About Inle Lake

Inle Lake, nestled in Myanmar's Shan State within the scenic Shan Hills of Nyaungshwe Township, is the country's second-largest lake, covering 116 square kilometers at an elevation of 880 meters—making it one of Myanmar's highest lakes. This freshwater paradise is world-renowned for its unique culture of the Intha people, who have lived on and around the lake for centuries. The lake's most iconic image is that of Intha fishermen practicing their distinctive leg-rowing technique, a skill passed down since the 12th century. These fishermen stand on the stern of their flat-bottomed boats on one leg while wrapping the other leg around a single oar, leaving both hands free to manipulate their large conical fishing nets. This remarkable technique evolved to allow fishermen to see over the lake's tall reeds and floating vegetation while navigating shallow waters, creating a ballet-like spectacle that has become synonymous with Inle Lake.

Beyond its famous fishermen, Inle Lake is celebrated for its extraordinary floating gardens—an ingenious agricultural system that produces approximately 70% of Myanmar's tomatoes. These hydroponic gardens are constructed from strips of water hyacinth, grass, and lake-bottom weeds, anchored to the lake floor with bamboo poles. The gardens rise and fall with water levels, making them resistant to flooding, while the nutrient-laden water provides incredible fertility for growing tomatoes, cucumbers, beans, and flowers. The lake region is home to over 70,000 people living in stilt villages scattered across its surface and shores. Visitors can explore the sacred Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda housing five revered Buddha images, witness jumping cats at Nga Phe Kyaung Monastery, experience colorful rotating floating markets, and stay in traditional Intha stilt houses, immersing themselves in this unique aquatic civilization that represents one of Southeast Asia's most distinctive cultural landscapes.