General Information

Inle Lake is a freshwater lake located in the mountains of Shan State in Myanmar. It is the second largest lake in Myanmar with an estimated surface area of 44.9 sq miles and one of the highest at an altitude of 2900 feet. During the dry season, the average water depth is 7 feet, with the deepest point being 12 feet, but during the rainy season this can increase by 5 feet.

The People

The people of Inle Lake are called Intha.There are about some 70,000 of them, live in four cities bordering the lake, in numerous small villages along the lake's shores and on the lake itself. The entire lake area is in Nyaungshwe township. The population consists mainly of Intha, Shan, Taungyo, Pa-O (Taungthu), Danu, Kayah, Danaw and Bamar ethnicites. Most residents live in simple stilt houses of woven bamboo and are largely self-sufficient.

Best time to travel

The best time of the year to visit is during September and October. The ceremonial Phaungdawoo Pagoda festival, which lasts for almost three weeks, is closely followed by the Thadingyut festival. Inthas and Shan dress in new clothes and celebrate Buddhist Lent. Traditional boat racing is famous.