Bagan and Inle Lake

Bagan

In its glory days in the 13th century, the official count was 4446 temples.  Due to earthquakes and general deterioration over time, Bagan (sometimes spelt Pagan) has 2230 temples in a 42 square kilometer area.  There are still remnants of a wall dating from the 9th century.

This is the dining area for our hotel on the banks of the Irrawaddy River.

Thousands of Pagodas, some over a 1000 years old.  A few of these are only 15 feet tall, a few are 15 stories tall - most are just big.

Not your regular Buddha.  Sulamani Pagoda.

Hallway going into Shwe Zigon Pagoda

Inle Lake

Inle Lake is shallow (5 meters or 16 feet) and 22 kilometers long, surrounded by 17 villages on stilts.  It has a population of about 70,000 people.

The hotel that we stayed at was on stilts, close to the shore  ie. we couldn't walk to solid land without wading through marsh grass.

Water buffalo taking a break.

Some Pagodas on solid ground.

Inle fisherman

Note the foot motion by the centre rower below.  The fishermen frequently use their leg to propel the oar.  This allows them to use their hands to work the special bamboo nets as well as stand up and look over the marsh grasses.

Indein

The village of Indein is on the West side of Inle lake and can be reached through a maze of water canals.  When you get to the village, you walk up a hill to these stuppas.  Most of the stuppas have escaped restoration.