Shinbinthalyaung Temple

Attraction Bagan , Myanmar Published on: 13-11-2015

Rating
Time to visit	2 hours
Should visit at	10:00 AM
Should leave before	10:45 AM
Good for travellers	Second-time visit
Category	Attraction Kids Free Architecture Temple & Monument
Price range	0.00 USD

Shinbinthalyaung Temple is good for

Family with kids Good

Senior Good

Couple Good

Solo Good

Group Good

Shinbinthalyaung is a long, low, rectangular brick structure, a little to the west of the Shwesandaw. The temple itself is not very distinguished, but it houses the biggest reclining image.

by Jerlin Tan

Image copyrights belong to authors

Why Shinbinthalyaung Temple is special ?

The Shinbinthalyaung is a long, low, rectangular brick structure, a little to the west of the Shwesandaw pagoda. The temple itself is not very distinguished, but it houses the biggest reclining image of (the Buddha in Bagan, an image 60 feetlong, which stylistically belongs to the 11th century.

The reclining Buddha image's head is oriented toward the south, which would indicate that the Buddha depicted, is in a resting rather than dying or parinibbana state. One view holds that the orientation and iconography clash because the architects didn't want the Buddha's back to face Shwesandaw. In Buddhist iconography throughout Asia, however, reclining Buddha figures always lie on their right side, a preferred sleeping and dying posture with antecedents in Indian yoga (to keep the left nostril clear, thus stimulating the Ida nerve channel along the spine to induce a clear, restful state). The historical Buddha was thought to have passed into parinibbana while lying on his right side; even today Theravada Buddhist monks are often exhorted to sleep on their right rather than left sides.

Source: http://bagan.travelmyanmar.net/

What to explore at Shinbinthalyaung Temple?

The temple contains an 18 metre long Reclining Buddha, which is not unusual in Buddhist countries. What is unusual though is the temple which houses the Buddha. The temple is barely wide enough to house the statue, leaving only a fairly narrow passageway around the Buddha. The Buddha is in the position of Parinibbana, the Decease, lying on his right side, his cheek resting on his right hand. A peculiarity of this reclining image is that the head points southwards instead of northwards, as should be the case with such images because Buddha's head pointed towards the north at Parinibbana.

Source: http://www.baganmyanmar.com/

How to get to Shinbinthalyaung Temple?

Shinbinthalyaung is a little to the west of the Shwesandaw pagoda. Visitors can reach the place by taxi, bicycle or horse cart. It's just 8.7km from the Nyang U Airport.

Selling points

Long, low, rectangular brick structure
The biggest reclining image of the Buddha
Buddha lying on his right side
Unique architecture
Different experience

Location

Address

Bagan , Myanmar

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Tips for you

The colours are great inside the temple which make your photos more beautiful, but make sure you ask permission for photography.

Photography
The temple has only a fairly narrow passageway around the Buddha statue, so you have to queue to get close to the Buddha.

Things to do
You should ask the monks about the history of the temple, they have many stories to tell you.

Things to do
The monks will light all the candles which may take some time, but the lovely warm glow makes for such appealing colours to your eyes.

Experience

Reviews

TripAdvisor View more

Have been to Bagan one time and it’s our most memorable trip. love all the temples here. Aspecially the Shinbinthalyaung one which is a long, low, rectangular brick structure. After visiting the famous Shwesandaw pagoda, take a walk to to the west to Shinbinthalyaung. There was Buddha lying on his right side, his cheek resting on his right hand. Very unique architecture. Worth a visit!