THE riverside area of the Buu Pagoda, located in the Bagan ancient cultural zone, a place rich in Myanmar’s cultural heritage, has become crowded with tourists during public holidays due to the beauty of the retaining wall and sunset views, according to the Buu Pagoda Board of Trustees.
A retaining wall was constructed at Buu Pagoda to prevent damage to the pagoda caused by riverbank erosion along the Ayeyawady River. Construction of the wall at the base of the pagoda was completed at the end of December 2025, and painting work was completed in April 2026. The newly transformed beauty of the Buu Pagoda riverside has attracted visitors through word of mouth, including foreign tourists, and the site has become especially crowded with leisure travellers during public holidays in the current rainy season.
“More travellers visit during public and school holidays. Many enjoy sitting by the riverside to admire the beauty of the Ayeyawady River and watching the sunset from the hilltop of Tantkyi Pagoda. Previously, people mostly viewed the sunset from Buu Pagoda, but now many relax and watch the sunset while sitting along the walkway of the riverbank protection wall at Buu Pagoda. We are glad to see traveller numbers increasing after a quiet period. As Bagan is a World Heritage Site, we expect more domestic and foreign travellers to visit during the open season,” said U Htay Lwin, chair of the pagoda board of trustees.
The retaining wall at the foot of the Buu Pagoda was constructed with a length of 250 feet and a width of 100 feet, extending to the pagoda’s platform. It is planned to continue construction of an additional 120-foot-long and 100-footwide section of the retaining wall in 2026.
The Buu Pagoda has become increasingly popular owing to the beauty of the Ayeyawady River, Tantkyi Mountain Range and sunset scenery. The pagoda is open from 6 am to 8 pm. Visitors can pay homage to the Buu Pagoda through the entrance road, where an ancient Buddha image is housed inside the meditation hall. After leaving the hall, visitors reach the pagoda platform and thereby descend the stairs to the retaining wall, where they enjoy views of Bagan’s landscape and the Ayeyawady River, particularly between 5 pm and 7 pm.
During 2024-2025, a river channel about 10 feet wide developed near the riverside area at the foot of the Buu Pagoda. Sandbags were used to control the water flow, and the riverbank protection wall was constructed in cooperation among the Directorate of Water Resources and Improvement of River Systems, the Department of Archaeology and relevant departments. There is also a boat jetty at the Buu Pagoda riverside for travelling to Tantkyi Mountain on the opposite bank of the Ayeyawady River. The government constructed a riverbank protection wall to prevent damage to the pagoda from river erosion, and the area has become a popular recreational destination attracting public interest and tourists. — Thitsa (MNA)/KTZH