There are over 2200 of these ancient temples in the area around Bagan. Bagan was the capital of Myanmar for 230 years, from the 11th to the 13th centuries. Many temples and stupas were built starting with the conversion from Hindu Mahayana Buddhism to Theravada Buddhism, the Buddhism of the Elders. New kings wanted to leave their mark. The wooden city has decayed, leaving the stone stupas temples. In the last few years, many of the temples have been "restored" by devout Buddhists from other countries, looking to leave a legacy -- this opportunity offered by the military government of Myanmar.