Our initial fears that Inle Lake was just “one big tourist trap” were thankfully misplaced as “Day 1” started slow, but ended great.
48 Hours At Inle Lake: How To See Inle Lake In 2 Days [Day 2] (Inle Lake, Heho, Myanmar)
Day 2: Inn Dien Pagoda And Nyaung Shwe
We woke early on “Day 2”, or should I say, “were awoken” – by an army of passing lake boats heading out before first light to pick-up tourists.
Click here for Day 1 on Inle Lake: Shopping, Temples, Floating Gardens And Kayan Women
After breakfast, our water-taxi driver was there waiting for us. He confirmed our itinerary for the day, and we were off, speeding down the small channel on our way to Inn Dien Pagoda.
The Walk To In Dien Pagoda
Unbeknownst to us, getting to Inn Dien Pagoda required a little bit of a hike.
Our guide pointed us in the right direction (up the river) toward a waterfall. We continued to follow signs that had us following a path through the forest toward the Inn Dien ruins.
We walked to Inn Dien Pagoda along the river, to the waterfall, then on the path through the wooded area (via the green lines), and returned through the covered market (via the red line)
The “green arrow” route follows this river up the trail left side of this bank
Standing above the waterfall cascades
Arrival At Inn Dien Pagoda
Perhaps the most interesting of all the the pagodas we visited in the Inle Lake region was the Inn Dien Pagoda.
Aside from its 1,054 stupas, this pagoda is notable for its mystery. It’s not known who built the pagoda (or when), but the legend is that it was built by India’s King Ashoka or the Burmese King Anawratha.
What is known is that it contains a stupa believed to have been donated to King Sawka (around 200 BC), and that it appears to have been renovated around the 13th and 14th centuries.
As a tourist, Inn Dien Pagoda was simply an amazing site to visit.
Stupas galore: Many of these stupas have been paid for by donations from people around the world
The backside of the Pagoda
The Walk Back Through The Market
Leaving Inn Dien, we opted to take the route through the market walkway.
This structure was interesting for its massive size alone. With 403 pillars, and countless merchant shops lining the walkway, this made for an interesting direct path back to our boat.
403 Pillars all the way back
Merchants selling (and gossiping)
Teeth necklaces and crowns
This sword was amazing…but I could feel some seriously “bad juju” off it
Pa-O women (an ethnic minority in Myanmar) in their traditional head scarves and attire
Nyaung Ohak Monastery
Near the end of the walkway, there was one final ruin, the ancient [unrestored] Nyaung Ohak Monastery.
Like Inn Dien, this site is surrounded by the mystery of unknown origin.
No one knows who built it, when they built it, or why they built it.
The Nyaung Shwe Market
After a wonderful morning exploring the Inn Dien Pagoda area, we decided to forgo the solitude of the lake for the comforts (and alcohol) of the town of Nyaung Shwe.
We took the almost 2 hour boat ride back to the town, and needless to say, by the time we got there we were hungry.
The first order of business was to find a restaurant. Somewhere along the way, we happily got lost in the maze of the massive Nyaung Shwe Market.
How is it possible they seemed to have everything, and I didn’t know what more than half of it was?
Organic if I ever saw it
Lunch At Nyaung Shwe
Eventually, we stumbled upon one of the main streets through Nyaung Shwe (Yone Gyi Street), where we had lunch at a great Chinese/Burmese restaurant called “Live Dim Sum House”.
Fun-fact: Whiskey is cheaper than water here!
Dim Sum live at the Live Dim Sum House
Happy Hour Bar-Hopping
Having had yet another outstanding meal (and plenty of Whiskey), we decided to keep that train rolling.
As we walked the main strip back, we noticed signs for Happy Hours were everywhere.
We also noticed many of the times were staggered – meaning we could bar-hop different Happy Hours all afternoon long (or at least until the last boat back to the hotel).
To execute our plan, we needed a starting point, and that starting point was One Owl Grill.
The starting point
Whiskey Sour
Things got hazy from here…
Dinner And Drinks At Paramount Inle Resort
Eventually, we somehow found the way back to our guide at the boat (but not before regrettably trying a little betel nut, much to the amusement of the locals).
From there, we caught the last water-taxi back to the hotel.
Luckily, we met some awesome Brits who worked in the entertainment industry (on a very famous HBO show about a throne) who shared our fondness for alcohol and Burmese flavored cigarettes. We ended up drinking and smoking star-anise and banana flavored cigarette varieties way into the wee hours of the night.
Our last sunset on Inle Lake
Sunset over Shan State
Calling it a day
Final Thoughts: 48 Hours At Inle Lake: 48 Hours At Inle Lake: How To See Inle Lake In 2 Days [Day 2] (Inle Lake, Heho, Myanmar)
Inle Lake turned out to be awesome. Sure, during the first couple of hours of our tour on “Day 1”, we were asking ourselves, “should we have come here?” But that thought quickly faded once we put a stop to the tourist traps and began exploring the lake.
Looking back, I actually wouldn’t have changed a thing. The company we went with (Golden Inle Travels & Tours) turned out to be great. Our guide/boat driver “Tay” was friendly and professional, and was always exactly where he said he’d be (on time).
Inle Lake, much like Bagan, was another magical place to visit in Myanmar and I feel incredibly fortunate that I got the chance to see it.
Click here for Day 1 on Inle Lake: Shopping, Temples, Floating Gardens And Kayan Women
Cheers!
