Inle Lake
A five kilometer long canal suddenly opens up to a wide lake with numerous villages on stilts and floating gardens against the hazy mountain ranges. Inle Lake is rather shallow, being only 3-4 meters at its deepest, and it is difficult to determine its real dimension, as beds of silt and tangled water hyacinths somewhat conceal its true size. Fishermen in their shallow boats cast their cone shaped bamboo down in the lake to trap the fish, and the lake dwelling framers tend to their floating gardens from their canoes. The gardens are anchored to the lake beds with long bamboo poles and host flowers or tomatoes, chilies, cauliflowers and other vegetables. The lake is situated in the Shan State, 1000 meter above sea level and is the home of the Intha people and many other ethnic minorities. Sailing among the villages you can hear the silk looms clanking and the tapping of the iron smiths and get a glimpse of girls chatting while wrapping cigars and wave to the smiling kids looking out through the open shutters of the wooden or bamboo houses built above the water in the country as the air is a bit cooler and drier. The unique culture which visitors can find in Inle Lake is, fishermen have tendency to row boats using their legs and it is also a part of the Inle tradition itself. All transport is by boat, whether to school, to do shopping or to attend the floating vegetable gardens.
Other significant scenery that one can expect to see in the Inle Lake such as: floating tomatoes fields around the lake, gardens of flowers properly anchored to the lake bed with bamboo poles. The friendliness of the local people and their unique daily life activities spice things up a little bit better for visitors that they can enjoy a pleasant trip alongside the lake yet enjoy the sincere of the local community.
The best time of the year to visit is during September and October. The ceremonial Hpaung Daw U Festival, which lasts for almost three weeks, is closely followed by the Thadingyut festival of lights. Moreover, the market day of the villages located near Inle Lake offers extremely colorful with freshly grow hill foods and other local products which is another major attractions for all visitors to have a look at.
You will have the opportunity to cruise among the floating gardens and villages on stilts, visit silk-and lotus weaving workshop and other places for local crafts. Afloat by boat to the village of Indaing on the other side of the lake, a very scenic route along the river leading from the lake to the village. Indaing is famous for the about 1000 small stupas in Shan style, some from the 15th century.