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| Type of monument | Cave Temple |
| Location | Southeast of Nyaung U |
| Region | Nyaung U & Wetkyi-In |
| Built by | Unknown |
| Date | 13th Century |
| Monument Number |
Thameewhet UMin and Hmyatha UMin (သမီးဝှက်ဥမင်၊ မြားသဥမင်)
Among ancient buildings around Bagan-Nyaung U, U Min type is quite unique. Two U Min caves are located on the due north-east of Nget Pyit Taung hill. They are Thamee Hwet U Min and Hmya Tha U Min caves, which tourists should not miss visiting. They are man-made caves dug into the sand stone walls reinforced by brick walls outside. Rooms and cellars inside the cave are connected like a maze by vaulted corridors. To protect from the severe warm climate such caves were made for monks and lay disciples who could meditate and reside in them.
The U Min on the north side is called Hmya Tha U Min inside of which are rooms and cellars arranged like a maze. Buddha images were sculpted on the walls and frescoes of Bagan Period still survive on some walls.
On the south of Hmya Tha U Min is Thamee Hwet U Min. Like the former it was constructed into a sand stone hill with strong brick wallings at the entrance. Inside the cave are several meditation cellars connected one another by a complex of passages.
There is an inscribed stone pillar inside the cave which dates Myanmar Sakarit year 797 (A D 1435). The inscription records the works of religious merit carried out by one Taungdwin Thinchar in the reign of King Mohnyin Mintaya of the In Wa period. From this inscription we learn that this U Min was then known as Wanbei Kya U Min. Some U Min caves around Nget Pyit Taung hill belong to the Bagan Period and others to the Innwa Period.
These cave tunnels, Thamiwhet Umin and Hmyatha Umin, are related to the legend of Pyusawhti. (Click here to See details about the legend of Pyusawhti at the Bupaya post.)
According to the legend, Bagan, in the reign of its first king, Thamoddarit, was ravaged by the Five Great Menaces: the Tiger, the Flying Squirrel, the Boar, the Bird, and the Gourd Plant.
With his bow, Pyusawhti quelled the Five Great Menaces and gained the hand of the king’s daughter.
The Thamiwhet Umin, “Tunnel Where the Damsels Were Hidden,” is the place where Pyusawhti hid the damsels who were to be offered to the Bird.
The Hmyatha Umin, “Tunnel Where the Arrow Shafts Were Smoothed,” is the place where Pyusawhti prepared his arrows to shoot the Bird.
Thameewhet & Hmyathat Umin (Google Map)
Reference Books:
Glimpse of Glorious Bagan, Universities Historical Research Centre, Yangon, Myanmar, The University Press, 1996
Pictorial Guide to Pagan, Ministry of Culture, Yangon, Myanmar, The Printing and Publish Corporation, Reprint 1975
The Pagodas and Monuments of Bagan, Vol. 1, Translated by Dr Khin Maung Nyunt, Ministry of Information, Yangon, Myanmar, Graphic Training Centre (G.T.C), 1995
The Pagodas and Monuments of Bagan , Vol. 2, English Text by Dr Khin Maung Nyunt, Ministry of Information, Yangon, Myanmar, Graphic Training Centre (G.T.C), 1998
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