 The Pagan "stupas" or pagodas evolved from earlier Pyu designs, which in turn were based on the "stupa" designs of the Andhra region, particularly Amaravati and Nagarjunakonda in present-day southeastern India, and to a smaller extent to Ceylon.The Pagan-era stupas in turn were the prototypes for later Burmese stupas in terms of symbolism, form and design, building techniques and even materials.Originally, an Indian/Ceylonese "stupa" had a hemispheric body (, "the egg") on which a rectangular box surrounded by a stone balustrade ("harmika") was set.