The heart art of Shan State is located about 30km to Taunggyi and surrounded by beautiful mountains. It is a beautiful highland lake, 900 meters above sea level. The lake is 22km long and 10km across and inhabited by many different ethnic groups of the area. The floating market, the floating farm and the unique leg-rowers (Inthar), Inle traditional style of fishing are very interesting.
Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda and Market
Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda is very famous for its annual festival, the Buddha images wander around the village in the lake. The Market is adjacent to the Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda. You can buy local and lake products, handicrafts and souvenirs. You can observe traditional ways of life of tribes.
Inthar Stilt House in Inle lake
Inle Lake is the home of some 80,000 Inthars, native lake dwellers, in 17 villages. Many Inthars live in their huts and wooden bungalows on floating islands, while some live by the villages lakeshore, Most houses are built on water and wood frames are washed with crude oil. There are five-day rotating markets around Inle lake villages, Local people around the lake buy and sell on boats. It is a traditional interesting floating market to see Inthars way of life.
Floating Gardens
The native people, Inthars, grow vegetables on floating islands which are a collection of floating weed and water hyacinth. These floating islands can be cut, dragged by boats and even be sold like a piece of land. Floating gardens can be found mostly in Kay lar, Inchan, and Zayatgyi villages.
Alo Taw Pauk Pagoda
Alo Taw Pauk Pagoda which is situated in the village of Nan Pan is said to have been built by King Asoka. Its ancient handicraft and architecture can be studied there.
Nga Phe Chaung Monastery (Jumping cats Monastery)
Nga Phe Chaung monastery was built on stilts of Inle Lake, about 2 centuries ago, Century-old wooden sculptures and may collections of ancient pagodas can see there.
Shwe In dein Pagoda
One of the 17 small villages of Inle Lake, is on the west end. Visitors have to take a 5km boat ride from Ywama village, which is next to Nyaung Shwe. A Buddha image is enshrined inside a whitewashed stupa, on the summit of a hill. Below the stupa around the hill is a cluster of hundreds of ancient stupas.
Sakar Village (Samkar Village)
Sakar is a ruined royal capital with ancient monasteries and pagodas at the southern end of Inle Lake, a beautiful, isolated setting far from villages. It was built in 1479 and the population is about 1300.
Trekking in Pindaya-Kalaw and the surrounding hills
On the mountain ranges around Kalaw are the villages where trekking is an experience that varies from one day to five days. Study the traditional customs of the Palaung people in Taraw village, a tourist attraction which has kept its ancient look. The sight of tea plantations, other seasonal crops, and quiet walking trails are there. Trekking along the path from Kalaw to Inle Lake is even more interesting. Enjoy the authentic natural scenery of Inle Lake which leads to the Kakku Pagoda complex.
Green Hill Valley Elephant Camp with Re-plantation
Green Hill Valley Elephant Camp situated one hour drive from Kalaw. They have two types of programs focusing on environmental sustainability to reforestation, taking care of Elephants, elephant riding and walking trails around the beautiful valley. Click here for more information on Green Hill Valley Elephant Camp.
