The Last Burmese-style Pagoda of the Bagan Kingdom, Htilominlo Pagoda

After visiting the founding pagoda of the Bagan Kingdom, we arrived at the last Burmese-style pagoda of Bagan, Htilominlo Pagoda, built by King Htilominlo in 1218. The spire stands prominently on the vast plain, making it quite conspicuous. Htilominlo Pagoda is a typical red brick structure, with a pyramid-like spire symbolizing Mount Meru, the sacred mountain in Buddhism. The main tower is tall and majestic, surrounded by smaller towers on all four sides, symbolizing the four corners of the earth. The corridors, statues, murals, and reliefs are adorned with brick carvings on the walls, and there are relief Buddha statues under the walls, resembling a fine piece of craftsmanship. When we visited, the bougainvillea was in full bloom, and the pagoda was surrounded by red and white bougainvillea flowers, making it a perfect spot for social media photos. Usually, there are vendors gathered around large pagoda temples. After worshipping the Buddha statues, you can browse the handicrafts and buy a cup of freshly squeezed sugarcane juice to quench your thirst and cool off.