Top Things to See
Shan State offers tourists an impressive selection of sites to explore. Attractions include Buddhist temples and pagodas, as well as Inle Lake and its canals. It's possible to organise treks that incorporate some of the major sites on an overland journey. In each town or village, most sites can be visited on foot.
Anisakan Falls
Outside Pyin U Lwin, the little village of Anisakan and its waterfalls are only accessible by hiking here. Hire a guide in town and embark on the hike, which takes less than an hour and takes you over hills and down into a gorge. It takes some energy to make it here, but these breathtaking falls are worth the effort. The pools under the falls are nice for a swim and it is possible to have an afternoon picnic on the grass nearby. Pick-up trucks from Pyin U Lwin can transfer you to the trailhead in Anisakan.
 Inle Lake
The most popular tourist attraction in Shan State, Inle Lake is full of culture and interesting activities. The Intha people are the predominant demographic here, with a sprinkling of other ethnic groups. The lake is the epicentre of day-to-day living, characterised by floating gardens and water markets that teem with small wooden boats. The men at Inle Lake are known to row standing at the stern of their canoe with one leg wrapped around the oar. The best time to visit is during the late autumn months, when the Hpaung Daw U Festival is in full swing.
Inle Lake Canals
The canals that feed Inle Lake run to the east and west of Nyaungshwe. The western leg is bustling with boat traffic and ceaseless commerce. Visitors are often shown this stretch of water if they hire a boat to tour the lake. Across town on the eastern leg of the canal, the pace of life is slower. Locals come to do their washing and children play along the banks in the relaxing surroundings. A marvellous setting for an evening stroll, the eastern canal offers a candid window into Shan State life.
Koun Soun Taungbo Monastery
Half the fun of visiting the monastery at Koun Soun Taungbo is trekking here. The hike takes all day, and you’ll want to hire a guide for the journey. Along the trail is Ta-Eh Gu Cave, which is sacred to Buddhist; its dark chambers serve as meditation grounds for monks. There are also scattered Pa-O villages along the ascending trail. Reasonably fit hikers can reach the monastery in time for lunch and still have plenty of time left to explore the grounds before heading back.
 National Kandawgyi Botanical Gardens
Founded in 1915 by Englishman Alex Rodger, these gardens were originally sculpted after England’s Kew Gardens. Through the years, the role of the gardens has steadily evolved, and they have now gained recognition as a protected forest area. The gardens boast numerous species including 133 distinct orchid species; six varieties of land lilies, 25 rose species, and 344 tree species. Interestingly, a few endangered species are also harboured here including the star tortoise, takin and two species of indigenous deer.
 Pindaya Caves
Just outside of Pindaya town, these caves are a famous site for modern Buddhist pilgrims. The southernmost cavern is open to the public, and the chamber extends inward nearly 500 feet. Along the way, a staggering 8,000 Buddha images line the walls and form an amazing labyrinth. The oldest Buddha images date to the 18th century, and the collection as a whole is a comprehensive guide to changing Buddhist iconography over the past three centuries. Locals say it is good luck to wipe your face with condensation from a ‘perspiring Buddha.’
Purcell Tower
Far from their homeland, the chiming tones of Big Ben resonate through the streets of Pyin U Lwin. Purcell Tower was a present from Queen Elizabeth, given in 1934 in honour of George V’s silver jubilee. A clock just like it was also gifted at the same time to Cape Town in South Africa. Since it was erected, the clock has been continuously maintained by the local Atche family.
 Yadana Man Aung Paya
In Nyaungshwe, there are a number of Buddhist shrines and religious buildings. Yadana Man Aung is one of the nicer shrines, which also happens to be the oldest here. Its most noteworthy feature is the unique gold stupa wrapped by an ascending spiral staircase. The shrine is a nice stopover on a northern tour of Inle Lake.
Top Things to Do
Cruise Inle Lake. During September and October, the Shan and Intha tribes around Inle Lake celebrate Thadingyut and Phaung Daw U festivals. Energy levels are high at this time, making it a wonderful time to charter a boat cruise and enjoy the festivities and locals dressed in traditional clothing.
Drive to Kakku. Several miles west of Inle Lake is a dense cluster of hundreds of pagodas that date to the 1500s. Originally numbering 2,500, a good portion of these classic Shan-style structures remain today. Kakku is also accessible by a combined boat and off-road excursion from Inle Lake.
 Go bird watching at Inle Lake. Declared a bird sanctuary in 1985, Ingle Lake has long been home to a stunning variety of waterfowl and migratory species. Egrets circle the lake and fish in its lagoons, and you'll also catch site of black bulbul, collared myna, and many other colourful birds flitting around the lake.
 Play chinglone. This popular Burmese game is played by people of all ages across Myanmar. It bears some resemblance to hacky-sack, as six-person teams keep a ball aloft as long as possible without using their hands. Most locals will be happy to demonstrate the rules for you or your children.
 Shop on water at Inle Lake. The highest floating market in the world is an amazing sight to behold. Floating gardens are scattered across the lake where vendors in rowboats sell fresh fish, produce and flowers. Even if you don't plan to buy anything, just seeing this amazing sight is rewarding.
Take a trip to Pindaya. There's more than one reason to visit this quaint village at the foot of the Mene mountains. The main attraction here is the network of caverns which contain thousands of Buddha images that span several centuries. Handmade umbrellas are a popular souvenir which can be purchased here.
Visit a traditional hill tribe village. Regular trekking expeditions are launched from Kengung inside the Golden Triangle to hill tribe villages. Tour guides can arrange treks into Akha, Lahu, Shan and Wa tribes, where meals and overnight accommodation are provided. This remote region is home to a mosaic of ethnic minorities that maintain their unique cultures.
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