The Inle lake(Burmese: အင်းလေးကန်, IPA: [ʔɪ́ɴlé kàɴ]) is a lake in the Shan State in Myanmar.
background
The whole lake is inhabited. The people live on the lake in houses on stilts. Floating gardens stretch around the villages. The inhabitants of the lake call themselves "Intha". Translated, the name means "children of the lake". Typical of the lake are the fishermen who row their legs to have their hands free. This technique can only be found here at Inle Lake.
getting there
By plane
It is the largest lake in Upper Myanmar. It lies at an altitude of about 900 m.
- Length: 22 km
- Width: 10 km
- Depth: maximum 3 m
- Residents: 8,000 spread over 200 villages and 100 monasteries
The plane is currently the first choice to reach the city. The two airlines Air Mandalay Air Mandalay and Air Bagan fly the place Hey near the lake. There are direct flights from Yangon and Mandalay. Since the airlines have not only direct but also sightseeing flights in their plan, you can fly to the place from other locations without changing. The 40 kilometers to the lake after Nyaung Shwe the best way to get back is by taxi. The car costs US $ 20-25. You can also go over Shwenyaung drive with the pick-up (Kyat 1200). However, you have to walk the 2 kilometers to the main road.
By train
who of Yangon or Mandalay wants to travel by train, must be in Thazi change. From there you drive (even slower than usual in the country) to Shwenyaung. You can then continue to the lake by taxi or pick-up Nyaung Shwe.
By bus
There are the following bus connections. To get to the lake you have to go in Shwenyaung get out.
- Mandalay - Taunggyi: Driving time 8-10 hours - 1500 kyat
- Bagan - Taunggyi: Driving time 8-10 hours - Kyat 2000
- Yangon - Taunggyi: Driving time 16-18 hours - Kyat 13,000 (as of 2008)
- Meiktila - Taunggyi: Travel time 5 hours - kyat 1200
In the street
The Pick-ups drive on the following routes:
- Thazi - Taunggyi (in Shwenyaung get out)
- Mandalay - Taunggyi: Travel time: 10 hours in Shwenyaung get out)
- Hey - Shwenyaung
- Shwenyaung - Nyaung Shwe
- Taunggyi - Nyaung Shwe approx MYK 700-1000
- Kalaw - Shwenyaung
- Taunggyi - Shwenyaung
- Kalaw - Nyaung Shwe
Private taxi: You can of course rent a private taxi for short and long journeys.
- Mandalay: $80-100
- Bagan: It is possible to cover the route with your own car, but due to the sometimes bad roads it will be tedious. You have to shell out at least $ 100 for this.
on foot
You can also see Inle Lake from Kalaw from within walking distance. Two or three day trekking tours are offered in Kalaw. The duration depends on your personal condition. The main baggage will be sent in advance by car. You pay a deposit. The main amount is paid when the main baggage is handed over.
mobility
On the lake you move forward with small rowing boats or with the large long boats. The rowing boats hold two people and cost 300 kyat per hour. They are a good way to explore the canals near the villages. Only the large boats with outboard motors are allowed for the long distances on the lake. It holds 8 people and costs Kyat 18,000 per day. Most hotels and guest houses have their own boats. But you can also get boats on the canal in Nyaung Shwe rent.
Tourist Attractions
- Ywama. Place in the middle of the lake. There was a floating market here. You can also visit many craft workshops here and in the surrounding area. These include silversmiths, weavers, wood carvers and cheroot manufacturers (see information box).
- Phaung Daw U Pagoda. This is the most famous pagoda on the lake. It houses five Buddha statues, which are presented every year as part of the Phaung Daw U festival be driven from village to village in the royal barge.
- Nga Phe Kyaung Monastery. A 160 year old monastery. Trained cats are an attraction here, which is why the monastery is also there Monastery of The Jumping Cats is called.
- In your. Place south of the lake with a sacred complex in which there are 1054 stupas. The journey is made by boat. It takes about 40 minutes to drive from the lake Nam Pilu Up river.
- There is a larger market roughly in the middle of the lake on the right bank. You can follow a path to the east and visit a monastery on the mountain. Further up (go west again from the monastery) is a stupa. From there you have a view of the lake.
Phaung Daw U festival
The Phaung Daw U or Festival of Lights takes place annually at the time of the full moon in October. There are five Buddha images in the Phaung Daw U Pagoda on the lake. The statues date from the 12th century and come from Malaysia. Their shape is barely recognizable as gold leaf has been stuck over them over time. Incidentally, this custom is reserved for men only. Women are not allowed to approach the figures. The festival has existed in this form for about 50 years. The figures are placed on a shrine on the royal boat. You can see this boat about 50 meters west of the pagoda. She is one in shape Hintha-Bird modeled. A ball hangs in its beak that reminds you of our Christmas tree decorations. Pulled by many decorated boats with many leg rowers, the boat makes its way through all the larger villages of the lake. After three weeks the journey ends in Nyaung Shwe. The final festival there lasts three days. The whole thing is accompanied by rowing competitions. If you want to visit the lake at the time of the festival, you should reserve a room to be on the safe side.
activities
- bicycle - The area around Nyaung Shwe can be easily explored by bike. Many guest houses and hotels rent out bicycles themselves.
- Trekking - You can take guided tours over a day or two. one comes to caves, monasteries and villages of the ethnic groups of the Shan and Paoh who settle at the lake). The women of the Paoh can be recognized by their towels made of a kind of terry cloth wrapped around their heads. Often they also wear black clothes. The hotels and guest houses offer their own tours or can arrange guides.
- Boat tours - With the rowing boat for small tours or a motor boat you can explore the lake well.
- Inle Spa - In the north of Nyaung Shwe is there in town Khaung-daing hot springs to bathe in. Entry is $ 10. There are loungers and showers. Towels are provided. The car tour of Nyaung Shwe off costs $ 10.
shop
- East of the lake there is a market right on the lake. Here you can also see some women from the Paoh people, with their typical frotée towels on their heads and their mostly black clothes.
- There was a floating market on the lake at Ywama. However, it was abolished.
- Market in Nyaung Shwe
- The factories on the lake also offer their products for sale right away.
kitchen
There are many restaurants in Nyaung Shwe at the north end of the lake as well as in Ywama on the lake.
- Ann's restaurant. Terrace over the lake near Ywama.
- Inle Inn, Yone Gyi Road, Nyaung Shwe. Burmese food; Puppet theater.
- Golden Kite Pasta & Pancake House and Star Flower Pasta & Pancake House, Yone Gyi Road, Nyaung Shwe. The name is program.
- Hong Kong restaurant. Chinese Kitchen.
- Golden Crown Restaurant. Chinese Kitchen.
In addition, all guest houses and hotels usually have their own restaurant.
nightlife
At Inle Lake there are no other options for going out, apart from going to a restaurant in the evening.
accommodation
Cheap
- Aquarius Inn Guesthouse, No. 2, 53 Phaung Daw Pyan Rd., Nam Pan Qutr. Tel.: 95 (0)81-29352. Price: $ 7/12 (single / double).- The rooms have a shower and toilet. Including breakfast and fruit in the afternoon.
- Queen Lodging House (right on the canal across from the Golden Duck). Price: $ 4-5 / 8 (single / double).- simple, shared bathroom, with breakfast; Bungalows; organizes trips and transports
- Inle Inn, Yonegyi Rd. Tel.: 95 (0)81-21347, Fax: 95 (0)81-21347. Price: 10-18 / 15-25 / 35 $ (single / double / 3 bed).- restaurant; Puppet theater; organizes (expensive) excursions; sometimes you can take photos of Padaung women there for 3-5 $ (but you have to evaluate that for yourself) depending on the price shared bathroom or shower / toilet, plus 20%
- Yin Yin Four Sisters Guest House (at the southern end of the canal). Price: $ 8-12 (double).- You toilet - quiet and very clean, with breakfast, plentiful and good dinner (you have what it is worth), very helpful and nice, one of the sisters speaks German.
medium
- Teakwood Guest House, Kyaung Taw Anoux St., Nyaung Shwe. You toilet, with breakfast; well-kept wooden house; Bike rental.Price: US $ 20-25 (single / double).
- November hotel, 16 Yone Gyi Str. Nandawun Qtr., Nyaung Shwe, across from Inle Inn. Tel.: 95-81-22107, 95-81-22621. AC, shower, toilet, TV, refrigerator, with breakfast; large multi-story hotel; often dance performances in the evening.Price: 20-30 / 25-60 $ (single / double).
- Mya Haw Nann Resort Hotel, Aye Thar Yar, Nyaung Shwe Rd., 1 km east of Nyaung Shwe. Tel.: 95-81-22266. You toilet; with breakfast; free bike rental; organizes trekking tours.Price: 24/38 US $ (single room, double room).
- Nan Da Wunn Hotel, 80 Youne Gyi Rd., Nan Da Wunn Qtr., Nyaung Shwe. Tel.: 95-81-22600, 95-81-22513. AC, shower, toilet, TV, with breakfast; motel-like facility; Restaurant, bar.Price: 25-30 / 33-42 $ (single / double).
- Innlay (Khaungdaing) Hotel, at Inle Lake, in the village of Khaungdaing, about 20km from Nyaung Shwe. Tel.: 95-81-22409. Beautifully situated bungalow complex; attentive; next to Inle Spa hot springs.Price: 25-45 / 40-60 $ US (single / double).
- Golden Island Cottages I II. E-mail: [email protected]. AC, shower toilet, with breakfast; Good restaurant. Wooden bungalows on the lake, near Nampan (I) and Thai Lai U (II), Tel .: 95-81-23136, Fax: 95-81-23970; Taunggyi Office: 65 Circular Rd., Hawgon Qtr., Tel .: 95-81-23136, Fax: 95-81-23970, Yangon Office: 122 7th Str., Ward (3), South Okkalapa, Tel .: 01 -571513).Price: 36-50 / 40-60 $ US (single / double).
Upscale
- Lake View Resort Hotel, at Khaungdaing. Tel.: 95-81-23656, Fax: 95-81-23656. AC, you toilet, TV, with breakfast; beautifully situated bungalow complex on the lakeshore; Restaurant.Price: $ 65-100 (double).
trips
- Kakku. Place 50 kilometers south of Taunggyi with a large pagoda complex. It is best to book an excursion on site for around US $ 30, as a foreigner needs a permit.
- Taunggyi. The capital of the Shan States is 45 km from the lake.
- Pindaya. Small place with the famous Pindaya caves.
- Kalaw. Place west of the lake - starting point for delightful hikes and the surrounding area. The place can also be reached via a two or three day hike.
