Gubyaukgyi Temple
Gubyaukgyi Temple
4.5
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
4.5
198 reviews
Excellent
87
Very good
84
Average
26
Poor
1
Terrible
0
Lynkster
Australia248 contributions
Dec 2019
Gubyaukgyi stands out due to a) it's almost completely dark inside (watch where you step) and b) its amazingly well-preserved and beautiful wall paintings. Regrettably, we didn't spend as much time as we'd like here as we were with a tour guide, and you do need a torch to be able to see clearly the paintings. Wonderfully restored, well worth a visit.
Written January 5, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
dustythoughts
Manchester, CT2,168 contributions
Dec 2019
This stunning temple is remarkably well-preserved and very beautiful, considering it's from the 12th century. The frescoes on the wall are gorgeous and are worth visiting just for themselves, although the temple itself is also lovely. The dim interior helps provide an aura of calmness and sacredness. This temple is clearly very well-maintained with a sense of awe and love that testifies to the spirituality of the place.
Written May 5, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
blairabroad2012
Hong Kong, China1,540 contributions
Oct 2019
Fabulous murals inside with a rich & interesting history, but no lighting at all. Take your own torch. Mural paintings of Jataka scenes - now protected by UNESCO. There are lockers outside, with keys, where you have to leave your camera & mobiles, or any photographic equipment. Quaint selection of stalls outside as well. WITH lighting, I would recommend it!
Written November 2, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
SFOglobetrotter
San Francisco, California411 contributions
Aug 2014 • Family
This is a fairly small temple - but the frescoes inside are jawdropping. There is scaffolding up inside, very dim lighting - and there are many artists tracing the frescoes to make their sand paintings which are sold outside. It is remarkable how well preserved the paint is - and how intricate the paintings are ...
In addition to the temple - big shout out to Maung Pa. He is one of the sellers of sand paintings. His works is beautiful and he is incredibly charming. We happened to buy some paintings from him (he is immediately outside the temple to the right as you face the temple) He then offered to draw a small elephant for a friend, then ended giving four of us a little quickly done drawing - elephants and dragons - He invited us to his "studio" - an open area behind the temple. He has a website - bagansandpainting.weebly.com - beautiful stuff.
In addition to the temple - big shout out to Maung Pa. He is one of the sellers of sand paintings. His works is beautiful and he is incredibly charming. We happened to buy some paintings from him (he is immediately outside the temple to the right as you face the temple) He then offered to draw a small elephant for a friend, then ended giving four of us a little quickly done drawing - elephants and dragons - He invited us to his "studio" - an open area behind the temple. He has a website - bagansandpainting.weebly.com - beautiful stuff.
Written August 16, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Francis Martino
Hirtshals, Denmark2,025 contributions
Nov 2018 • Couples
I do not doubt this temple has a greatest paint structure with its interior walls covered with ancients culture of Art . It is one of the great temple and beautiful one.Must Visit and take photo in the evening time at the outside view and you are not allowed taking photo inside.
Written December 29, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
SOH KIEN PENG
Singapore, Singapore9,298 contributions
Feb 2017 • Solo
I am not an expert in architectural designs of pagodas and stupas and when thousands of almost look alike temples in the Bagan Archaelogical Zone flooded my eyes for two days, I think I lost the intellectual ability to differentiate their distinctive features.
Shwezigon Pagoda, Thatbyinnyu Pagoda, Bulethi pagoda, Dhammayangyi Pagoda and Gawdawpalin Pahto appear to me outstandingly unique in their outlook compared to the rest and thus was able to leave an indelible impression in my mind.
The rest of the temples look common in red brown coat and triumphant spires bearing resemblance to Indian temples designs. One of them is this Gubyankgyi Temple which I had problem comparing her design from the rest.
I did not discover it on the first day as I was combing along the Bagan-Nyaung U Road and my search stopped at Gawdawpalin Pahto. This temple was located further down the road on the left in the Myinkaba village if you are coming from Nyaung U. I bumped into her while cycling down to New Bagan on the second day.
The temple was built by Prince Yazakumar. His father promised Yazakumar's mother that he would make her child the successor to the throne if she bore him a son. Unfortunately, the father had decided to make his daughter"s son as the successor before he came to learn of the birth of Yazakumar.
In order to compensate Yazakumar, the King left him assets of large areas of land for his inheritance. However, Yazakumar decided to sell off the lands and used the money to construct this pagoda as merits to show his gratitude to his late father. Yazakumar deployed 3 villages of slaves in order to build this temple.
The remarkable feature of this temple lies with the many large array of well preserved frescos found in the temple interior.
While the outlook of this temple is not distinctive or unique, the story relating to the merit building by Prince Yazakumar in his deepest gratitude towards his King father intrigued me. So are the oldest original paintings found in the interior.
This temple deserved a visit.
Shwezigon Pagoda, Thatbyinnyu Pagoda, Bulethi pagoda, Dhammayangyi Pagoda and Gawdawpalin Pahto appear to me outstandingly unique in their outlook compared to the rest and thus was able to leave an indelible impression in my mind.
The rest of the temples look common in red brown coat and triumphant spires bearing resemblance to Indian temples designs. One of them is this Gubyankgyi Temple which I had problem comparing her design from the rest.
I did not discover it on the first day as I was combing along the Bagan-Nyaung U Road and my search stopped at Gawdawpalin Pahto. This temple was located further down the road on the left in the Myinkaba village if you are coming from Nyaung U. I bumped into her while cycling down to New Bagan on the second day.
The temple was built by Prince Yazakumar. His father promised Yazakumar's mother that he would make her child the successor to the throne if she bore him a son. Unfortunately, the father had decided to make his daughter"s son as the successor before he came to learn of the birth of Yazakumar.
In order to compensate Yazakumar, the King left him assets of large areas of land for his inheritance. However, Yazakumar decided to sell off the lands and used the money to construct this pagoda as merits to show his gratitude to his late father. Yazakumar deployed 3 villages of slaves in order to build this temple.
The remarkable feature of this temple lies with the many large array of well preserved frescos found in the temple interior.
While the outlook of this temple is not distinctive or unique, the story relating to the merit building by Prince Yazakumar in his deepest gratitude towards his King father intrigued me. So are the oldest original paintings found in the interior.
This temple deserved a visit.
Written April 28, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Smeets P
London, UK9,369 contributions
Mar 2014 • Solo
Gubyaukgyi is close to Wetkyi-in village. This 13th-century 'cave temple' has an Indian-style spire like the Mahabodhi Paya in Bagan. Gu meaning "cave" in Myanmar. It is interesting for the fine frescoes of scenes from the jatakas. To distinguish it from the temple of the same name in Myinkaba, this monument is sometimes called 'Wetkyi-in Gubyaukgyi'. The murals have faded a bit but still very interesting; my guide had brought the torch to show me the details.
Written May 6, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Las Vegas Live
Hong Kong, China26 contributions
Nov 2019
Take a tuk tuk tour guide so you don’t get lost! I had an amazing tour guide who took me to so many places that most tourist don't get to see! A lot of people take e-bikes, which is very fun but I much preferred having someone drive me around and give me a little history along the way. He also knows where to take the perfect facebook photos!
Give him a call and enjoy your trip!
Min Min +95 9 261 809 217 or 009 592 67108690
Give him a call and enjoy your trip!
Min Min +95 9 261 809 217 or 009 592 67108690
Written December 8, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Cindy M
Colorado Springs, CO286 contributions
Apr 2019 • Couples
This temple does not look like much from the outside but inside will WOW you. NO cameras, cell phones or video inside, so leave your cameras in your car or bus. There are lockers near the entry where you can lock up your cameras if you prefer. It's super dark inside so take a flashlight or use the spot lights provided inside to view the thousands of colorful and well preserved frescos inside. Many of the paintings depict everyday life and local wildlife. Lovely! Well worth a look.
Written April 17, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Francis Martino
Hirtshals, Denmark2,025 contributions
Mar 2019 • Couples
I visited here more than two -three time ,I used to visited this temple and very favorite one for me . Don’t miss to see the wall paintings inside of the temple! Inside is totally very dark. You need to take the light to see the paintings and the guard give you the powerful light to see them but they are amazing .Must Visit and take photo at the outside view and you are not allowed taking photo inside and you need to left yuor property outside gate before you entered . Even outside temperature is very hot 40 degree, but inside is very cool and very amazing the old king and his architect how to build up this temple to be protected of heat and ventilation system too. Worth to visit .
Written March 30, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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