176EASTERN MYANMAR
THAZI TO INLE LAKE
Other Stupas
Downhill from the main cave on the dirt
path to Pone Taloke lake, the gorgeous Hsin
Khaung Taung Kyaung was constructed
from carved teak panels in the late 19th cen-
tury. The steps to the main cave start just
beyond the kyaung (monastery) – the path
is lined with ancient crumbling zedi.
At the north end of Pone Taloke Lake, the
Kan Tau Monastery features some heavily
restored stupas and a fi ne teak kyaung with
a large collection of antique buddha images
on ornate plinths. Treks
A few local guides lead day and overnight
treks in the area. Most head straight for
Yazag yi, an attractive and modern Palaung
village located in hilly tea-plantation coun-
try about fi ve hours’ walk from Pindaya.
Treks start at about $10 a day per person,
and experienced guides include U Myint
Thaung at Old Home Tour Information
Centre (p 177 ) and Soe Soe at Golden Cave
Hotel (p 176 ). z Festivals & Events
The main annual paya pwe (pagoda festi-
val) at Shwe Oo Min takes place on the full
moon of Tabaung (February/March). Expect
all the usual singing, dancing and hand-
operated fairground rides. 4 Sleeping
The only cheap option is in the town itself, a
20-minute walk from the caves.oPindaya Inle Inn BOUTIQUE HOTEL $$$
(%66029; http://www.pindayainleinn.com; Mahabandoola
Rd; r/chalets $45/100) Located at the entrance
to town, across the lake from Shwe Oo Min
Pagoda, this is a surprisingly sophisticated
place to stay – for a small town like Pindaya.
Rooms are set in either bamboo or stone cot-
tages in a lovingly tended garden centred on
a longhouse-style restaurant and bar.Conqueror Resort Hotel HOTEL $$$
(%66106; http://www.conquererresorthotel.com; bunga-
lows $55-80, ste $100;s) There isn’t a blade
of grass out of place at this immaculately
maintained resort hotel near the main en-
trance to the caves. Rooms are set in cottag-
es around a central restaurant and a large,
inviting pool. Choose from bamboo villas,
wooden stilt houses or stone chalets – all are
luxuriously appointed, with a TV, a minibar
and a stylish bathroom.Myit Phyar Zaw Gji Hotel HOTEL $
(%66403; 106 Zaytan Quarter; s/d $10/15) Next
to the market and close to the lake shore,
this is the closest Pindaya has to budget
accommodation. It’s tidy and friendly and
good value for money. Some rooms face the
lake.Golden Cave Hotel HOTEL $$
(%66166; http://www.goldencavehotel.com; r $20-35) A
warm welcome awaits at this unassuming
midrange hotel a short walk from the start
of the steps to the Shwe Oo Min cave. The
smarter superior rooms in the annexe have
balconies looking towards the caves, and are
also equipped with a TV and a minibar. 5 Eating
Most of Pindaya’s dining scene is very work-
aday. If you don’t require doilies with your
dinner, check out one of the options below,
otherwise you may want to stick with the
restaurants at Conqueror Resort Hotel or
Pindaya Inle Inn.Green Tea
Restaurant INTERNATIONAL, BURMESE $$
(mains K2000-7000; hlunch & dinner) Located
between the market and Shwe Oo Min Pa-
goda, this open-air dining room looking
over Pone Taloke Lake is defi nitely one of
the posher places in town to dine. The menu
spans several cuisines and the Myanmar
food is better than you’d expect from a place
like this. There are even a few local (Danu-
style) dishes on the menu.ALONG CAME A SPIDERAs you enter Pindaya, keep an eye out
for the offi cial town symbol – an archer
and a giant spider. According to legend,
seven princesses took refuge in Shwe
Oo Min cave during a storm, and were
imprisoned by an evil nat (spirit being)
in the form of a giant spider. Luckily for
them, Prince Kummabhaya of Nyaung-
shwe (Yaunghwe) was strolling nearby.
Hearing their pleas for help, the heroic
prince killed the spider with an arrow
and freed the princesses from the
cave. You can see some Disney-esque
sculptures of the spider and prince by
the entrance to the Shwe Oo Min cave
complex.