Stunning Aerial Photos Showcase the Dazzling Buddhist Temples of Myanmar

Myanmar Temples Aerial Photos Dimitar Karanikolov

Dotted with glistening gold temples, the lush landscape of Myanmar is any aerial enthusiast's dream come true. In a sky-high series of photographs taken from drones and hot air balloons, London-based architect and photographer Dimitar Karanikolov offers viewers a bird's-eye view of this picture-perfect scenery.

Each photo features one of the thousands of centuries-old Buddhist temples, shrines, and pagodas built in the sprawling forests of Bagan, Yangon, and Mandalay. Though they tower high above the trees, one can not fully appreciate these buildings from ground-level, as Karanikolov's aerial photos reveal their surprising scale and unexpected symmetry.

In addition to highlighting the beauty of the temples' designs, these photographs also visually illustrate the prominence of Buddhism in both past and present Myanmar. Over 10,000 temples exist in Bagan alone, and—as evident in Karanikolov's photos—many of them are currently being restored.

Though Myanmar has an ancient relationship with the religion, Karanikolov's modern approach to photographing its temples shows it from a dazzling new perspective.

In Myanmar Temples, a series of aerial photos, London-based architect and photographer Dimitar Karanikolov captures the beauty of Buddhist temples in Bagan, Yangon, and Mandalay.

Myanmar Temples Aerial Photos Dimitar Karanikolov

Myanmar Temples Aerial Photos Dimitar Karanikolov

Myanmar Temples Aerial Photos Dimitar Karanikolov

Myanmar Temples Aerial Photos Dimitar Karanikolov

Myanmar Temples Aerial Photos Dimitar Karanikolov

Myanmar Temples Aerial Photos Dimitar Karanikolov

Myanmar Temples Aerial Photos Dimitar Karanikolov

Myanmar Temples Aerial Photos Dimitar Karanikolov

Myanmar Temples Aerial Photos Dimitar Karanikolov

Myanmar Temples Aerial Photos Dimitar Karanikolov

Myanmar Temples Aerial Photos Dimitar Karanikolov

Myanmar Temples Aerial Photos Dimitar Karanikolov

Myanmar Temples Aerial Photos Dimitar Karanikolov

Myanmar Temples Aerial Photos Dimitar Karanikolov

Myanmar Temples Aerial Photos Dimitar Karanikolov

Myanmar Temples Aerial Photos Dimitar Karanikolov

Dimitar Karanikolov: InstagramBehance | Facebook 

My Modern Met granted permission to use photos by Dimitar Karanikolov.

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Kelly Richman-Abdou

Kelly Richman-Abdou is a Contributing Writer at My Modern Met. An art historian living in Paris, Kelly was born and raised in San Francisco and holds a BA in Art History from the University of San Francisco and an MA in Art and Museum Studies from Georgetown University. When she’s not writing, you can find Kelly wandering around Paris, whether she’s leading a tour (as a guide, she has been interviewed by BBC World News America and France 24) or simply taking a stroll with her husband and two tiny daughters.
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