Inle Lake

Inle Lake is not the largest in Myanmar, but it is certainly the most beautiful. Located in the centre of the country, 600 kilometres from Yangon, it is home to exceptional nature in every respect. From its floating gardens to endemic species of snails and fish, the lake offers a rich array of flora and fauna set against breathtaking panoramas. While its biodiversity is threatened by invasive species and human activity, it remains a haven of beauty and nature not to be missed.
As well as being a wellspring of animal life, Inle Lake has always drawn numerous ethnic groups who came to live off its natural riches. Four towns and a myriad of villages sit along the lake's shores, lending the place a timeless quality. The sight of floating gardens next to stilt houses, fishermen ferrying their cargo by dugout canoe, or the local cuisine, built mainly around rice and fish, is a feast for the senses.
Throughout the week, a travelling market circles the lake offering goods and provisions. Once a week, it stops on the lake itself; the place then turns into a string of floating stalls selling, among other things, the renowned Shan handicrafts. An unusual "shopping" break.
Alongside the lake's domestic structures and daily activities, there is also Hpaung Daw U Pagoda, a major site of Burmese Buddhism built upon the water. It houses Buddha statues notable for being entirely covered in gold leaf. Around September-October, a great festival is held during which the statues are taken out of the pagoda, placed on a barge and carried to all the surrounding villages aboard local boats. Dugout canoe races are also held, giving rise to spectacular contests.
This unique setting, combined with ancestral practices and beliefs drawn from every corner of the country and beyond, illustrates the full diversity of Myanmar.