Gubyaukgyi Temple, Myinkaba, Bagan

The Gubyaukgyi (alt. Kubyauk-gyi) temple, located just south of Bagan, Myanmar, in Myinkaba Village, is a Buddhist temple built in 1113 AD by Prince Yazakumar, shortly after the death of his father, King Kyansittha of the Pagan Dynasty.

The temple is notable for two reasons. First, it contains a large array of well-preserved frescoes on its interior walls, the oldest original paintings to be found in Bagan. All of the frescoes are accompanied by ink captions written in Old Mon, providing one of the earliest examples of the language's use in Myanmar.

Second, the temple is located just to the west of the Myazedi pagoda, at which was found two stone pillars with inscriptions written in four, ancient Southeast Asian languages: Pali, Old Mon, Old Burmese, and Pyu. The inscription on the pillar displayed by the Myazedi pagoda has been called the Burmese Rosetta Stone, given its significance both historically and linguistically, as a key to cracking the Pyu language.

Gubyaukgyi Temple (left) and Myazedi Pagoda (right).
Both are here to be seen from the southwest.

Approaching Gubyaukgyi Temple from the south.

Main facade on the east side.
The style of the temple includes both Mon and Indian elements.

In the case of the latter, the temple's towers are built in the Indian Shikhara style (at the top of the photo).
The temple has a square base, shaped like a Kalatha pot, with a curvilinear roof.

Exterior of the Myazedi Pagoda.
The Myazedi Pagoda is located to the east of the Gubyaukgyi Temple.

Buddha statue inside the Myazedi Pagoda.

Myazedi Stone Scripture.
The inscription on the pillar displayed by the Myazedi Pagoda has been called the Burmese Rosetta Stone, given its significance both historically and linguistically, as a key to cracking the Pyu language.