Top Destinations in
Shan State
KALAW
Kalaw is a hill town in the Shan State of Myanmar. It is located in Kalaw township in Taunggyi district. The hill station is located 50 km from Inle lake.
PINDAYA CAVE
Pindaya Cave is the 150-meter long cave in a limestone hill. There is over 8,000 depictions of the Buddha statues and inscriptions of the 18th century or early Konbaung period. Some smaller sections of the cave can only be entered by crawling in them. Some of these are used as meditation chambers. Before reaching the cave, the entrance is a sculpture of a giant spider and a prince aiming his bow at it. According to legend, the prince saved the princess and help her captive from the giant spider lived in the cave. He shouted “Pin-Ku-Ya” (means I’ve got the spider), then it would be truncated over the centuries and become the name Pin-Da-Ya.
sHWE UMIN CAVE
Shwe Umin Cave Pagoda is one of the ancient pagodas which was restored and renovated by King Alaungsithu in the 12th century. At the entrance of the cave, there is a large bronze bell cast in A.D.1842. The prayer hall was built by a Burmese monk named U Khanti, who designed and built many Buddhist religious buildings in Mandalay hill and Hinthargon Pagoda in Bago.
AUNGPAN
Aungpan is a town located in the Southern Shan State. It is located in Kalaw township which is part of Taunggyi district. It lies at the elevation of 4219 ft above sea level.
Inle Lake
Inle Lake is the must-see tourist attractions which is famed for the unique culture of leg-rowing boats as well as the beautiful scenery of floating vegetable fields and flower garden. The lake is the second largest freshwater lake in Myanmar, located in Shan State at a height of about one thousand meters above sea level. You can explore many Intha race villages around the lake to learn the traditional lotus-silk weaving workshop.
PHAUNG DAW OO PAGODA
Phaung-Daw-Oo Pagoda is the floating pagoda located in the middle of Inle Lake and houses historic five Buddha images. The pagoda is one of the most magical attractions in Asia and one of the major tourist destinations in Myanmar.
NGA PHE KYAUNG MONASTERY
Nga-Phe-Kyaung Monastery is the most ancient monastery in Inle Lake. The monastery is over 170 years and was entirely built of teakwood and craved wonderfully. You will be amazed by the historic architecture of the floating wooden monastery.
SHWE IN DEIN TEMPLE COMPLEX
In-Dein is the village of ethical races where the ancient pagoda complex of hundred stupas, namely Shwe-In-Dein Temple can be seen. The temple site is famous for its unique features. You will be able to spend your time to learn about the lives of villagers, observe the handicrafts and the work of leg-rowing fishermen.
TAUNGGYI
Taunggyi is the capital and largest city of Shan State, Myanmar at an elevation of 4,712 ft, just north of Inle Lake. There are the winter dry-season (December–March) and summer wet-season (April–November). Temperatures are warm throughout the year; the winter months (December–February) are milder but the nights can be quite cool.
MWE TAW KAKKU PAGODA
Mwe-Taw-Kakku Pagoda is an interesting place to visit where over 2000 pagodas can be founded in the small valley. You can discover the tradition and customs of Pa-oh national race here. The pagoda is located about 39 km south of Taunggyi, Shan State.
Padalin Cave
Padalin Caves are limestone caves located in Taunggyi district, Shan State of Myanmar. It is located within the Panlaung Reserved Forest. There are two caves. The smaller of the two is a rock shelter while the larger cave comprises nine chambers connected by narrow passages. Excavations at the rock shelter recovered seven pieces of charcoal and bone that were radiocarbon dated to between 1,750 and 13,000 years BP. Excavations in the larger cave conducted reveal deposits dating to 65,000 years ago, and flaked stone artifacts dating to 25,000 years ago.
