Inle Lake
Located
in Shan State, Inle Lake is the second largest lake in
Myanmar. It exists over 1328 meters above sea level. Inle is
not only a huge lake but the native land of the lake
dwellers, the unique leg-rowers. The lake dwellers are said
to be the people brought from Dawei, the lower part of
Myanmar to the Inle Lake by King Alaungsithu.
There are many villages, the floating islands on which
many houses, buildings, monasteries, pagodas and images of
Buddha are situated. The floating island can be cut, dragged
by boats or even be sold by dividing a piece of land the
customers like. The Bilu Chaung creek flows from this lake
towards the south and joins Nam Pawn (with Kayah State).
The home of the lake dwellers has 17 villages where more
than 80,000 Inthas (native lake dwellers) live happily for
many centuries.
Phaung
Daw Oo Buddha Images built by King Alaungsithu are in a set
of five.
It is one of the famous shrines in Myanmar. The festival for
the pagoda held in every September or October and takes a
half of month. According to the tradition, the trustees
arrange the four Buddha images from the set of five are
carried on royal barge and towed by the boats of the Inthas
who are rowing with their legs. The Inthas row their boat
not with their hands but with their legs by standing. The
many boats and dwellers are taking part in this procession.
The royal barge rounds and conveys throughout the villages
in the lake. During the festival, the famous boat race for
the leg rowing Inthas from the various villages of the Inle
Lake is held. It is a special event and a must to see for
the foreign visitors.
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