Kakku Pagodas
ကက္ကူ
A sacred site of the Pa-O people, with more than 2,000 pagodas densely arranged in a forest and wind bells ringing. It is the most awe-inspiring Buddhist site in Shan State.
Kakku lies in the mountains about 40 km south of Taunggyi and is guarded by the Pa-O people. Its roughly 2,478 pagodas stand in orderly rows, traditionally said to have been founded in the 3rd century BCE under King Ashoka, though most of those that survive were built between the 16th and 18th centuries. The plaster reliefs on the pagodas are finely crafted, and the bells hanging from the spires ring in the wind. Visits must be accompanied by a local Pa-O guide, arranged at the Pa-O office in Taunggyi or at the entrance; fees vary on site. A hired car from Nyaungshwe takes about 2 hours one way, and the trip is often combined with Taunggyi in a single day.
Opening hours
About 06:00–18:00
Nearby sights
- Inle Heritage House
- Maing Thauk
- In Paw Khone Weaving Village
- Floating Gardens
- Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda
- Nga Phe Kyaung
- Ywama Village & Floating Market
- Intha Leg-rowing Fishermen