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Bagan (formerly called Pagan) is an ancient capital of Myanmar’s first dynasty founded by King Anawrahta in 1044. It is located in the central dry zone getting with little rain-fall in Mandalay Region of Myanmar. During the kingdom's reign between the 11th and 13th centuries, over 4,000 Buddhist temples, pagodas and monasteries were constructed in the Bagan plains alone, of which the remains of over 2,200 temples and pagodas decorating fine architectural works, incredibly exquisite mural or frescos paintings, brilliant stucco carvings still survive to the present day. This magnificent land with numerous ancient pagodas has been recorded as the Largest Buddhist Temples Complex Area in the world.
The Bagan Archaeological Zone is a main attraction for the country's nascent tourism industry. It is seen by many as equal in attraction to Angkor Wat in Cambodia. From 1044 to 1287, Bagan was the first capital as well as the political, economic and cultural beginning center of the Myanmar people.