To travel here is to encounter men wear

185

INLE LAKE

SIGHTS

EASTERN MYANMAR

SIGHTS

EASTERN MYANMAR

THE LAKE

From 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
=:"fy'ekY;='"
(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
râCm
(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

efC='etC'W".urC"

(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.

Route

Trekking

Trail

Walk

ing

Sankar (10mi)

Kyaing Kan (1.2mi);

Kyauk Taung (1.2mi);

(37mi)

To Kalaw

To Thaung Tho (1mi);

Khone

Thandaung

Chaing Kham

Tha Lay

Kyaung

Thaung Tho

Naung Taw

Nampan

In Phaw

Inthein

Ingyingon

Thale U

Ywama Zayatkyi

Kanywa

Kaung Daing

Maing Thauk

Sizon

Nanthe

Nyaungshwe

Monastery

Forest

Pyi Pagoda

Hsu Taung

Nan Aung

Monastery)

Gardens

Floating

Alodaw Pauk

Pagoda

Yan Aung

Thein Paya

Shwe Inn

Ohak

Nyaung

Paya

Daw Oo

(Jumping Cat

Phaung

Inleh Bo Teh

Nga Hpe Kyaung

Lake

Inle

Hot Springs

Tha

Inn

Resort

Resort

Shwe

Inn Thar Lay

Inle Resort

Paradise

Sky Lake,

Inle Lake View

Inle

Inle Princess

Cottages Thale U

Golden Island

Cottages Nampan

Golden Island

Resort

Daing Village

Inle Khaung

Hu Pin Hotel

Inle Lake^00 2 miles4 km