Shwe Indein Pagoda

The Shwe Indein Pagoda complex is situated on the western banks of Inle Lake in the Shan State of Myanmar (Burma). The site is uniquely positioned on a hillside, accessible only via a long, covered walkway. It overlooks the tranquil waters and floating gardens characteristic of the famous Inle Lake region.

The site consists of over a thousand individual stupas densely packed across the hillside, many of which are heavily weathered and overgrown. Some of these ancient brick structures date back to the 12th and 13th centuries, during the reign of King Narapatisithu. The sheer volume of crumbling, intricate towers creates an incredibly mystical, ancient atmosphere.

The only way to reach Shwe Indein is by taking a long-tail motorboat across Inle Lake from the nearby tourist hub of Nyaung Shwe. Once the boat arrives at the mouth of a small canal, visitors must navigate the waterway up to the village. From there, a walk up a long, covered stairway lined with craft vendors leads to the main pagoda complex.

The earliest stupas at Shwe Indein were reportedly commissioned during the Bagan era by King Alaungsithu in the 12th century. Over the subsequent centuries, various local donors and wealthy patrons continuously added hundreds of new stupas to the site. This is why the architectural styles of the pagodas range drastically from ancient Bagan influences to more modern, gilded designs.