LEGENDS BROUGHT TO LIFE

Beautiful temples, stunning scenery and now an awesome cultural show can be added to the long list of things to enjoy in Bagan, Myanmar

The ancient city of Bagan, located right in the centre of Myanmar, is one of the most visited sites in the country. Its 2,000 temples, dating as far back as 900 years, are a photographer’s dream, especially viewed during the magical moments of sunrise and sunset, framed by the Ayeyarwaddy River and the mountains in the background.

Visitors to Bagan today, however, have much more to see than just the magnificent temples. In terms of cultural entertainment, the latest addition to the travel itinerary is “Dandaree”, touted as “Myanmar’s most stunning show”. Set against the spectacular backdrop of Thiri Zaya Bumi Bagan Golden Palace, located next to the old Tharabha Gate — the only surviving gate of old Bagan dating back to the 11th century — the show gives a brief overview of Bagan’s golden era between the 11th and 13th centuries. The show also focuses on the reign of King Anawrahta, arguably Myanmar’s greatest monarch who unified Bagan and implemented reforms that would make Bagan one of the region’s leading cultures of the era.

Dandaree, meaning “legendary” in the local language, begins with a battle scene, after which wives and children come to look for the bodies of their loved ones. The scene brought tears to our tour guide’s eyes.

The show then introduced the accession of King Anawrahta and his queen, both of whom helped Bagan to attain its heights, particularly in the field of arts and culture. This provided the opportunity to display some of the country’s most well-loved dances including puppetry, performed beautifully by a live “puppet” and even traditional sports such as takraw (kick volleyball) and martial arts. The show also traced the growth of the country’s Buddhist religion and creation of its alphabet.

Created by Thailand’s leading events production company, Index Creative Village, the show brought together over a hundred local talents including some very young children. Not only did they have to be trained in dancing, but also in performance and stage presence, something that many of them were not particularly familiar with. But slowly, they were able to come out of their shells and embrace the show, giving credible performances that made it a pleasure to watch.

Complementing the beautiful dances were the magnificent costumes, multi-purpose stage sets and array of light and sound effects that gave a very contemporary feel to the historical aspects.

The choice of Bagan Golden Palace as a backdrop added to the grandeur of the show. The palace was recreated from historical records and excavations, opening in 2008 after a construction period of over four years. The palace complex comprises eight buildings, namely the Southern Entrance Hall, Zaytawun Hall, Zaytawun Connection Passage, the Northern Entrance Hall, Pyinsapathada Hall (Great Audience Hall), Thihathana Hall, Eastern Entrance Hall and Beiktheik Hall (Consecration Hall).

The Dandaree stage sits in the courtyard just below the Great Audience Hall. The tiered seating area allows uninterrupted viewing of the entire stage.

The show takes place at 7pm daily, until the end of March. Tickets for the 70-minute show are priced from US$50 (1,600 baht) inclusive of a snack box.

For further details and booking, check the website www.dandaree.com

Scenes from ‘Dandaree’. Thiri Zaya Bumi Bagan Golden Palace, venue and backdrop of ‘Dandaree’ multi-media cultural show in Bagan.

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