Maintenance of 59 Mocha-hit Bagan temples completed

The Department of Archaeology and National Museum (Bagan branch) has declared the completion of maintenance work on 59 ancient religious buildings affected by the Cyclone Mocha in May 2023. Additionally, lightning rods have been installed at 11 ancient religious buildings within the Bagan Cultural Heritage Zone.
U Kyaw Myo Win, the department’s director, stated, “The cyclone damaged 59 religious buildings in May 2023. Nine of them are under trusts, so the respective trusts funded their restoration under UNESCO guideline, conservation guideline and maintenance standards. The remaining buildings were restored with donations from China.”
The director affirmed that the restoration work strictly adhered to UNESCO guidelines on conservation.
Furthermore, two instances of lightning strikes at ancient temples in June and October last year prompted the installation of lightning rods.
As of now, the Electricity Branch of the Buildings Department within the Construction Ministry has fitted lightning rods on 11 temples and pagodas namely Htilo Minlo, Dhammarazika, Shwehsandaw, Mya, Manuha, Dhammayangyi, Maha Bawdi, Culamani, Pyatthatgyi, Panthaku Mahahtay and Thagyapone out of 22 tall and massive temples, which predominantly showcase intact ancient architectural arts. — ASH/NT