Tharaba Gate

The Tharabha Gate is the only surviving gate of Bagan. The gate is located to the east of the old city. Although the Burmese chronicles assert that the city of Bagan was fortified in 849 CE, radiocarbon dating of evidence dates the foundation of the main walls to c. 1020 CE. If the city was fortified in the 9th century as the chronicles assert, the fortifications must have been built with less durable materials like mud.

The present-day gate consists of two brick-walled shrines, each opposing one another, of two guardian nats, named Min Mahagiri and Hnamadawgyi, who allegedly were executed by order of a king. The Gate allegedly has no doors, mostly due to corroding and other reasons.