Abhay Thakur presides over India's takeover of Bagan

The Archaeological Survey of India displayed restoration photographs at the Mahabodhi Phaya temple in Bagan, Myanmar, on Friday to mark the start of Phase II conservation work on earthquake-damaged pagodas. Indian Ambassador Abhay Thakur and Department of Archaeology Director-General Kyaw Oo Lwin presided over the ceremony at Monument 1670, where a four-member ASI team will restore approximately 50 monuments with local craftsmen. The exhibition featured before-and-after images from Phase I, which covered 11 monuments handed over to Myanmar on Dec. 13, 2024. The project strengthens cultural ties between India and Myanmar through the preservation of the 1215 AD temple, a replica of Bodh Gaya's sacred site.