Nyaung Ohak – the surreal jungle-village of crumbling temples
While it may not be one of the most popular travel destinations worldwide, Myanmar is definitely one of the most magical countries. Here, right next to the Inle Lake, lies an impressive series of history sightseeing objectives that would make anybody feel like they are part of a fairytale. Even though it is somehow difficult to reach this place, its unique combination of history, complex architecture and nature is worth the effort.
After riding the boat for approximately one hour over the calm local waters, visitors have to walk by the quiet, small village of Indein. Women washing clothes, children running around ruins and people of all ages selling souvenirs make out of this settlement a beautiful place with a calm atmosphere. Still, the best is yet to come. As they get closer to the crumbling old temples, tourists can enjoy the local floating market, where they can purchase fish and fresh vegetables. Also, here are a couple of renewed temples which are painted in white. After a short comparison between the new and the old temples, it is easily noticeable that the architecture of the new ones has certain contemporary influences – even so, the buildings are unforgettable.
Finally, the best is saved for last. After taking a stroll through the local market, visitors get to the most breathtaking architectural wonders which are at least a couple of centuries old. As they have never been renovated, several temples crumbled down over the years and special types of local plants grew on top of them. The details of every temple and the various representations of Buddha reflect the culture of those times, as well as the impressive abilities of people back in the day.
To conclude, this rarely-encountered mix of extremely detailed architectural constructions with pointed roves, interesting history and fresh air provided by the jungle provides any visitor with a memorable experience.
Images by James Charlick/Flickr, PPana, J Charlick, Artano, A Thompson, Abella, Shaun Dunphy, J Navarro.
UnusualPlaces Field Notes
- Location
- Nyaung Ohak Pagodas, Indein, Inle Lake, Shan State, Myanmar
- Coordinates
- 20.4594695, 96.841685
- Access
- Nyaung Ohak is a pagoda group at Indein, reached from Inle Lake by boat through the narrow canal west of Ywama when water levels permit; the Myanmar government guide says motorized boats from Nyaung Shwe are the usual way around the lake. The map point is the pagodas, not a landing. Conditions and local movement rules can change: on 26 October 2026 the UK FCDO advised against all but essential travel to Shan State South and East, and Australia advised against travel to Myanmar. Check your own government’s current advice and local restrictions before considering travel.
- Admission
- No current official admission tariff could be confirmed. A Myanmar tourism e-guide published in 2019 lists camera and video fees of 300 kyat each for the Nyaung Ohak and Shwe Inn Thein pagoda sites; this may be outdated and is not a verified current entry price. Confirm local arrangements before visiting.
- Time needed
- No reliable current site-specific visit duration was found. Treat it as a stop within an Indein boat itinerary; boat travel and any onward walk to Shwe Inn Thein are additional and depend on route and water conditions.
- Best season
- No current site-specific best-season guidance was found. Myanmar’s tourism ministry gives November–February as a general cool, dry-season recommendation for much of the country, but this is not an Indein-specific guarantee. The government says the boat canal is usable when water levels permit; check local conditions and current travel advisories.
- Opening hours
- A Myanmar tourism e-guide published in 2019 lists 08:00–18:00 for the pagoda sites at Indein. No current official schedule was located, so treat those hours as historical guidance and confirm locally before planning a visit.
- Location checked
- 2026-09-26
- Facts checked
- 2026-10-26
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