
The Spiritual Landscape of Kakku
The Spiritual Landscape
of Kakku
A destination destined to deliver. Away from Inle Lake lies Kakku, a protected marvel of Buddhist
beliefs in the middle of nature. Surrounded by local villages, where the sands of time
have stood still, Kakku is a must-do for any avid Myanmar traveller.
WHY THIS TOUR?
Surrounded by Pa-O village and arranged neatly in straight rows, the 2000-plus stupas at Kakku are one of the most impressive, yet least visited sites in Shan State. Built in numerous styles, a number of the stupas are simple in design whilst others are richly decorated and covered in deities.
Legends refer to the creation of Kakku by Buddhist missionaries, dating back in the 3rd century and combine both simple and well-adorned stupas. Restoration of the complex commenced years ago to maintain this awe-inspiring scene outside Inle Lake.



TRAIL ITINERARY
09:00 - 18:00
Our guide will pick you up from your lakeside resort at around 9 am. Via a short boat ride to the main pier, we head out to Taunggyi (30 kilometres outside of Inle Lake, around 1-hour drive depending on road and weather conditions) to Kakku.
The Kakku Pagoda Complex spans a bewildering variety of styles, marking the prevailing architectural trends when they were constructed. The Shan-style stupas are surrounded by a small number of stupas that resemble tiny monasteries, which are unique to this region. Due to the decay over the years, it has been possible to renovate the stupas after pilgrims and locals donated money for upholding this site. The sheer size of spiritual markers in the landscape will certainly give you plenty of excellent photos.
After lunch at a local restaurant, we will leave Kakku and head out to Htan Phaya, a village with a cave that bears the same name. The village of Htan Phaya itself may not ring a bell, yet the natural surroundings are among the most sought-after visits around Taunggyi. A large collection at the cave, bearing the same name, is home to hundreds of Shan-style Buddha images.
We end this day tour visiting a local Pa O Village with includes various plantations before returning via Taunggyi back to your booked resort along the Inle Lake shores. The Pa O ethnic minority is one of the largest minorities in the country. Scattered across the country, a large contingent of villages and settlement are found in Mon and Shan states, where visitors are warmly welcomed and shown their traditions and way of life. We expect to be back at around 6 pm.