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Taunggyi is the capital of Shan State and it is the land of the Shans and other national races, namely, Pa-O, Kachin, Padaung, Danu, Wa, Lahu, Kaw, Maingtha, Padaung, Taungyo, Yin, Gon, Kayah, Lishau and Inntha with their unique cultures. The Shan plateau is about 3,000 to 4,000 feet above sea level. Some ranges are 5,000 to 7,500 feet high, with even higher peaks. A cool climate makes it a highly popular summer resort. Its temperatures range from around 60 degrees Fahrenheit in the cool months of December and January, to 70 or 80 even in the warmest months of April, May, June and July.
Inle Lake is the most famous scenic spot in the Shan State. It is about 30 km south of Taunggyi, capital of the Shan State. The Lake is 22.4 km long and 10.2 km wide, shallow and extremely picturesque. It is studded with floating islands formed by the growth and decay of vegetation.
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Sheltered among the hazy blue mountains, the Lake is about 900 metres above sea level. The lake is very popular with foreign tourists. It is famous for its unique leg-rowers, floating villages and colorful markets and festivals. Even when it is not festival time, it is very interesting to observe the Innthas live on the lake with their houses on stills, floating farms and the floating markets.
The Innthas have become so adapted to the lake environment that they build their homes over the water on stills; they build floating farms on the lake and villagers row their long, narrow boats with unique way of leg rowing that has made them famous.
Where to stay in Taunggyi & Inlay!
Inlay Lake is nestled 900 meters above sea level between the Shan mountains. Nyaungshwe is gateway to the famous lake. It is famous for the floating ,market, beautiful Inlay longyi and Shan bags. A sacred Phaungdaw Oo pagoda where five images of Lord Buddha reside is a holly place of worship for Buddhists. One of the unique features is that the local boats are rowed by Inle People, not with hands but with legs, and thus gain the name of Inlay leg-rowers. The pagoda festival is held with pomp and grandeur every October.
Kalaw a popular former British Hill Station. Its altitude is 4,330 ft and surrounding pine trees and mountain scenery provide a pleasant environment. Kalaw It is possible to take short treks to Palaung and Pa-O villages from Kalaw.
A Shan state township of more than 120,000 inhabitants (mostly Shan-Chinese and Chinese) - Lashio has several interesting villages and a colorful local market. A scenic train or drive from Mandalay is the usual mode of travel.
The town of Kengtung sits 2,710 ft above sea level in the eastern Shan State. It is one of the oldest capitals of the Shan people. It is built around a lake with Buddhist temples and colonial architecture, Kengtung may be the most scenic of Shan State towns. The surrounding area if populated by many colorful ethnic groups including the Wa, Shan, Akha, Lahu, and Ann people. Traders to and from China and Thailand transit through here.
The routes in Shan State
They are a cluster of caves located four miles north east of Nyaung-Gyat village, Ywa-ngan township, Southern Shan State. The caves are situated at elevations of more than 300 metres facing south. The caves were discovered in 1969 by a group of archaeologists, historians, geologists, zoologists and anthropologists.
These cluster of caves are the largest so far discovered in Myanmar. Padalin (meaning mercurial light) is said to have been named because limestone there reflect the light of mercury particularly the spectacular stalactites and stalagmites.
In the caves, visitors can study mural paintings on the cave walls which are more than 11,000 years old, and are about the same age as prehistoric paintings in France, Spain, Indonesia and Malaysia.
Although located in the Shan State, the approach is easier from Mandalay Division as it lies about 4 miles from the divisional boundary. Approach to the caves are by car, boat cruise and trekking which will be a very exciting and fantastic journey.
The route to Padalin caves is from Kumè town on the Yangon-Mandalay highway (45 miles north of Meikhtila and 51 miles south of Mandalay). Follow the off-highway road to the east and driving 22 miles will reach Kinda Dam. After an exciting boat cruise across the Kinda reservoir surrounded by hazy Shan mountains and a short trek along the jungle trail will approach at the Padalin caves. With scenic beauties around and along the way we assure you will enjoy every moment of it.
From Padalin caves, there are two trekking routes. First route is to Nat Htaik village, a six hour trekking distance will reach to a peak about 1700 meters elevation. You can take an overnight stop and return to Padalin the following day. The second route is the whole day trekking to Ywa-ngan town from where you can proceed to Inle Lake 60 miles by car.
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