The exquisiteness of the Ananda Phaya in Bagan was once again revealed during the temple's outer renovations.

The pagoda is built in pinkish-white sandstone, in the jaturamuk style, i.e. with four entrances, one for each point of the compass (fig.). The square bell-shaped peak is here still enclosed with bamboo scaffolding as workers are in the process of covering the gilded peak afresh with gold leaf.

Beneath this peak, surrounding both the upper and the lower façades, are hundreds of glazed terracotta tiles.

Those plaques, all of a dark greyish-green colour, are embedded in each of the four exterior sides of the temple and portray scenes of the jataka, as well as episodes from the life of the Buddha.