Bu Paya is a small but memorable gilded pagoda on the bank of the Ayeyarwady River. Its bulb-shaped stupa is quite different from Bagan's larger brick temples, and the riverside position gives it a strong sense of place.
The pagoda is especially good late in the day, when the river catches the light and boats move below the terrace. It is easy to combine with Old Bagan sights, but linger a little: the view over the Ayeyarwady is the reason Bu Paya stays in memory.