The old bagan is filled with hundreds of stupas and temples. This begs for an explanation.
So I asked why, and Johnny, our local tour guide, explained that the stupas and the temples were not build all at the same time, but throughout generations. They were built during the golden age of Pagan Kingdom.
The royal family initiated and funded the construction of the major temples. The ministers and the ultra-rich built stupas around the temples. Some of the ministers and the ultra-rich build temples near their residence. Sons followed the tradition of their fathers and built temples and stupas near the one built by their fathers.
Those who were richer, built temples (which has rooms/halls), while those who were rich enough, built stupas (solid structure).
This feverish temple and stupa building is fashionable for many generations, and as a result, the old Bagan is filled with so many of them.
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