On the western bank of Inle Lake, in the heart of Myanmar’s jungles, lies the small village of Indein with hundreds of ancient pagodas of many shapes and sizes and in various states of ruin. Some of them have been restored, but most are in the crumbling state overgrown with bushes.

The village is reached only by boat through the Inn Thein creek, a long narrow foliage-cloaked canal that wind through the dense overgrowth. The scenic 8 kilometer boat ride from Inle Lake can be made only in the rainy season and winter, and not in summer as the water becomes too shallow.

There are two sets of pagodas around Indein — Nyaung Ohak and Shwe Inn Thein.

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