Inlay,Land of Fabulous Leg Rowers

Phaung Daw Oo

      Situated in the eastern Shan State of Myanmar, the Inlay Lake is one of the famous tourist destinations of Myanmar. The beautiful serene lake is 14 miles long and 7 miles wide. Surrounded by vast Shan mountain ranges huge dense clouds hang over these dark blue mountain ranges. There is Phaung Daw Oo temple that serves as an abode for the five Buddha images which are so very sacred. Every year during mid October Phaung Daw Oo images are placed aboard the huge decorated barge and toured around the floating villages for people to pay respect. Inlay’s culture is unique and the people in Inlay Lake moved around by boats and buy and sell things from the boat. The unique Inthars travel round by rowing their boats with the legs for they are the renowned leg rowers in the world.

Shwe Inndein Pagoda

        One of the small villages located on the west bank of Inlay Lake is a white-washed stupa enshrined with a Buddha image. It is on the summit of s hill. Below the stupa and around the hill are a cluster of hundreds of ancient stupas. You can get mesmerizing views from the pagoda and the sound of the sweet rings of bells hanging from the umbrella of the pagoda makes one feel so refresh.

Nga Phe Monastery

        The ancient monastery with its building built with wood at the end of 1850s is another place of interest. It is built on stilts over the lake. Aside from its collection of ancient Buddha images, it is another place of interest for visitors because there you can witness cats taught to jump through the hoops taught by the monks. Cats being tamed by the monks to jump through the hoops!

Ywama Village

         The largest village on the Inlay Lake is Ywama village. Its streets are a web of canals. It is also known as the floating market where you can buy fresh vegetables to beautiful shah materials woven by traditional weaving methods by beautiful shah maidens. You can also get traditional shah bags too. Everything is done by the hands therefore; one can get hand-woven beautiful clothes which are very traditional too.