Pyu Ancient Cities, Archaeological site complex in Upper Myanmar
The Pyu Ancient Cities are three archaeological sites - Sri Ksetra, Beikthano, and Halin - spread along the Ayeyarwady River in Upper Myanmar. Each city has defensive walls surrounding it and contains central palace areas along with residential zones built from clay bricks and stone structures.
The Pyu people founded these city-states starting in the 2nd century BCE and built them as major trading centers. These cities connected trade routes between China and India and played a key role in the region's development.
Buddhism shaped the development of these settlements, leaving behind extensive monastic quarters and brick structures that visitors can see today. These religious buildings show how important faith was to the daily lives of the people who lived here.
Exploring these sites requires a vehicle since the cities are spread several kilometers apart. You will need to purchase an entrance ticket at each location as you visit.
Excavations have revealed human skeletons and pottery preserved in their original discovery layers, protected by circles of cacti. This protective method was a practical system used by earlier archaeologists to safeguard the sites from looting.
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