|
|
|
Southern
Shan State
Inle Lake:
|
| This vast and picturesque lake is situated in the
hilly Shan State in the eastern part of Myanmar. With an
elevation of 900 meters above sea-level, it is one of
the main tourist attractions in Myanmar. The lake, 22 km
long and 10 km wide, 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. Moreover, floating villages,
colorful daily floating market and Inle Spa are places
worthy of visit. The festival of Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda in
Inle Lake held during October is full of pageantry and
colorful splendor. |
Inle Lake
|
How to get there:
The most convenient way is to fly from Yangon, Bagan or
Mandalay to Heho, which is the nearest airport to the
lake. There are daily flights to Heho. If you are flying
from Mandalay to Heho, it takes only 20 minutes.
Traveling by car along the uphill and winding 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. |
What to see
Ywama:
The largest village on the Inlay Lake; its streets are a
web of canals. There are 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 largest canal. It is to the North West of
our hotel. By boat, it will take 15 minutes. The
magnificent floating market is renowned. You can visit
the goldsmith workshops, observe the sculpture and
umbrella industries. |
Ywama
|
Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda:
One of the famous principal shrines in Myanmar, this
pagoda houses five small Buddha images, which are much
revered 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. |
Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda
|
Indein:
One of the small villages of Inle Lake located on the
western bank of the lake. The ruin pagodas, hide in the
bushes will give you an impression of you were in the
12th - 13th Centuries ago. This mysterious place is at
the end of the marvellous Indein creek, which connected
with Inle Lake just after the Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda. The
creek is narrow with many twist and turns. Since the
both sides are paddy fields you can see the farmers
ploughing and harrowing by water buffaloes. At the lunch
time while groups of farmers having lunch the water
buffaloes enjoy themselves dipping in the creek. At many
places in the creek the farmers dam up the water by
bamboo barriers to irrigate the paddy fields. Indein
water 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. |
Indein
|
Mine Thauk Market
A large and bustling market where you can find a real
local atmosphere with a variety of produce from the
lake.
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.
|
Mine Thauk Market
|
ENVIRONS:
Taunggyi:
Over 1,430 meters above sea-level, is the capital of
Shan State in the eastern part of Myanmar. A hill
station known for its scenic beauty, Taunggyi is cool
and pleasant all the year round.
There are pines, cherry and eucalyptus trees growing all
over the town and the whole area is green and pleasant.
The busiest part of Taunggyi is the Myoma Market, a
place where people from the environs used to flock only
once every five days to buy and sell their regional
products. Now it has become a daily market and is
constantly crowded with people. It is also the gathering
point of different national races residing in Taunggyi.
Another interesting place to visit in Taunggyi is the
Cultural Museum where cultural objects, musical
instruments, traditional dresses, household and farm
implements, paintings, sculptures, arts and crafts of
the different national races residing in Shan State can
be seen. There are also 'Hawnans" (palatial
residences) where the Shan Sawbwas (Shan Chieftains)
used to live can also be observed.
|
Taunggyi
|
Balloon Festival in Taunggyi:
In Taunggyi, the capital city of the Shan State, the
people celebrate the Tazaungdine festival with Kahtein
(offering of monk robes) as well as the releasing up
fire-balloons into the sky. Balloons in the shape of
elephant, ox, horse, water-buffalo, bird, pig, fish, owl
and parrot are released. The Taunggyi festival is the
biggest festival in the country. It is attended not only
by Taunggyi Citizens but also by people from southern
Shan State and many different races. Taungyi's Kahtein
tradition is amazing and worthy of reverence. |
Balloon Festival in
Taunggyi
|
Kekku:
A hidden treasure an unusual, magnificent collection
of Buddhist Stupas unheard of by historians and unlisted
in guide books lies in the deepest Pa-oh territory, 26
miles south of Taunggyi the capital of Shan State. There
lies more than 2000 stupas in a site closely packed
together in ranks covering an area of approximately a
square kilometer apparently unknown to outside world.
Kekku area is covered and scattered by Pa-oh villages
especially stretching along on both sides of the main
road from north to south.
The land route for tour groups starting from Taunggyi is
possible and accessible for all year round. But tours
originated from Inle Lake are considered to be possible
only in the open season from late October to early May
or before heavy rain falls.
The yearly religious festival normally takes about one
week. The climax of this festival usually falls on full
moon of the Tabaung (Mid-March) every year. The Kekku
pagodas festival also draws thousands of visitors from
all parts of the Shan State. |
Kekku
|
Kalaw:
Kalaw, another hill station as well as peaceful summer
resort nestled in pine-clad mountains, is 1,400 meters
above sea-level. It is located 70 km west of Taunggyi.
Many of the Tudor-style houses and English gardens of
colonial days remain. In the neighborhood lie villages
of Palaung and other hill tribes who come to Kalaw
market held every five days in their colorful costumes,
adding to the quiet attraction of Kalaw.
Kalaw is a good place for hiking amid gnarled pines,
bamboo groves and rugged mountain scenery. You can walk
from Kalaw to Inle Lake in 2 to 3 days and stay
overnight at local houses. |
Kalaw
|
Pindaya Caves:
Pindaya is a small quiet town perched on the bank of
the palcid Botoloke Lake. Pindaya cave is a huge cavern
where hundreds and thoundsands 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. |
Pindaya Caves
|
| | |
Vietnam
Add to Favorites
Make Home Page