Phaung Daw Paya

Entry fee: covered in the through ticket for Inle Lake Pass which charges US$5.

Phaung Daw Paya is a landmark of Inle Lake and famous through the country for its enshrined five ancient Buddha statues which were moulded in 12th century. These Buddhas are full covered with gold leaves by devout pilgrims. As covered with too more gold leaves, the five sense organs, arms and legs of the Buddhas are difficult to recognize today.

According to legend, people had the five Buddhas move to a huge pullboat during a commemorative activity in 1965, but the Buddhas were over boarded in the lake. In the end, people made every effort but only refloated four of them, and send them back to the pagoda with frustrations. In astonishment, they found the missed Buddha had already standing well in the pagoda. Since then on, more and more devout men and women come to Phaung Daw Paya to worship the sacred Buddha.

Tips: Only male can paste gold leaf on the Buddha according to Myanmar tradition.