Inle Lake

Along the beautiful mountain lane way through by car from Heho airport takes about 40 minutes to Inlay Lake. The visitors appraise adorably as the "Venice of the East" to Inle Lake. With a population of over 100,000, an approximately 20-sq km long, a unique lake with outstanding beauty with its natural surrounding and the simple but extraordinary lifestyle of Intha allure the visitors' minds.

One of its many Unique features is the cultivation of floating gardens where various kind of flowers which can only be bloomed in Inlay weather as well as tomatoes the famous local product of Inlay, beans and cucumbers grow and the 5 days floating market in local villages are interesting sighting sports. The splendour of sunrise as well as the sunset gazing from this idyllic lake with the Shan mountain range as backdrop enchants all visitors. Every year, on the eve of the full moon day in October, 18 day's long annual Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda festival is held. The pagoda's most revered Buddha images are displayed on the grand golden Karaweik, a replica of the ancient Royal Barge, and are being taken to several villages around the lake.

Unlike other pagoda festivals in Myanmar, features the famous Inle Boat Races rowing by leg that attracts spectators from near and far. The races provide exciting additional entertainment and are well worth watching. Both men and women participate in the races with separate events for each. One of the exciting adventures around Inlay region is trekking and venture varying from day return easy expedition to over night hiking to remote villages in mountainous region where you can experience the warmly welcoming and can touch with their adorable simple daily life of some Shan tribes like Pao, Padaung, Taung Yoe and Danu.
Entrance fee: US $ 3

How to get there

Going to Heho by flight is the most convenient way and fly daily from Yangon, Bagan or Mandalay to Heho, which is the nearest airport to the lake. Flying from Mandalay to Heho, takes about 25 minutes. Traveling by car along the uphill and winding mountain road over the Shan Plateau is interesting and well-worth taking although it takes long hours. There is also a regular train service via Thazi Junction to Heho and Shwe Nyaung, the nearest station to the lake.

Boat trip on Inle Lake

Everything you see around Inlay Lake is filled with green and fresh as well as full of culturtorious scenery. Spending a fantastic day on motorized boat exploring around the floating market, pass through the floating flowers and vegetables gardens of the Intha tribes and in clear weather and breathing cool breeze, watch as the one leg rowers pull up their cylindrical shape nets  from the cool, clear emerald green waters below  lure one's heart. The other interesting sights are traditional Lotus and silk weaving cottage, silversmith and blacksmiths workshops, cheroot and Shan handicrafts popular brightly colored Shan cotton bags and natural dyed Shan trousers and shirts are best favorite of visitors.

Ywama

The largest village among 100 villages and of main 4 villages in Inlay Lake; its streets are a web of canals. There is some beautiful teak houses built on large wooden piles driven into the lake bed. The main activity and attraction is at the floating market in the large canal. The magnificent floating market is renowned. You can visit the goldsmith workshops; observe the sculpture and umbrella industries and Shan hand made paper.





Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda


The images curved from Tarakhan sandalwood from Sarilanka at the time of Bagan Dynasty. One of the famous principal shrines in Myanmar, this pagoda houses five small Buddah images, which are much revere by the lake-dwellers. Once a year, in late September – early October, there is a pagoda festival during which, four of the five Buddha images tour around the lake in a colorful barge.


Nga Phe Kyaung Monastery

One of an attractive wooden monastery in Inle lake, famous as "Cats Jumping Monastery" using about 150 to 200 pillars and built on stilts over the lake at the end of the 1850s. Aside from its collection of Buddha’s images at 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.

Environs

Indein

The Visitors compare this pagoda with the "Death Ankawott" in Cambodia. More than 1500 ruin pagodas; hide in the bushes will give you the impressions of that you were in the 12th -13th Centuries ago. The Passage way to the pagoda stand upright with 403 pillars which mysterious place is at the end of the marvelous Indein creek, which connected with Inle Lake. The creek is narrow with many twist and turns. Since the both sides are paddy fields you can see the farmers plough and harrowing water buffaloes. One of the small villages of Inle Lake located in the western bank of the. In the creek, the farmers dam up the water by bamboo barriers to irrigate the paddy fields. Indein creek is not only useful for irrigation also for bathing and washing cloths. It is compulsory to see Novice, monks, buffalo boys and village girls wash and swim in the creek.

Saga

It is a ruined royal capital with ancient monasteries and Pagodas at the southern end of Inle Lake, in a beautiful, isolated setting far from villages. Walk through this quiet village, talk to the villagers and visit the remains of some old pagodas. Not much has changed over the centuries. You may also stop a local rice wine distillery.

16th centaury hidden treasure an unusual, magnificent collection of Buddhist Stupas unheard of by historians and unlisted in guide book lies in the deepest Pa-oh territory, 26 miles south of Taunggyi the capital of Shan State. Pa O legend says there lays more than 7622 stupas almost all are decorated with Floral designs or figures of celestial beings or bird-men, now the remains of about 2000 in a site closely packed together in ranks covering an area of approximately a square kilometer apparently unknown to outside world. The land route for tour groups starting fro Taunggyi is possible and accessible for all year round and from Inle Lake, possible only in the open season from late October to early May or before heavy rain falls.A week long, annual Kakku Pagodas festival also draws thousands of visitors from all parts of the Shan State.
Entrance fees: US $ 3+ Guide: US $ 5