Indawgyi Lake covers 12,000 hectares and is the third-largest lake in Southeast Asia. It stretches 13 kilometres from east to west and 24 kilometres from north to south. Its area and directional measurements show the lake from two perspectives: its total size and its extent along the two stated axes.
The lake is surrounded by a wildlife sanctuary that is home to a variety of species, including rare mammals and birds. Fishing, kayaking, trekking and cycling are available leisure activities at Indawgyi Lake. The options can be distinguished according to your interests: fishing and kayaking have a direct connection to the water, while trekking and cycling offer a different focus.
Forest landscapes and rivers
Another natural highlight is the Northern Mountain Forest Complex. It consists of Hkakabo Razi National Park, Hponkan Razi Wildlife Sanctuary and a proposed southern extension of Hkakabo Razi National Park. Its habitats range from subtropical evergreen forest to alpine meadows and snow-covered peaks. The lake can be described by its area and dimensions; the complex is notable for the range of its forest types and alpine habitats.
Myitsone is the confluence of the Mayhka and Malikha rivers, which form the Ayeyarwady there. For your thematic selection, the natural features can be organised from three perspectives: scale, habitat diversity and river geography.
Kachin culture and the Manaw Festival
For Kachin culture, the Kachin State Cultural Museum in Myitkyina Township and the Manaw Festival offer two different points of reference. A report dated 2 May 2024 described an additional exhibition hall for the museum as planned.
The Kachin Manaw Festival is usually celebrated for one day in the first week of January. Kachin people also travel to Myanmar from all over the world to take part and meet family and friends. The Manaw dance performed at the festival was once part of the Nat spirit cult. Tourists are usually invited to dance at the festival together with local people. The historical context and the invitation to visitors are different aspects: the connection to the Nat spirit cult is part of the dance’s earlier history, while tourists are usually invited to join in. If you choose the festival as a reason to travel, check the dates for the year in question in advance.
More cultural perspectives in Myanmar
Outside Kachin State, you can find other cultural sites in Myanmar with different points of interest. In Mandalay, Myanmar, visitors can watch artisans at work in stone-carving workshops near Mahamuni Pagoda. The Mrauk U Archaeological Zone in Myanmar includes pagodas and temples dating from the 15th to the 18th century, as well as the ruins of a royal palace. At the religious monuments of the Pyu Ancient Cities in Myanmar, Buddhist pilgrims from across the region continue to venerate the shrines. The National Museum in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar, spans five buildings.
Discover more destinations: Putao, Yangon, Magway Region, Ayeyarwady, Irrawaddy, Sagaing Division, Kayin State, Tanintharyi Division.
Go to the main travel overview: Myanmar.
