Maha Bodhi Temples see UNESCO World Heritage list

Archaeological experts from Myanmar, India, and Thailand collaborate on transnational UNESCO World Heritage nomination for Maha Bodhi temples.

The Department of Archaeology and National Museum has an­nounced that Myanmar, India, and Thailand are collaborating to submit a tentative list for the transna­tional nomination of Maha Bodhi temples in the Indian Ocean region to the UNES­CO World Heritage List.

The three countries are working to­gether on a “serial nomination” for the Maha Bodhi temples, which includes the Maha Bodhi temples in Bagan and Bago in Myanmar, the Maha Bodhi Temple in Bodh Gaya in India, and Wat Chet Yot (Wat Ched Yod) in Chiang Mai in Thailand.

The Department of Archaeology and National Museum (Bagan Branch) is actively preparing the necessary doc­umentation, conducting preservation and research, and facilitating coordination meetings to ensure the success of the nomination. Last March, at the Bagan Branch office, a meeting was held involv­ing members of the Mandalay Region Cultural Heritage Preservation Commit­tee, members of the Maha Bodhi Temple Board of Trustees, representatives from the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), and officials from the Bagan Branch. They discussed completed research and con­servation efforts, as well as future require­ments for the temples.

To facilitate the submission of the tentative list, teams formed by the De­partment are currently gathering data, documenting sites, capturing drone foot­age, and preparing maps.

Furthermore, from 20 to 22 April 2026, officials from the Yangon, Bagan, and Bago branches, along with repre­sentatives from the Bagan Heritage Trust and the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), held meetings at the De­partment of Archaeology and National Museum (Yangon Branch). Led by Dep­uty Director-General (Museums) and archaeological advisor Dr Thein Lwin, the team discussed the drafting of the nomination dossier, the preparation of boundary maps, the selection of criteria, data assessment, and the collection of photographic and video documentation. They also reviewed necessary research and conservation projects and conducted a field visit to the Maha Bodhi temple in Bago. — ASH/KNN