in private compounds in Bagan. Authorities have so far done nothing to address the situation despite appeals from civil groups.

“We’ve submitted complaints over the past two years when we have had the chance to meet the regional minister and authorities from other related departments, but nothing has happened,” said Ko Myo Set San, a leader of Save Bagan.

RelatedPosts

Endangered Irrawaddy Dolphin That Strayed Into Thai River Found Dead

Endangered Irrawaddy Dolphin That Strayed Into Thai River Found Dead

January 29, 2025
894
Thai Zoo’s Endangered Pygmy Hippo Goes Viral

Thai Zoo’s Endangered Pygmy Hippo Goes Viral

September 17, 2024
429
An excavator digs near Mandalay Palace Wall as part of the junta’s recreation park project. / CJ

Myanmar Junta Criticized Over Mandalay Palace Park Plan

October 13, 2021
6.4k

The group said it has met several times with the chief minister of Mandalay Division, representatives of the Archaeological Department, Ministry of Culture and Religious Affairs, local administration officers and officials from the Ministry of Home Affairs in recent years.

“So far we’ve collected over 8,000 signatures from Bagan locals that were sent along with the complaint requesting safe and free areas be declared for those pagodas and temples inside hotel grounds and in private compounds,” he said.

The group sent the petition to State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, President U Win Myint, the Ministry of Culture and Religious Affairs, the Ministry of Home Affairs and the regional chief minister.

According to locals, the “ugly situation” is the result of past military government’s decision to permit the building of hotels in Bagan, starting in the 1990s.

“There are 22 pagodas inside the Eden Group’s hotel compound alone. Inside the Ayar Hotel compound, there is Aggatae Temple with its beautiful mural paintings. If visitors want to visit it, they need to get permission from the hotel first, which is bothersome,” Ko Myo Sat San explained. “We want to fence off those pagodas and temples, to separate them from the private compounds, and allow people to visit them with no conditions.”

The group said that when it sent its complaint to the Ministry of Culture and Religious Affairs, the minister, Thura U Aung Ko, replied that fencing might not be possible because the grounds were leased to the private sector [the hotel investors] on long terms.

“The minister told us that we would have to wait 15 or 20 years until the leases expire, but that nothing was certain. What if the investors renew their contracts?” said Ko Myo Sat San.

“Since Bagan is trying to be registered as a World Heritage site with UNESCO, we are very concerned that this ugly situation may affect that,” he added.

According to the Department of Archaeology, National Museum and Library, the pagodas and temples on private lands have already been declared safe zones, which allows members of the public to visit them freely between 6am to 6pm, every day.

“As for our department, we cannot do more than this yet, for this situation happened a long time ago and it will take time to resolve. There are many steps to negotiate with the investors and many other related government offices,” said U Aung Aung Kyaw, director of the Department of Archaeology, National Museum and Library’s Bagan branch, which is part of the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Culture.

“We also have concerns about this matter. So, we are making sure not to repeat the mistakes of the past, especially when we do conservation of our heritage. At the same time, we are carefully choosing the best way for the development of the region,” he said.

Apart from putting up fences to designate safe zones for the pagodas and temples, the petition also urges the government to investigate some hotels located on the banks of the Irrawaddy River that have dumped sand and soil to extend their riverside holdings.

“We’ve seen some hotels add sand to the river bank, and some have even built bungalows for their guests. We officially want to request the central government investigate such hotels and take action to conserve the nature of the Irrawaddy River,” Ko Myo Sat San said.

Bagan, the country’s major tourist attraction, is home to pagodas and temples dating from the 9th to the 13th centuries.

Since 1994, the country has sought to register the area as a UNESCO list of World Heritage Site. However, Bagan was initially ruled ineligible due to its failure to meet the requirements of World Heritage Site status, allegedly on account of mismanaged development plans and sub-standard, inauthentic restoration efforts under previous governments, especially in the 1990s.

In 2016, the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Culture again nominated Bagan for a UNESCO World Heritage Site listing.

As the required dossiers have been submitted, members of the World Heritage Site Committee are due to visit Bagan in mid-2018. The site’s nomination will be brought up for deliberation at UNESCO’s World Heritage Site convention in 2019.

Your Thoughts …
Tags: Conservation
Zarni Mann

Zarni Mann

The Irrawaddy

Similar Picks:

Endangered Irrawaddy Dolphin That Strayed Into Thai River Found Dead
Burma

Endangered Irrawaddy Dolphin That Strayed Into Thai River Found Dead

by Naung Naung
January 29, 2025
894

Hopes for survival of one of country’s last remaining freshwater dolphins were shattered with the discovery of its body in...

Read moreDetails
Thai Zoo’s Endangered Pygmy Hippo Goes Viral
Asia

Thai Zoo’s Endangered Pygmy Hippo Goes Viral

by AFP
September 17, 2024
429

Moo Deng’s caretakers said short-form video platforms have turbocharged the endangered species’ fame and hope they will be a boon...

Read moreDetails
An excavator digs near Mandalay Palace Wall as part of the junta’s recreation park project. / CJ
Burma

Myanmar Junta Criticized Over Mandalay Palace Park Plan

by The Irrawaddy
October 13, 2021
6.4k

Conservationists have attacked the regime’s scheme to build a public recreation area alongside Mandalay’s most famous cultural site.

Read moreDetails
A tiger is caught on a camera trap in Sagaing Region’s Tamanthi Wildlife Reserve. / WCS-Myanmar
Burma

Cub Sightings Raise Hopes for Myanmar’s Tiger Population

by Lei Lei
July 31, 2019
7.8k

Three young animals have been photographed in a Sagaing Region wildlife reserve over the past five years, conservation group says.

Read moreDetails
The temples of Bagan are seen in February 2016. / The Irrawaddy
Burma

Bagan Makes UNESCO List, but Challenges Remain

by Zarni Mann
July 8, 2019
11.4k

After decades of failed attempts, stakeholders are overjoyed. But new hotels and management transparency issues mean challenges still lie ahead.

Read moreDetails
Ancient temples are seen with an active construction site in the background on the compound of the Hilton Bagan Hotel. / The Irrawaddy
Features

Despite World Heritage Status, Bagan’s Future Far From Assured

by Kyaw Phyo Tha
August 2, 2019
9.9k

With no quick fix in sight for intrusive hotels and tourism-related accommodations, the legacy of years of mismanagement continues to...

Read moreDetails
Load More
Next Post
State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and Army Chief Snr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing attend a high-level security meeting at the Presidential Palace in Naypyitaw on June 8. / Myanmar President’s Office / Facebook

Gov’t Holds Rare Top-Level Security Meeting on Rakhine State

Patrons at the 7th Joint Bar enjoy the “Joint indie” gig in Yangon on June 6. / Htet Wai

Hot Local Indie Bands Bring Rare Energy to Yangon’s Nightlife

No Result
View All Result

Recommended

‘Reforms Are Not Optional’: Prominent Activist Urges NUG to Act Before It’s Too Late

‘Reforms Are Not Optional’: Prominent Activist Urges NUG to Act Before It’s Too Late

2 days ago
992
Trump’s Tariffs to Hit Myanmar’s Garment Manufacturers Hard

Trump’s Tariffs to Hit Myanmar’s Garment Manufacturers Hard

2 days ago
990

Most Read

  • Chinese Investment Reshapes Myanmar’s N. Shan as MNDAA Consolidates Power

    Chinese Investment Reshapes Myanmar’s N. Shan as MNDAA Consolidates Power

    shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Myanmar Junta Deploying Conscripts in Major Push to Reclaim Lost Territory

    shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Myanmar Junta Chief Thanks Trump for Shutting Down VOA and RFA

    shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Two Prominent Myanmar Ex-Political Prisoners Die Hours Apart in Yangon

    shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • KIA Denies Rumor Chief Under House Arrest in China

    shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0

Newsletter

Get The Irrawaddy’s latest news, analyses and opinion pieces on Myanmar in your inbox.

Subscribe here for daily updates.

Contents

  • News
  • Politics
  • War Against the Junta
  • Myanmar’s Crisis & the World
  • Conflicts In Numbers
  • Junta Crony
  • Ethnic Issues
  • Asia
  • World
  • Business
  • Economy
  • Election 2020
  • Elections in History
  • Cartoons
  • Features
  • Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Commentary
  • Guest Column
  • Analysis
  • Letters
  • In Person
  • Interview
  • Profile
  • Dateline
  • Specials
  • Myanmar Diary
  • Women & Gender
  • Places in History
  • On This Day
  • From the Archive
  • Myanmar & COVID-19
  • Intelligence
  • Myanmar-China Watch
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Food
  • Fashion & Design
  • Videos
  • Photos
  • Photo Essay
  • Donation

About The Irrawaddy

Founded in 1993 by a group of Myanmar journalists living in exile in Thailand, The Irrawaddy is a leading source of reliable news, information, and analysis on Burma/Myanmar and the Southeast Asian region. From its inception, The Irrawaddy has been an independent news media group, unaffiliated with any political party, organization or government. We believe that media must be free and independent and we strive to preserve press freedom.

  • Copyright
  • Code of Ethics
  • Privacy Policy
  • Team
  • About Us
  • Careers
  • Contact
  • Burmese

© 2023 Irrawaddy Publishing Group. All Rights Reserved

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • Burma
    • Politics
    • World
    • Asia
    • Myanmar’s Crisis & the World
    • Ethnic Issues
    • War Against the Junta
    • Junta Cronies
    • Conflicts In Numbers
    • Junta Watch
    • Fact Check
    • Investigation
    • Myanmar-China Watch
    • Obituaries
  • Politics
  • Opinion
    • Commentary
    • Guest Column
    • Analysis
    • Editorial
    • Stories That Shaped Us
    • Letters
  • Ethnic Issues
  • War Against the Junta
  • In Person
    • Interview
    • Profile
  • Business
    • Economy
    • Business Roundup
  • Books
  • Donation

© 2023 Irrawaddy Publishing Group. All Rights Reserved

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.