185INLE LAKESIGHTSEASTERN MYANMARSIGHTSEASTERN MYANMARTHE LAKEFrom Nyaung Ohak, a covered stairway
climbs the hill, fl anked by stalls selling lac-
querware, puppets and other souvenirs –
quality is high but so are the prices. At the
top is Shwe Inn Thein Paya, a complex of
1054 weather-beaten zedi, most constructed
in the 17th and 18th centuries. Some of the
zedi lean at crazy angles while others have
been reconstructed (courtesy of donations
from local Buddhists), which may ultimately
be the fate of the whole complex. From the
pagoda, there are great views across the lake
and valley. For even better views, there are
two more ruined stupas on conical hills
just north of the village, reached via a dirt
path behind Nyaung Ohak. You could eas-
ily spend a few hours exploring the various
ruins here.
Part of the fi ve-day inshore circuit, the
market (see p 183 ) at Inthein is one of the
biggest and liveliest in the area.
Nga Hpe Kyaung
(Jumping Cat Monastery) BUDDHIST TEMPLE
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(Map p 185 ) On the eastern side of the lake, the
Nga Hpe Kyaung is famous for its jumping
cats, trained to leap through hoops by the
monks during the slow hours between scrip-
ture recitals. The monks seem happy to put
on a cat-jumping show for visiting tourists
and the cats get treats for their eff orts, so
they seem fairly happy too. But don’t expect
a show when the monks are eating or medi-
tating. A better reason to visit the pagoda is
to see the collection of ancient buddha im-
ages. Constructed four years before Manda-
lay Palace, the huge wooden meditation hall
has statues in the Shan, Tibetan, Bagan and
Inwa (Ava) styles displayed on ornate wood
and mosaic pedestals.
Ywama VILLAGE
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(Map p 185 ) Ywama was the fi rst village to be
developed for tourism and, as a result, it has
the greatest number of souvenir shops and
restaurants. It’s still a very pretty village,
with winding channels lined with tall teak
houses, but the charm can be diminished
by the crowds of tourist boats and paddling
souvenir vendors.
The main attraction at Ywama is the fa-
mous fl oating market (see boxed text p 183 ),
though this has also been a victim of its
own success. Held once every fi ve days, the
market is a traffi c jam of tourist boats and
souvenir hawkers, with a few local farmers
peddling vegetables in among the crowds.Phaung Daw Oo Paya BUDDHIST TEMPLE
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(Map p 185 ; camera/video fee K200/300) A wide
channel leads south from Ywama to the vil-
lage of Tha Ley and Phaung Daw Oo Paya,
the holiest religious site in southern Shan
State. Enshrined within the huge tiered pa-
goda are fi ve ancient buddha images that
have been transformed into amorphous
blobs by the sheer volume of gold leaf ap-
plied by devotees. During the annual
Phaung Daw Oo festival (p 194 ), the images
are paraded around the lake in an ornate
barge shaped like a hintha. Local families
often bring their children here as part of the
ordination rites for the sangha (Buddhist
brotherhood) – a fascinating spectacle if you
happen to be there at the right time.RouteTrekkingTrailWalkingSankar (10mi)Kyaing Kan (1.2mi);Kyauk Taung (1.2mi);(37mi)To KalawTo Thaung Tho (1mi);KhoneThandaungChaing KhamTha LayKyaungThaung ThoNaung TawNampan
In PhawIntheinIngyingonThale UYwama ZayatkyiKanywaKaung DaingMaing ThaukSizonNantheNyaungshweMonasteryForestPyi PagodaHsu TaungNan AungMonastery)GardensFloatingAlodaw Pauk
PagodaYan AungThein PayaShwe InnOhakNyaungPayaDaw Oo(Jumping CatPhaungInleh Bo TehNga Hpe KyaungLakeInleHot SpringsThaInnResortResortShweInn Thar LayInle ResortParadiseSky Lake,Inle Lake View
InleInle PrincessCottages Thale UGolden IslandCottages NampanGolden IslandResortDaing VillageInle KhaungHu Pin HotelInle Lake^00 2 miles4 km