Inle Lake in the Shan state of central Burma is a shallow lake is a place of scenic beauty, surrounded by hills and characterized by a tranquil atmosphere. The lake is known for its floating gardens and “leg rowers”, exercising their distinctive style of rowing, standing on one leg, attached to the other leg an oar, which they paddle in the waters. The people who live on Inle lake are the Intha. They grow crops such as tomatoes and flowers in floating gardens on the lake. Their wooden houses are built on stilts because the water level is much higher during the rainy season. The Intha as well as the Pa-Oh who live in the surrounding hills sell their crops at the “5 day market”, which is held in a five day rotating cycle in five villages around the lake. 

The rural area surrounding Inle Lake is dotted with small villages, ancient stupas and teak wooden monasteries. The main town of the Inle Lake area is Nyaungshwe, connected to the lake by a long canal. Its main attractions are the morning market and a number of Buddhist monasteries. One of them is the Shwe Yan Pyay monastery, a 150 years old red painted teak wood monastery on stilts with large oval shaped windows. It houses young boys studying the teachings of the Buddha. Another monastery worth a visit is the Yadana Man Aung Paya, with its beautiful golden pagoda topped with a ornamental hti. The village of Khaung Daing on the North West end of the lake is known for its hot springs. The Khaung Daing natural hot springs are most easily reached by boat, and they offer a swimming pools and a spa. Near the bottom of Inle Lake is the area’s most important Buddhist monastery, the Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda which enshrines five highly revered golden images of the Buddha. During the Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda festival the images are carried around the lake on a Karaweik Royal barge.

A 5 miles’ boat ride through a long, narrow canal from the bottom of Inle Lake leads to Indein village. Indein is one of the villages that hosts the “5 day market”, where the Pa-Oh who live on the hills sell their crops. The main attraction of the village is its hundreds of ancient pagodas, scattered among two fields around the village. Another group of pagodas can be found South East of Inle Lake. The site of the Kakku pagodas has only recently been opened to visitors. Because of its remote location it takes considerable effort to get to. North of Inle Lake are the Pindaya caves. An important pilgrimage site for Burmese Buddhists, every corner and nook of the cave in a limestone hill is cramped with images of the Buddha.