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It is situated near Upali Ordination Hall east of Bagan-NyaungU motor road, about a mile east of Bagan.
It was built in AD 1211 by King Nadaungmya (Htilominlo), the youngest of the five sons of Kin Narapati Sithu. His mother, one of the queens, was granted any prize she wanted when she bought relief to a festering sore on his hand by keeping it warm in her mouth. She asked that the youngest son Zeya Thinkha be given the regency. Elder brothers too consented. The king put the oyal umbrella at the centre of the five sons positioned in a circle and took an oath for the umbrella to bend towards the one who should be King. The umbrella bent towards Zeya Thinkha. Thus he was known as Htilominlo, meaning, favoured by the Royal Umbrella as well as the king. When the prince became king, he built the pagoda at the venue of the Royal Umbrella. It is the only Bagan pagoda that bore the name of the builder. It was among the last-built of the great pagodas and temples of Bagan. The Htilominlo is named after its huilder, King Htilominlo (1211-1234?). According to the chronicles, Htilominlo, a prince of lesser rank, was chosen by the King to be his heir. Calling together Htilominlo and his four elder brothers, the King set up a white umbrella, the symbol of kingship, in their midst and, making a solemn vow, said, “May the white umbrella bend towards him who is worthy to be king!” Whereupon the white umbrella bent towards Htilominlo, giving him his name, “Favoured by the King.” The chronicles further record that on becoming king, Htilominlo built a temple, the Htilominlo, at the place where the white umbrella had inclined towards him.
In the inscriptions, however, Htilominlo appears as Nadaungmya, “He of the Many Ear Ornaments”. Some scholars also suggest that the name Htilominlo may be a misreading of Tilawkmangaw, the Mon rendition of the Pali Tilokamangala, “Blessing of the Three Worlds”. The Htilominlo is one of the larger temples of Bagan, each side of the square base mearsuring 140 feet, and the whole structure rising 150 feet high. A vestibule projecting to the east, as well as archways on the other three side, provides entry into the double-storeyed temple which has four images of the Buddha in its ground storeyed temple which has four images of the Buddha in its ground storey. Two stairways built into the thickness of the walls lead from the ground floor to the upper storey where there are another four images of the Buddha. Receding terraces, faced with pieces of sandstone glazed in green, rise above the upper storey and are surmounted by a curvilinear spire. Portions of fine plaster carving still remain on the arch pediments, frieze and pilasters, but the murals inside have felt the passage of time. Of some interest are the horoscopes of important personages inscribed high up on the walls to escape destruction. Reference
1. Ancient Pagodas in Myanmar Vol I , Jan 2003, by Myat Min Hlaing 2. Glimpses of Glorious Bagan, Jan 1996, by The Universities Historical Research Centre
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