The Lawkananda stands on a bluff above the Ayeyarwady River at the southern end of the Bagan plain, its white stupa gleaming over the water. Built by King Anawrahta in the 11th century, it was designed to be visible to passing river traffic — a beacon of Theravada Buddhism at the edge of his kingdom.
The pagoda is still an active pilgrimage site and is busy with Burmese Buddhists throughout the year. The setting is the main draw: the views up and down the Ayeyarwady are excellent, and the late afternoon light on the white stupa and the river below makes it one of the more photogenic spots in the area. Riverboats from Mandalay and Pyay pass in front of it on their way upriver.