MYANMAR, June 21, 2011 (Sify): In a major boost to its cultural and historic ties with Myanmar, India Tuesday agreed to renovate and restore a 12th century temple in the ancient city of Bagan in Myanmar’s Mandalay region.
Indian External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna made the offer to the three-month-old Myanmarese civilian government. The Ananda Pahto, which dominates Bagan’s skyline with a 167 foot temple tower, is one of the oldest of temples in Myanmar. Bagan is about 125 miles away from Myanmar’s second largest city, Mandalay.
Ananda Pahto, along with the mighty mid-12th century temple Thatbyinnyu Pahto, dwarf all other modern constructions in Bagan including the archaeological museum there.