Early 13th century
Merit of King Htilominlo (r. 1210-1235)
The last Buddha, Gautama, attained enlightenment under a Bodhi tree (Ficus rekigiosa) and the spot is marked in Bodhgaya, birthplace of the Buddha by a Bodhi tree and a temple called Maha Bodhi.
The Maha Bodhi Temple of Bagan is a large, two storey temple and an exact copy of the one at Bodhgaya, which Kyansittha had repaired around 1095. The exterior walls are lined with rows of niches, each under a simple yet beautiful arch. They are enshrined with seated images of the Buddha.
