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Bagan Dynasty began with the founding of Pauk Kan, the first capital of the Kingdom at a site known as Yonlut Kyun by Thamudarit, a nephew of Thupyin nyar narga seinda, 27th and last king of Thayaykittayar (Sriksetra) Dynasty, in Thetkayit 29 which corresponds to 107 AD. Pauk Kan was capital of the Kingdom for 237 years from Thetkayit 29 to Thetkayit 266 (107 AD to 344 AD) under the reign of 6 kings; Thamudarit, Yathegyaung, Pyusawhtee, Htee-minyin, Yinminpike and Pikethele.

When Thelegyaung became king in the Thetkayit 266 (344 AD), he abandoned Pauk Kan and founded the new capital Thiripyitsa-yar at a site known as Lawkananda in Thetkayit 266 (344 AD). He came to be known as The-legyaung Min because when he was a prince he was granted the appanage of Thelegyaung Village and he came to be known by his appanage as Thelegyaung Min.

Thiripyitsayar was capital of the kingdom for 172 years from Thetkayit 266 to 438 (344 AD to 516 AD) under the reign of 6 kings; Thelegyaung, Kyaungdurit, Theehtan, Mokka-man, Thure and Thandananpaya. When Thaik-taing became king in Thetkayit 438 (516 AD) he abandoned Thiripyitsayar and founded the new Capital Tampawaddy at a site known as Thamahtee in Thetkayit 438 (516 AD).

It was at Tampawaddy that Poppa Sawra-han, the 20th king of Bagan Dynasty, erased 560 years out of Thetkayit 562 leaving only 2 years for Myanmar Thetkayit to begin with. The present Myanmar Thetkayit 1375 is the con- tinuation of those 2 years. Tampawaddy was capital of the kingdom for 330 years from Thetkayit 438 to Thetkayit 560 and Myanmar Thetkayit 2 to 208 (516 to 846) under the reign of 22 kings.

Pyinbya Min became king of Tampa-waddy in Myanmar Thetkayit 208 (846 AD). He came to be known as Pyinbya Min because when he was a prince he was granted the appanage of Pyinbya Village and he came to be known by his appanage as Pyinbya Min. Three years after his ascension to the throne Pyinbya Min abandoned Tampawaddy and founded new Capital Bagan at the presant site in Myanmar Thetkayit 211 (849 AD) Pyinbya Min enclosed the city of Bagan with a wall, the remains of which may still be seen in Tharabha (Sarabha) Gate.

The founder of greatness of Bagan was Anawrahta (1044-1077), the 42th king of Bagan Dynasty. Anawrahta, founded the first Myanmar kingdom, introduced Theravada Buddhism into Myanmar and started build-ing temples which now adorn Bagan and environs. After Anawrahta, the kingdom gradually declined. It takes time both for a country to improve and to deteriorate. In 1283, over 200 years after Anawrahta, in the reign of King Narathihapate, aslo known as Tayokepyemin (Literally meaning the king who ran away from the Chinese), the kingdom disintegrated into petty states and Bagan became a capital without a kingdom.

The wall that enclosed the city of Bagan had disappered but the Tharabha (Sarabha) Gate stands, commemorating the glory of the days of Ancient Bagan.

Ref;
Myanmar Swezone Kyan, Vol.b,pp 337,338
Burma by D.G.E.Hall,pp.14,26,27
History of Burma by G.E. Harvey, pp.23,28,29,30
Story of Ancient Myanmar by Maung Maung,pp.123,124,125

Maung Maung