Visitors to the Bagan ancient cultural region in NyaungU Township of Mandalay Region can observe the terraces of King Narapatisithu’s Dhammarazika Pagoda containing glazed terra cotta tiles illustrating scenes from 550 Jataka stories.
The Dhammarazika Pagoda was constructed by King Narapatisithu in 1196. The pagoda is located on a three-layer terrace and each of the terrace is decorated with glazed terra cotta tiles depicting the 550 Jataka stories. The pagoda structure is similar to the Shwezigon pagoda basically. There are five archways and there is one bronze Buddha statue at the bronze cave of each archway dedicating to five Buddhas who attained Enlightenment in the world. In the eastern archway, there are stone inscriptions of the Bagan era and ink inscriptions on the wall of the Inwa era, according to the officials from the Bagan branch of the Department of Archaeology and National Museum.
The Dhammarazika Pagoda is situated east and south of two Hsutaungpyae pagodas out of five famous ones Thitsawady pagoda and Thanpyinswa pagoda in the east and Lawkananda tooth relic pagoda, Kyaymonpyin pagoda, Tatkalay pagoda and Tarmanithein pagoda in the west. Therefore, pilgrims and travellers can observe the temples, stupas and religious buildings in different forms in the Bagan ancient cultural zone. — Dipa Lin/KTZH
