lonely-planet-myanmar-burma-11-edition

188EASTERN MYANMAR INLE LAKE019; www.gicmyanmar.com; r $50-70; i) Ownedby a cooperative of Pa-O tribal people, theGolden Island Cottages resorts provide someof the best accommodation on the lake. TheNampan resort has a great location overopen water while the Thale U resort is closerto shore. Both resorts offer attractive, raisedcottages linked by wooden walkways, arrangedaround a central restaurant servinggood Chinese, Pa-O and Shan dishes. Theowners can arrange treks and boat trips toKakku and Sankar – they have an office inNyaungshwe on Phaung Daw Seiq Rd.Inle Princess Resort BOUTIQUE HOTEL $$$(Map p 185 ; %209 055; www.inleprincessresort.com; bungalows $160-250; ai) The Inle Princessis honeymoon material. The stylishwooden cottages would not look out of placein an Asian design magazine, with handmadefurniture, luxurious fabrics, pottedplants and ethnic artefacts on the walls. Themore expensive bungalows have plant-filledsun decks facing the lake.Hu Pin Hotel Inle KhaungDaing Village Resort HOTEL $$$(Map p 185 ; %209 291; www.hupinhotelmyanmar.com; Kaung Daing; r/cottage/ste $50-70/70-80/150)Owned by the same people as the Hu Pin Hotelin Nyaungshwe, this vast compound of 86rooms and bungalows sits on dry land facingthe lake. The wooden bungalows are comfortableand well cared for and feature greatviews over the lake.Shwe Inn Tha HOTEL $$$(Map p 185 ; %209445; www.myanmar-inleshweinntha-floatinghotel.com; Nam Pan; bungalow/ste $80/150;ais) Open since 1996, this is the upscaleversion of the nearby Golden Island CottagesNampan. Accommodation here takes theform of deluxe bungalows or suites elevatedover water. Rooms are fully equipped and thisis the only resort on Inle Lake with its ownpool.Inle Lake View HOTEL $$$(Map p 185 ; %209 332; www.inlelakeview.com; KaungDaing; r $120-130, ste $155-165, villa $220; i) Locatedon dry land at Kaung Daing, the roomshere are spread over several buildings a shortwalk from the shores of Inle Lake. There areonly two free-standing villas, but all roomsare spacious and tastefully furnished.Inle Resort BOUTIQUE HOTEL $$$(Map p 185 ; %209 361; www.inleresort.com; MaingThauk; cottages $75-120; ai) Opened in 2005,this handsome resort is centred on a palatialwooden restaurant and lobby. The stylishcottages feature huge picture windows andprivate sun decks facing the lake.Sky Lake HOTEL $$$(Map p 185 ; %209 128; www.inleskylake.com; MaingThauk; bungalows $50-60) Sky Lake has the typicalsetup of a water-bound Inle Lake resortbut with a slightly more aged feel than itsdirect neighbour, Paradise Inle Resort.Paradise Inle Resort HOTEL $$$(Map p 185 ; %209 586; Maing Thauk; bungalows$60-100; i) Next door to Sky Lake, this newerfloating resort is similar to its neighbour,but feels comparatively overpriced.5EatingAs well as the resorts, there are numerousfloating restaurants in stilt houses on thelake that offer good Chinese and Shan food,cold beers and English-language menus.The greatest concentration of restaurantsis in Ywama, but there are also some goodchoices around Nampan.Inn Thar Lay CHINESE, BURMESE $$(Map p 185 ; %209 451; Tha Ley; mains K5000-6000;hall day) This restaurant, with two branchesnear Phaung Daw Oo Paya, gets good reviewsand has its own vegetable garden.Around Inle LakeTAUNGGYIetC='äkI"%081 / POP C150,000Although travellers make a beeline for Nyaungshwe,Taunggyi is the administrativecapital for the whole of Shan State. Perchedon top of a mountain, it’s a busy trading postand the town markets are piled high withChinese and Thai goods, freighted in dailyvia the border crossings at Mong La andTachileik. Unless you’ve spent too much timein rural Shan State and are pining for the bigcity and/or consumer goods, there’s reallylittle of interest here for the average visitor.1SightsShan State Cultural Museum& LibraryMUSEUMrHm'"¨p–'ny'yw'ekY"múu¨ptiuk' NH=¾'cCäk–¾'tiuk''(Bogyoke Aung San Rd; admission $2; h9.30am-4pm Tue-Sun) With such a strong emphasis ontribal costumes, we reckon this place could