According to a local legend, the great ruler of the Maurya Empire and a passionate adherent of the Buddhist religion, Emperor Ashoka, did not want anything but the spread of Buddhism throughout the world. During the reign of his dynasty, a record number of wonderful architectural monuments were built, including 84 thousand sacred pagodas. It is believed that part of these original works of art, perfectly preserved to these days, became the basis of the world-famous complex of the Kakku Pagodas.

About 2500 Buddhist pagodas of different forms and sizes from white to bright orange adorn picturesque green hills in the vicinity of well-known Inle Lake. Most of them were erected in the 16th-18th centuries. But there are even older constructions of the reign of the third great King Alaungsithu who ruled the ancient, powerful Pagan Kingdom in the 12th century located in modern Myanmar. However, some sources claim that the oldest pagodas are over 2000 years old and were built in the 3rd century BC by Emperor Ashoka, as the ancient, mysterious legend says. Unfortunately, numerous earthquakes often destroyed beautiful Buddhist cultural monuments. Most of them managed to survive and stay preserved to this day.

At the top of 40-meter high Buddhist pagodas, there are thousands of small bells. They create a unique fabulous chime as the wind blows and mesmerize with their sounds like a magic flute. This fantastic musical performance has turned the Kakku Pagodas Complex into a desirable retreat for deep meditation. Every spring, on the Tabaunga full moon (the twelfth and final month of the traditional Burmese calendar), it hosts an international pagodas festival. During nine days, various cultural and spiritual events take place here: from traditional dances to spiritual practices accompanied by legendary gurus from around the world.