Unique Things to Do Around Inle Lake

An Introduction to Inle Lake

Located in the Western Shan State, Inle Lake is the second largest lake in Myanmar and remains a unique cultural nexus for the country. The large, shallow lake is bordered by rounded mountains, dense forests and incredible biodiversity.

However, the most unique feature of Inle Lake is it’s authentic culture and preserved lake-civilization. Inle Lake is notorious for it’s floating villages, houses on stilts, boat-life culture, floating markets and water-gardens. These are all prominent aspects of life for the local Intha people.

Visitors traveling to Inle Lake can skirt the edges of the massive water feature, visiting villages, ruins and temples along the sides. Or they can utalize various boats and water taxis to access floating houses and neighborhoods over the waters.

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General Advice for Myanmar/Burma

Myanmar/Burma gained its independence from the British Empire.  However, the British Commonwealth didn’t dissolve vehicular contracts upon giving up government control.  So even though Myanmar laws have people driving on the RIGHT side of the road (like Americans) all vehicles have the steering wheel on the RIGHT side (like the UK).  This creates a rather large blind spot, so long road trips need a “spotter” in the left passenger seat to safely pass other vehicles.  

The easiest way to traverse Myanmar internally is with the bus system.  The buses in Myanmar require noise-canceling headphones and blindfolds.  Many of the buses are pleasant, quiet and air conditioned, but others are repurposed “party buses.” Trains are also a good, cheap travel option.

Myanmar has a confluence of religions, all of which are quite conservative.  When entering sacred sites, including mountains where nats (god-like polytheistic spirts) shoes must be removed and long skirts must cover the legs of both men and women.  

Myanmar is very cheap to visit and stay.  Lodging costs are extremely affordable and food is cheap, though not terribly healthy.  The rainy season creates many road-washouts, so expect considerable delays while driving.  

General Advice for Inle Lake

When travelling to Inle Lake, you will probably want to head for the town of Nyaung Shwe lying just to the north of the actual lake itself, where the overwhelming majority of guesthouses, hotels, restaurants, shops and other facilities are found.

Getting to Nyaung Shwe can be done by Train, Bus or Plane. Trains are somewhat slower, but quite scenic. Buses are somewhat faster, but they can be noisy with movies and “party” lights. Planes are swiftest, with arrivals entering at the Heho airport. Taxis from Heho to Nyaung Shwe are expensive, so it’s best to split it with other travelers.

It’s best to visit Inle Lake from October to February. This is the dry season, which makes travel easier and the weather is generally cooler. Additionally, the famous Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda Festival occurs around September and October. This exciting event takes place across the lake.

To get around the vast lake area, bicycle rentals or water taxis should be sufficient. They’re fairly cheap and the price is negotiable. Some boats are willing to take bikes across the lake as well, so visitors can “mix and match” their transportation choices.

Short List of Things to Do at Inle Lake

Song of Travel – A peaceful and well-equipped hostel which boasts great sky views.  The building is in the shape of a giant speaker.

Aung’s Marionette Puppet Show – This somewhat creepy small theater has operated for decades, showing traditional handmade puppets performing all sorts of culturally-relevant stories in 30-minute shows.

Phaung Daw Oo Paya – Located in a channel from Ywama to Than Lay, this is considered to be the most important religious building in the Shan State.  It’s famous for the image of the five gold-leaf Buddha images, a sign of deep devotion.

Inle Lake Paddling – In days before Myanmar’s pseudo-Industrialization, Inle Lake was traversed with unique fishing boats which used a “snake-foot” paddle method. 

Shwe Yan Pyay Monastery – A extremely picturesque monastery made of red teakwood with cats and active monks. 

Nyang Ohak – A series of ancient, crumbling stupas nearly reclaimed entirely by the surrounding jungle.  

Nyaungshwe – The northernmost village of Inle Lake, many supplies and services can be purchased here.  This is where most of the lake’s lodgings and facilities exist.

 Bamboo Hut – A unique restaurant used to support and view local farming communities.  The dishes are traditionally made and delicious.

Red Mountain Vineyard and Winery – A winery on a risen hill with impressive views.  This is one of the best vineyards in the region.  

Five Day Market – The traditional floating market of the lake, it switches between five locations daily. 

Shwe Indein Pagodas (100 Pagodas) – A site with hundreds of pagodas in various states of repair and ruin located outside of Shwe Indein.

Nyaung Shwe, Heho, Taunggyi, Minethauk, Shwe Nyaung – Five of the major floating and shoreside towns around the lake.  These villages host the Five Day Floating Market once per week.  

Jumping Cat Monastery – Nga Hpe Kyaung – One of the most famous attraction at the lake, cats are trained to perform by jumping through hoops

Hpaung Daw U Festival – A famous floating festival which takes place in September or October.

Aung Mingalar Pagoda – An beautiful series of white pagodas built beside a like near Ywama Village.

Thanakha Powder – A powder worn locally as sunscreen. It’s made from the ground bark of several native trees.

Htat Eian Cave Temple – A narrow cave area with walls decorated with many seated, golden Buddha statues.

Detailed List When Visiting Inle Lake

Song of Travel

This is a popular hostel located in the town of Nyaung Shwe. Nyaung Shwe is where the majority of visitors stay, since this is where most facilities and amenities are available. The Song of Travel Hostel has a rooftop dining area, access to the lake and city, good connections to local tour guides and bicycle rentals for exploring the lake.

Aung’s Marionette Puppet Show

This puppet show takes place in Nyang Shwe. The puppet shows are rooted in local culture stories and legends. Performances are roughly 30 minutes long with each puppet show lasting about 5 minutes per story. The family who runs the theater is available for questions and conversations after the performance.

Phaugdawoo Pagoda

This is considered to be the most important religious building in the Shan State.  It is famous for the image of the five gold-leaf Buddha images, a sign of deep devotion.. Also spelled as “Phaung Daw U Pagoda” and “Kyaung Daw Pagoda” this is one of the most famous Pagodas in the area. It’s a semi-floating structure decorated with layers of heavy gold foil.  The gilded work is an important Buddhist structure. Artifacts from this Pagoda are ferried across the lake during the Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda Festival, which is celebrated for 18 days

Inle Lake Paddling

In days before Myanmar’s pseudo-Industrialization, Inle Lake was traversed with unique fishing boats which used a “snake-foot” paddle method.  This involves a figure standing on the prow of a boat and snaking their foot around a paddle to steer the boat forward.  The action is mostly done for tourists now, but there are several classes where tourists can learn. During festivals, locals still use this method to navigate sacred boats through water-parades.

Shwe Yan Pyay Monastery

Located to the north of Nyaung Shwe, this is a quiet, picturesque temple. The building is elevated on wooden stilts with rounded windows and a quietly, softly-lit interior. Many cats call the building home and active monks are seen meditating or caring for the complex.

Nyang Ohak (Nyaung Ohak)

These incredible stupas are hidden just beyond Inthein village. The stupas in this area are truly ancient, with crumbling corners, cracks on the surface and a cloak of greenery. The area is fairly quiet and a great place to walk around. On closer inspection, visitors can discern stucco carvings of devas, animals and religious patterns.

Nyaung Shwe

This is the northernmost village of Inle Lake and the major access point for the majority of tourists. Nyaung Shwe has the most locations available for lodging, as well as tourism centers, modern amenities, general facilities and vehicle rentals. Many supplies and services can be purchased here, including clothing, sunscreen, snacks and groceries. The village is pleasant to walk through and the people are uncommonly friendly.  Pieces of clothing, especially sarongs needed to enter some temples, are fairly cheap here.

 Bamboo Hut

The Bamboo Hut is a unique restaurant specializing in authentic Burmese food. The dishes are traditionally made and quite tasty. Visitors can sit on an elevated porch overlooking the farms below. The Bamboo Hut also offers cooking courses to guests, though most of these need to be booked through other tours.

Red Mountain Vineyard and Winery

Located up a series of hills , this winery serves local vintages. The views are splendid, overlooking a series of low mountains, lush valleys and flowering estates. The wine itself is enjoyable as well. Sampler platters are offered and there are food options for hungry guests.

Five Day Floating Market

Inle Lake is home to a traditional floating market which spends each day at a different village. The Market was originally established as a caravan of boats following the King’s tax collectors from town to town. Originally, the collectors would row boats from house to house, but given the unique nature of Inle Lake neighborhoods, this became very time consuming. Citizens had orders to gather at the town square to make collection easier. The eventually evolved into the Five Day Market, where people bought trinkets, fruits and wares. Though there are no more tax collectors, the market tradition has continued into the modern era.

Nyaung Shwe, Heho, Taunggyi, Minethauk, Shwe Nyaung are the five of the major floating and shoreside towns around the lake.  These villages host the Five Day Floating Market one day per week.  

Shwe Indein Pagodas (100 Pagodas)

An immense and old pagoda site with hundreds of different styles of pagodas creating a small forest of pillars and structures.  There are ruins of every color, which stretch over several small hill regions.  It is a holy outdoor site, rarely visited but utterly beautiful.

Jumping Cat Monastery – Nga Hpe Kyaung

This is a large wooden monastery built on stilts over the lake. The Monastery houses a collection of Buddha images. The most famous aspects of this monastery, however, are the cats. The cats are trained to do tricks and performances, jumping through hoops, darting over balance beams and performing other small tricks. There are performances multiple times throughout the day.

Hpaung Daw U Festival

This is Inle Lake’s most famous festival, which takes place in September or October. The dates change yearly, as the festival depends o n the lunar calendar.

The festival involves a massive procession where five small sacred Buddha images are ceremonially rowed throughout the Lake. They are carefully carried in a colorful, ornate badge and escorted by many other boats. The entire procession moves using the traditional foot-paddling method.

Although there are five Buddha images at the originating pagoda, only four are carried on the royal barge to the fourteen traditional stilted villages across the lake. This is because the fifth image was nearly lost years ago after the royal barge tipped over, only to mysteriously reappear back at the pagoda.

Aung Mingalar Pagoda

These are a striking series of pagodas located directly beside the water. The white structures with gold tips are often seen reflecting off canal surfaces or shrouded in early-morning fog. They are a common site for visitors traveling to Ywama Village.

Thanakha Powder 

When traveling around Inle Lake, guests might notice many people wearing broad marks of face paint on their cheekbones. These marks are actually a traditional form of sunscreen made from the ground bark of several native trees. Many visitors are offered the chance to wear this traditional sunscreen as well, which is useful when rowing across the unshaded portions of the Lake.

Htat Eian Cave Temple

Located north of Inle Lake, this is a narrow cave area for meditation and solitude. The cave has been repurposed into a minor tourism destination, with walls decorated with golden Buddha statues. Since this is a religious site, visitors are expected to dress conservatively and remove their shoes upon entry. The cave is somewhat difficult to reach, requiring either a bike or tuk-tuk to reach on a small day-tour.

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