Inle Lake and Environs

Inle Lake, located on Shan state, the largest province of country, can be reached from Yangon, Mandalay, or Bagan by air, or car. For instance, it takes one hour flight or 12 hours long-trip by car for 450km from north-east of Yangon.

It is beautiful and natural Lake, 950 meters above sea level, 22km long and 8km large at maximum width, is a magical place, where extraordinary ways of life belong to principal population named Intha, have been flourished, and surrounded by mountainous areas of floral diversities. Cool and dry air always covers this scenic place where typical floating villages and floating garden beds, for varieties of plantations, built fantastically since centuries. The unique way of rowing by leg, fishing by big net made of bamboo, are still using. Colorful markets with hill tribes in the days of activities which are held once in five days around the Lake, famous cottage industries such as silversmith and blacksmith, silk-weaving, pottery, and lacquerware, must be visited on the Lake.

Major Highlights

• PhaungDawOo Pagoda

It is one of Myanmar's most important religious monuments while the old Ngaphe Chaung monastery is one of Myanmar's most beautiful religious buildings where the collection of Buddha images and thrones in varied styles, shapes, and ages. Traverse among the floating gardens, in the floating villages by observing their unique life-style, by saying hello to children, also great chance for very memorable photos, until the last rays of beautiful sunset waited and seen from the boats, being allocated in the central part of the Lake.

• Environs of Inle

Next visit, on the west bank of Inle Lake, is Indein village where the ruins of stupas damaged severally by earthquakes remain as unique attractive focus for the visitors. The boat trip along the creek, Indein Chaung, is very recreational. Sagar, a village in the south of Lake, comes recently popular for the historical background of Shan Royalty, with Buddhist religious complex, especially fabulous landscapes with floating villages in series along the boat trip for two hours, gives an image of rare and natural environment. Kakku is a hidden treasure, three hours drive from Taunggyi- the capital of Shan State, with unusual collection of ancient pagodas. More than 2,000 stupas sheltered in a small area of just one square kilometer, surrounded by mountains and forests. It is a heart- place of main inhabitants, Pa-oh tribe.

Some destinations of local interests, apart from Inle Lake, firstly, are Kalaw and Pindaya. The former was British hill resort and about 1300 meters above sea level. The cool mountain air, pine forests and ethnic minority villages make for good trekking in and around its area. The road from Kalaw to Pindaya, is very scenic with panoramic mountain views, colorful plantations with red soil and small huts along hill slopes.

Pindaya is famous for its natural caves carved out of a limestone ridge overlooking a lake, which house over 8,000 gold-covered Buddha images and for small cottage factories of bamboo-umbrella, which are remarkable visits.