Shan/Inle

In pursuit of a moderate weather and an amazing, alternative experience, you should travel up to Taunggyi, the capital of Shan State situating in its southern part. Locating 4,712 feet above the sea level on a high upland amid the high mountains, pine, cherry and eucalyptus are expending all over the city. A distinct festival which is always held in Taunggyi attracting not only foreigners but also hundreds of locals from all over the country is Tazaungdine Festival. The festival usually falls in the month of Tasaugdaing when Myanmar people usually offers robes for monks (Kahtein) and relating to this event, they usually releases fire- ballons up in the sky.

Sighting the releasing of different shapes and sizes of air-balloons in the form of animals such as horse, ox, elephants or water-buffalo flying above in the dark blue sky while enduring shivering weather standing amid hundreds of people from different parts of the country, mainly from Shan State is an enchanting experience indeed. You can also travel back to the Shan Duke’s golden period by visiting some Hawnans or palatial residences of Shan tribe Cheiftains or Dukes(Sawbwas). There are some countable accommodations in Taunggyi up to international standard and you can enjoy typical Shan foods which assembles some Thailand foods or Chinese cuisines_ spicy, especailly healthy and delicious,in city area or at street-side.

If some inhabitants in the area or your colleagues suggests you to visit a lake called Inle nearby, you shouldn’t miss that big opportunity, which will bring you a peculiar fantasy. Visitng the picturesque Inle Lake which lies 900-metre above sea level worth you a valuable trip. The lake which is home to 17 villages is listed as one of the main tourist attractions in Myanmar for its natural beauty, distinctive customs of Inthas or native lake dwellers adding to some ancient cultural sites around.

The lake which is the second largest lake in Myanmar, next to Inndawgyi Lake in Kachin State, far northern area of the country, is inhabited by Intha or lakedwellers who are originally resided in southern state of Myanmar and immigrated to the area, it is said. On the way to the lake in the Nyaung Shwe town which is the entrance to the lake, Shan ancient palace beautifully carved with teak , which is now tranformed as a cultural museum will tell you how Shan tribes lived grandly in the past.

In the starting area, the lake is rather like a canal than an open lake bounded with traditional floating garden on which seasonal vegetables are grown and some long-pole house built in the lake,. Backing with mountain in far distance, some fishing boats led by leg-rower in the scene will make you feel as if you are beholding an expressionist painting. Mostly, Inthas earn on fishing, but some of them are talented silversmiths, carpenters as well as inle03weavers. Weaving industry including lotus weaving in Inle is quite famous plus its beautiful silverwares. Locals as well as foreigners visit Inle during November and December when Paung Daw U Pagoda Festival is held. Inle’s market which is held every five days, is unlike a normal one since all the products-flowers, vegetables, fish, meats and other groceries are displayed on the boats forming a colourful boat trading place floating on the water where customers would buy things by boats.

Some sites you should pay a visit includes teak-wooden Ngaphechaung Monastery, the oldest and biggest monastery in Inle Lake, where you can learn traditional construction while enjoying some cats jumping bound through the hoops. The monastery is 26 MYANMAR The Golden Land town which is the entrance to the lake, Shan ancient palace beautifully carved with teak , which is now tranformed as a cultural museum will tell you how Shan tribes lived grandly in the past. In the starting area, the lake is rather like a canal than an open lake bounded with traditional floating garden on which seasonal vegetables are grown and some long-pole house built in the lake,. Backing with mountain in far distance, some fishing boats led by leg-rower in the scene will make you feel as if you are beholding an expressionist painting. Mostly, Inthas earn on fishing, but some of them are talented silversmiths, carpenters as well as weavers. Weaving industry including lotus weaving in Inle is quite famous plus its beautiful silverwares. Locals as well as foreigners Trip or A Trip to shan02upland by Myo Theingi Cho table  situated on the way to the Phaungdawoo Pagoda which holds its festival in the month of October annually which includes awesome and unique leg- rower’s boat race. Another archeological site that worth visiting in Inle is Shwe Indein village where a pagoda and some stupas built dated back in 8th century can be found and it will take only 45-minute boat ride. At the top of the hill in Indein lies a Buddha image enshrined with a white stupa, underneath, among the bushes, hundreds of smaller ruined stupas stand. Trekking along Mt. Shwe U Daung, a mountain stands 3000-feet above sea level will take about an hour and half.

A half-day boat ride to unspoiled and hidden village, Sagar in southern part of Inle Lake will keep you a relaxing trip flourishing with real nature scenery, lovely and simple tribes around. According to the legend. the title of the village, Sagar is said to be derived from the Sagarpin (Fragipaini tree) as King Asoka is said to build a pagoda enshrined with an image made of Sagar wood and built a town in the area by trekking along Palaung villages who mainly cultivate tea on the hill in two hours or four. Travelling south about 70km from Kalaw, it lies Pindaya where so-called 200,00 millions-year-old cavern in which thousands of Buddha images are existed. The 490-length limestone cave comprises the numerous stalactites and stalagmites.

The journey from junction point, Aung Pan to Pindaya is a definitely breathtaking trip for its scenic beauty since pine trees lies amid green and beautiful lawns in the slopes, sighting local Pa-Os people walking or riding on the back of buffalo and beholding the panoramic view of Pindaya cave on which stairways are beautifully curved, from the distance. So, it should be a critial part of your journey to visit Pindaya cave. But, please don’t forget to bring a flashlight camera to take some picture inside the cave as it is too dark.

After taking break in Taunggyi, a 25km trip to another ancient place, called Kakku will bring you back to 3th century B.C in the reign of King Asoka and as well as to 11th century of Bagan.

Dynasty of King Alaung Situ. A cluster of more than 2000 stupas buit in the row on an area if a square metre space. It is said that it was among one of merits done by King Asoka during his Buddhist religion’s purification and propagation process. Another legend said, King Alaung Sithu also built a pagoda in the same site with the same intention that King Asoka did. No matter or what the legends suggest, there are two prominent architectural presentations can be found in Kakku, one in the style of Yun, a Shan ethnic who used to be the foremost donors of Pagoda, the largest one in this group is known as some different names such as Asoka Pagoda, Shwewet Ku pagoda or Kakku relic pagoda. Another presentation assembles to those pagodas built by King Anawratha in Bagan.