The people should not miss the Bagan palace site where King Anawrahta and King Kyansittha reigned over when they visit Bagan-NyaungU ancient cultural zone of NyaungU Township in Mandalay Region, according to the officials of Department of Archaeology and National Museum (Bagan Branch).
According to the chronicles, Bagan was ruled by 55 kings, and they established their palaces at four locations. The first palace was established by King Thamuddariz at Yonhlut Island in eastern part of Tuyin Hill in 108 AD while the second one called Thiri Pyitssaya by 7th Bagan King Thinlekyaung at Kyauksaka region in 344 AD, the third one Tampawady palace by 12th Bagan King Thaiktaing in the southern part of West Phwasaw Village in 516 AD and the fourth one by 34th Bagan King Pyinbya in Nagabo (now old Bagan) in 849 AD.
According to a stone inscription of King Kyansittha, the current Bagan palace was built of wood and constructed in 464 ME (1102 AD) and called Zeyabumi Palace.
Its location might be in the central Bagan, west of Tharapa Gate and northern part of road including north of Shwegugyi pagoda. The mound of Aungmye called the victorious land is recognized a Bagan Palace site and the Department of Archaeology and National Museum conducted excavation on research between 1990-1997 and 2003-2012.
According to the explored land, building system and ancient objects, the kings expanded and repaired the original palace buildings after the establishment of fourth palace. It also conducted research with Magnetometer of Non-Invasive Method in 2016.
The people can study the explored pots, small portals for light, a well, teak poles that caught fire torched by Mongol and deep pith with earthen rims, according to the officials of Department of Archaeology and National Museum (Bagan Branch). —Dipa Lin /KTZH
