Dhammayangyi Temple in Bagan

The Dhammayangyi temple in Bagan.

One of the coolest things about the massive temples of Bagan in Myanmar is that they are quite unlike most ancient structures.  Most ancient structures are not remotely intact.  And most intact ones don’t have passages.  The monuments of Bagan boast both these qualities.  And these passageways are on multiple storeys in most of the monuments.

However,most have the stairs leading to the upper levels blocked off by a locked metal gate.

In one of the coolest looking and historically most intriguing temples, Dhammayangyi, is actually sealed up with brick and mortar in every one of the dozens of inner passage doorways.  It’s said this was done soon after construction to help stabilize the structure.  It seems to have worked considering it’s still standing many centuries later.

One of the many sealed doors inside Dhammayangyi.

But those sealed doors beg the question of what’s left inside?  Certainly more than the faded stucco murals still in the air-exposed temple today.

So what’s tempting?  I was hinted by a local to a off-track, unsealed staircase leading to an exterior window.  But, this was also at the top:

That ledge is about 5-6 inches.

I considered going over Tomb Raider style, knowing that it had to lead to something otherwise inaccessible, but gave into my better judgement and didn’t.  A sad day for adventure-archaologists everywhere.

See? So saddening . . .