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©Lonely Planet Publications Pty LtdTHREE TEMPLES BY THE AYEYARWADY165From Nyaung U’s jetty you can negotiate a fun boat trip to see three temples just off theAyeyarwady riverbank. Half a mile north, is 13th-century Thetkyamuni, with a few muralsinside (hard to make out) and tight, dark steps leading up to a small terrace up top.On the hill nearby is the same-era Kondawgyi Pahto, with better preserved murals andviews from the surrounding platform.Another kilometre or so north is the 11th- and 12th-century Kyauk Gu Ohnmin cavetemple, built in the side of a ravine. It’s said during WWII Japanese soldiers hid out here.The inside tunnels lead about 55yd to blocked-off rubble. Some locals say the tunnel wasintended to go, ahem, to Pindaya Cave near Inle Lake. You can climb on top of the templefrom the new steps to the right.These sights are accessible, with more difficulty, by road. A boat trip takes about twoor three hours, and your driver will show you the temples. It costs about K15,000 forthree or four people.lic reluctant to give up all their beliefs forBuddhism. Ask around if the compound islocked. At one end stands an original stonefigure of Thagyamin, king of the nat and adirect appropriation of the Hindu god Indra.This is the oldest known freestanding Thagyaminfigure in Myanmar.The site was started by Anawrahta butnot completed until the reign of Kyanzittha.The latter is thought to have built his palacenearby.A path on the north side leads down tothe riverbank, where you can get some interestingviews.Kyanzittha UminBUDDHIST TEMPLEkYn'cc's;"wm='Although officially credited to Kyanzittha,this cave temple may actually date backto Anawrahta. Built into a cliff face 270ydsouthwest of Shwezigon, the long, dimly litcorridors are decorated with frescoes, someof which are thought to have been paintedby Bagan’s Tartar invaders during the periodof the Mongol occupation after 1287. An attendantwill usually greet you with a torchto lend and keys to unlock the doors. It’svery quiet in there, and you can actually seethe 700-year-old brush strokes.THE TEMPLES TEMPLES OF BAGAN NYAUNG U AREA© Lonely Planet Publications Pty Ltd. To make it easier for you to use,access to this chapter is not digitally restricted. In return, we think it’s fairto ask you to use it for personal, non-commercial purposes only. In otherwords, please don’t upload this chapter to a peer-to-peer site, massemail it to everyone you know, or resell it. See the terms and conditionson our site for a longer way of saying the above - ‘Do the right thing withour content.’