A celestial blueprint in brick
The Htilominlo Temple is a sophisticated instrument for observing the sky, constructed from simple red brick. Built around 1218 CE by King Htilominlo, the temple's orientation is not accidental. Its architectural design aligns with solar events, a feature that shows the astronomical knowledge of its 13th-century builders. Archaeoastronomers have studied how specific windows and portals frame the rising sun on the summer and winter solstices, channeling light to illuminate interior Buddha statues in a calculated example of architecture and astronomy.
The temple stands approximately 46 meters (151 feet) tall and has a square base about 43 meters long on each side. The entire two-story structure is built primarily of red brick, a common material in Bagan architecture. Initially, the brickwork was covered in white stucco, which was then carved with elaborate moldings. Remnants of this fine plasterwork, depicting mythological creatures, are still visible today. To strengthen the massive brick construction, sandstone blocks were strategically used at corners and in load-bearing arches.
Engineering faith and power
The temple's layout is precise and symmetrical, aside from an eastern porch that extends farther than the others. The design features a central square block that supports a tiered upper structure, culminating in an ornamental tower called a sikhara, a feature derived from Northern Indian architecture. Inside, four large, gilded Buddha statues are placed on each of the two floors, each facing one of the cardinal directions.
The construction followed the reign of King Htilominlo's father, Narapatisithu, and the temple's style is similar to the earlier Sulamani Temple. It is considered the last of the great Myanmar-style temples built in Bagan. The legend of the temple's origin claims its location is the very spot where a symbolic white umbrella, used to choose the next king, tilted toward the young prince Htilominlo, selecting him from among his five brothers. The temple was built to commemorate this event. The structure was significantly damaged during a 1975 earthquake and has since undergone restoration.