Destination
INLE LAKE
Inle Lake is the most famous scenic
spot in the Shan State. It is the second largest lake in
Myanmar. 22 km long, roughly 11 km wide, 875m above sea
level and outrageously beautiful. It has very calm
waters dotted with patch of floating vegetation and busy
fishing canoes. Inlay Lake is the residence of the Intha
People; one of the Shan hill tribes who can be found in
this area, the famous "Leg Rowers". They are well-known
for their rowing skills in having one leg locked along
the handle of the paddle, the other just standing on the
stern of the boat while keeping a perfect balance.
NYAUNG SHWE
NyaungShwe
is a small town at the north end of Inle Lake.
One can take a walk to nearby villages and countryside
and find the ruins of the old monasteries. This is also
the starting point of the trip into the Inle Lake.
KHAUNG DAING
Khaung Daing is the native village on
the northwestern shore of the lake. It is known for its
production of soybean cakes and noodles. There are some
interesting Shan Buddhist monuments just outside the
village. A little north of Khaung Daing is a hot spring
where you can take a bath.
Famous places on Inle Lake are:
YWAMA VILLAGE
The largest village on the lake with
beautiful houses built on large wooden poles driven into
the Lake Bed. You can see the famed floating market
according to the local five day market scheme. On market
day it is a traffic jam of tourist boats and souvenir
hawkers with a few local buyers.
PHAUNG DAW OO PAGODA
The holiest religious site for
Buddhists in the southern area of the Shan State. Five
images are enshrined in the center of the building, one
that attracts the Buddhists and the non-Buddhists alike.
As a result of over gilding with Gold leaf offerings,
the images have turned into solid ball of gold.
JUMPING CAT MONASTERY
A wooden monastery on stilts over the
lake, built four years before Mandalay Palace. The monks
trained their cats to leap through small hoops. It is
worth to visit for modest collection of Buddha images in
Shan, Tibetan, Bagan and Inwa styles. |