THE arrival of tourists this dry season to Htilominlo Temple surges as they are interested in detailed mural paintings and artworks of Panntamaw (sculpting) with stone inner and outside of the temple.
The two-storey Htilominlo Temple was constructed by King Zeyatheinkha (King Nataungmya) in the 13th Century of the Bagan era. The temple is 150 feet in height and 140 feet in length. The main hall faces east, and the three sides are decorated with small archways. There are four Buddha images inside the temple, and the ink inscriptions are on the walls. The mural paintings and Pantamawt artworks inside and outside of the temple prove the high architectural standards of the Bagan era which lures the interests of local and foreign travellers.
“The place is crowded with visitors during the Thadingyut festival, and we expect the arrivals might be high in Tazaungdine. The tourists visited here yesterday, and they especially visited Dhammayan, Thatbyinnyu, and Ananda. They enjoyed the 13th-century architectural artworks of the Bagan era at Htilominlo temple.
They are also interested in the construction structure of the upper layer of the temple. Although people could watch sunset views on the temple previously, such a permit was halted in 2004 for the sustainability of the temple. The local and foreign travellers are interested in Htilominlo temple as their dreams of praying come true and due to ancient architecture,” said U Tin Hla Oo, secretary of the pagoda board of trustees.
The temple was constructed in 1211 and completed after seven years of construction. King Narapati Sithu selected the crown prince among his five sons and erected a white umbrella among these five princes. He then said the umbrella might lean on the one worthy to be King, who is holding the umbrella in his hand and freeing it. Then, the umbrella leaned on Zeya Theinkha Prince. Then, the prince was named Htilominlo as the King, and the umbrella wanted him to be the King. King Nataungmya built a temple in which an umbrella was hoisted, and the temple was called Htilominlo temple. — Uttha/KTZH
