The ancient Myanmar city famous for thousands of Buddhist pagodas across its plains is Bagan. Located beside the Irrawaddy River in Myanmar’s Mandalay Region, Bagan is one of Southeast Asia’s most remarkable archaeological landscapes.
Bagan served as the capital of the Pagan Kingdom from the 9th or 10th century until 1287. During the kingdom’s height, especially between the 11th and 13th centuries, rulers and wealthy donors built more than 10,000 Buddhist temples, pagodas and monasteries. The buildings supported worship, pilgrimage, meditation and Buddhist scholarship, while also displaying the skill of Myanmar’s brick craftsmen.
More than 2,200 temples and pagodas survive today, including the Ananda Temple, Shwezigon Pagoda, Dhammayangyi Temple and Htilominlo Temple. “Thousands” does not mean every monument is intact: earthquakes, neglect, war and unsuitable restoration damaged many structures. Bagan became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2019. Inle Lake, Yangon and Mandalay are important Myanmar destinations, but they are not the ancient pagoda plain described in the question.