Inlay Lake

This vast lake is located in the heart of Shan State which shares borders with Thai & Laos. And it climbs up to over 900 metres above sea level and outrageously beautiful. Inle Lake is located in the mountains so it is cooler than other areas. More than 30 hill tribes are living in the mountains.

This vast picturesque lake, 900 metres above sea-level, is one of the main tourist attractions in Myanmar. The lake, 22 km long and 10 km across, has a population of some 150,000, many of whom live on floating islands of vegetation. Inle Lake, natural and unpolluted, is famous for its scenic beauty and the unique leg-rowing of the Inthas, the native lake dwellers.

Inle Lake, natural and unpolluted, is famous for its scenic beauty and the unique leg rowing of the Inthas, the native lake dwellers. High hills rim the lake on both sides. The lakeshore and lake islands bear 17 villages on stilts, mostly inhabited by the Intha people.

Sightseeing in Inlay Lake

Phaungdawoo pagoda

One of the famous principal shrines in Myanmar, this pagoda houses five small Buddha images. Once a year, in end Sept-early Oct., there is a pagoda festival during which the five Buddha images are rowed around the Lake in a colourful barge.

Shwe Indein Pagoda

It is one of the small villages of Inle Lake located on the western bank of the lake. A Buddha image has enshrined at a whitewashed stupa, which is on the summit of a hill. Below the stupa around the hill are cluster of hundreds of ancient stupas most are ruins overgrown with bushes. The pagoda hill is quiet and calm.

Nga Phe Kyaung Monastery

This is an attractive wooden monastery built on stilts over the lake at the end of the 1850s. Aside from its collection of Buddhas the monastery may be of interest to visit because its monks have taught a few of the many cats living with them to jump through hoops. 25 minutes boat ride to visit and ancient monastery built on huge pieces of teak wood with traditional architecture and see the popular jumping cats leap through the hoops.

Ywama Village

The largest village on the Inlay Lake; its streets are a web of canals. There are some beautiful teak houses built on large wooden poles driven into the Lake bed. The main activity and attraction is at the floating market In the largest canal. You can visit the goldsmith workshops, observe the sculpture and umbrella industries.

Around Inlay Lake

Kakku Pagodas

One of the Asia's largest and most spectacular ancient monuments is a wonderful Pagoda named Kakku. It contains over 2,000 stupas with origins dating back many centuries. Its exists not only as an outstanding example of tradition art and architecture but also as a testament to the religious devotion of one of Myanmar's many ethnic minorities, the Pa-Oh.

Taunggyi

Taunggyi is situated in the southern Shan State and is the capital town of Shan States. It is 4,712 feet above the sea level and has a moderate climate. It is situated on a high plateau surrounded by high mountains.

The most significant festival in Taunggyi is the Tazaungdine Lighting Festival. During this festival, hot-air balloon competitions are held. In such competitions, balloons with dangling fire-works, multicoloured lights and parachutes are released. This traditional festival has been held annually for the last 60 years or more. The beauty of Taunggyi and its environs can be viewed from top of the many mountains surrounding the town.

Kalaw

Kalaw stands high on the western edge of the Shan Plateau. This was a popular hill station in the British days and it is still a peaceful and quiet place. At an altitude of 1320 m it is also pleasantly cool and a good place for hiking amid gnarled pines, bamboo groves and rugged mountain scenery. A former colonial British hill station, this small-town offers cool temperatures and plenty of trekking opportunities.

Pindaya

Pindaya is a small quiet town perched on the bank of the placid Botoloke Lake. Pindaya cave is a huge cavern where hundreds and thousands of Buddha images in various size and shape are installed since the 11th century. The winding galleries and nooks and corners are ideal places of insight meditation since the olden days. Huge monastery compounds with numerous pagodas and temples in different stages of dilapidation are much respected by such ethnic groups as the Shans, Danus and Paos living in the environs of Pindaya.

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