INLE LAKE

Inle Lake, the jewel of Shan State, is a great tourist destination. This vast, beautiful and picturesque lake, sheltered around the hazy blue mountains of 1524 meters, stretches 22 km long and 10 km wide. The lake itself is about 900 meters above sea-level. It is famous for its lake-dwellers who row with one leg locked around a long oar and the other foot firmly gripping the flat stern of the boat. In fact, it is a water-world of surprises; gardens, houses and whole villages float the main highway is the lake itself and complete with sign posts and mile markers. The Inthas ( the lake- dwellers of Inle ) as they called themselves fish and farm on floating islands that they create themselves. They also excel as silversmiths, Carpenters and as weavers of cotton and silk. To really experience the lake culture, you have to get around on a boat and wander through the villages, floating farms, etc. Nyaung Shwe is the main town and gateway to Inle Lake. It is situated on the edge of the lake and the most convenient place to base.

WHAT TO SEE ON INLE LAKE

                                                       Ywama Village

The largest village on the Inle Lake; its streets are a web of canals. There are some beautiful teak houses built on large wooden poles drives into the lake bed. The main activity and attraction is at the site of a daily floating markets.

Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda

Ywama is also the location of famous Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda, which has five small Buddha images the holiest religious site in Southern Shan State. Its Festival annually takes place, in and September-early October, when its Buddha images are rowed around the lake in a decorated barge which is towed by a number of leg-rowers.

Nga Phe Kyaung Monastery

It is a beautiful old teak building completely surrounded by water and floating gardens. It is better known as " Jumping Cat Monastery " as the resident monks have trained cats to leap through a small hoop whenever a curious visitor arrives.

WHAT TO SEE AROUND INLAY LAKE

Taunggyi

It is situated in the Northern Shan Plateau and is the Capital of Shan State. Taunggyi lies at an altitude of 1430 meters above sea level and overlooking the watery basin of Inlay Lake. It is about 27 Km away from Inlay Lake. It is a hill station, cool and pleasant all the year round and the area is colorful with lovely flowers, pine trees and green orchards. The major attraction of Taunggyi is its market. The market on every fifth day is crowded with minorities in their colorful traditional dresses. Another special feature of Taunggyi is the six-day, six-night long hot-air balloon competition which is held in November during Tazaungdaing Festival. Another attraction is the Ancrent Ketku Pagodas. It is one and a half hour drive (42 Km ) from Taunggyi. Among the Pao Tribal, there lies an ancient city of Pagodas , like bamboo shoots are prickly studded and which some are ruined. Legend describes that the first Zedis (Stupas) were built by Alaung Sithu, the 12th century King of Bagan. In the past, there were more than four hundred thousand Stupas, and at present about four hundred stupas can be seen in Ketku. This place is now becoming one of the Tourist attraction in Shan Sate.

Kalaw

Kalaw, another beautiful hill station, is 1400 meters above sea-level and 70 km west of Taunggyi. It is a cool and quiet provincial town laying under the tall and fragrant pines. There are Palaung villages nearby and hill tribes people in their colorful costumes can be seen at Kalaw market held every five day. It is the starting point for many interesting treks to surrounding Palaung ethnic villages.

Pindaya

About 38 km drive from Kalaw is Pindaya town, 1200 km above the sea level. The road from Kalaw to Pindaya passes through countryside of magnificent scenic beauty, the Pa-O and Dam villages. Pindaya itself is a centre for the Myanmar-speaking Taung-yo people. Local Taung-yo people still keep their handicrafts Shan paper and parasols made from mulberry bark. The town is famous for picturesque Boutaloke Lake and limestone caves.

Pindaya Cave

THE ANCIENT KAKKU PAGODAS :

One and a half hour drive (42 km) from Taunggyi to Kakku. Among the Pao Tribal villages, there lies an ancient city of Pagodas, like bamboo shoots are prickly studded and which some are ruined. Legend describes that the first Zedis(stupas) were built by Alaung Sithu, the 12th century King of Bagan. In the past there were more than four hundred thousand Stupas, and at present about four hundred Stupas can be see in Kakku. Some sitting stupas are decorated with fine glass mosaic and some are with fine plaster carvings. This place is now becoming one of the Tourist attraction in Shan State.

TREKING TO PALAUNG VILLAGE :

It takes two hours (short way) or four hours through the hills to the village of the Palaung tribe. At first a steep track leads down into a narrow valley where the Palaung cultivate cheroot, tea, damsons and mangoes on the hillsides. The track acrosses the valley floor and then climbs very steeply again to the Palaung village of Pinnabin, which sits on top of a hill. The village has an interesting long houses for eight families. Observe tribal village life and how the Palaung people drying cheroot in a specially designed oven. The Palaung originate from Mon-Khmer stock. They mainly live in the mountains and are mostly Buddhist.                                                       top