Inlay Lake
Inlay Lake is the most famous scenic spot in the Shan State. The Lake is 22.4 km long and 10.2 km wide, shallow and extremely picturesque. Inlay Lake is the residence of the Intha People, the famous "Leg Rowers". They are known for their rowing skills in having one leg locked around the length of the oar, the other gripping the stern of the boat while keeping a perfect balance.

The Intha people live and make their livelihood depending on the lake. They build wooden or bamboo thatched houses that stand on stilts and anchored on the surface of the lake by driving the stilts into the lakebed. The land itself is a floating island. Using their ingenuity, the Intha people would weave mats and pile layers of mud dragged from the floor of the lake over these mats creating a floating vegetable and flower gardens. The gardens are anchored in a place with long bamboo poles. These plots can be towed to different locations. Sheltered among the hazy blue mountains, the Lake is about 900 m above sea- level. There are over 100 Buddhist Shrines and Monasteries on and around the lake. One that attracts the Buddhist and the non-Buddhist alike is the "Phaung Daw Oo" Pagoda, the residence of five ancient images of Buddha. As a result of over gilding with Gold leaf offerings, the images have turned into solid ball of gold.

Khaung Daing
Khaung Daing is the native village on the northwestern shore of the lake. It is known for its production of soybean cakes and noodles. There are some interesting Shan temples just outside the village. A little north of Khaung Daing is a hot spring where you can take a bath.

Ywama
Inlay’s largest village with web of canals. There are large wooden piles driven into the lake and on it the teak houses are built. There is also a large canal.

Phaung daw Oo Pagoda
There are five small Buddha images, which are revered by the lake-dwellers. During the festival four of the Buddha images tour around the lake in a colourful barge.

Surrounding Area of Inle

Kalaw
Before arriving Inle Lake about 30 km away, lie a peaceful summer resort hill station in the British days known as Kalaw and it is still a peaceful and quiet place. Along the surrounding mountains of Kalaw is home for the ethnic minority tribes such as the Pa-O, Pa-laung and Da-nu. Outside of Kalaw, a short trekking trip to the tea growing villages perched in the mountains will bring you to the home of the Palaungs. Here the people continue to wear their traditional colourful costume and headdress.

Taunggyi
Taunggyi, over 1,430 meters above sea-level, is the capital of Shan State in the eastern part of Myanmar. A hill station known for its scenic beauty, Taunggyi is cool and pleasant all the year round. The market on every fifth day is crowded with ethnic minorities in their traditional dresses. The journey from Taunggyi down to Inlay Lake area takes about an hour.

Pindaya
Halfway between Kalaw and Inle Lake is a picturesque small quiet town, Pindaya. It also became a popular location where many tourists would come for the Pindaya caves in which thousands of centuries-old Buddha images are seated. The images are of various sizes, some carved in the face of rock and some deposited in niches of the walls. The ancient caves are about one mile southwest of the town, and can be reached by taking a horse-cart, or motoring there by jeep or just walking along on foot. Except for the young and energetic, it is the best way to go leisurely by horse- cart to the foot of the hill, reserving your energy for the 200steps up the covered stairways leading to the cave entrance. Since ancient times it have been places of worship and veneration with 8,094buddha images made from various materials like teak wood, marble, alabaster, brick, cement and lacquer, and all enshrined in the nooks and corners of the winding caverns. At the entrance to the main cave the pagoda is 50 feet in the height. This pagoda is called Shwe U- Min Paya or the Golden Cave pagoda. The tazaung or prayer hall was built by the famous hermit U Khanti who also built many of the religious edifices on Mandalay hill. The entire length of the cave is 490 feet. The numerous stalactites and stalagmites in this limestone cave, from fanciful shapes and have given rise to such names as the " Fairy Princess Loom". Some of the smaller caves used as meditation chambers are accessible only if you crawl in on your knees and elbows. Visit should plan to stay for one or two nights in Pindaya to explore the natural beauties all around; the tranquil lake, the limestone caves, the ancient pagodas and images and the lovely old trees.

Kakku
Kakku is a hidden treasure 46 km south of Taunggyi with a magnificent collection of centuries old Buddhist stupas. More than 2,000 stupas have been built here in a small area of just one square kilometre, surrounded by mountains and trees. Until very recently this area, which is inhabited by the colourful Pa-O tribes with their distinctive habits, was closed to visitors. Kakku is then a two-hour drive from Nyaung Shwe, via the capital of Shan state, Taunggyi.