Although attempts at imposing a pagoda climbing ban in Bagan have proved unsuccessful in the past, it seems that authorities are taking another stab at it, as the new plans were revealed to the media following the most recent Amyotha Hluttaw meeting.
As a joint project between the Mandalay Regional Government and the Ministry of Religious Affairs, the banks along five bodies of water will be mounted and turned into hills for avid sunset watchers, who usually clamor for a good spot on one of Bagan’s many pagodas come sundown.
Work has already begun on the first platform — a hill near Ko Mauk Lake, which will be raised from its current height of nearly-18 feet to 20 feet, and which authorities estimate will be ready for visitors by mid-March. Minister Thura U Aung Ko of the Ministry of Religious Affairs Minister also confirmed that the other four areas had already been chosen. Just last week, Nyaung-U district general administrator Soe Tint told the Myanmar Times that they had spent nearly K60 million on raising the Ko Mauk viewing platform to a height of 17 feet, and that they were still looking for the additional four locations.
Speaking to Eleven, Thura U Aung Ko explained, “Five hills will be able to accommodate between 200 and 300 people. Once those [viewing platforms] have been established, we’ll gradually stop allowing people to climb the pagodas at sunset until all the pagodas are off-limits.”
The Minister estimates that the designated five platforms will finish construction within the next six months. If it turns out that five platforms aren’t enough, more areas will be created as necessary.
