Religious site
Phaung Daw U Pagoda
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Phaung Daw U Pagoda is the most important religious site in the Inle Lake region, located in Nyaungshwe. The pagoda enshrines five small Buddha images that have been covered in so much gold leaf by devotees that their original forms are barely discernible. Visitors can observe pilgrims applying gold leaf to the statues, creating a mesmerizing, lumpy texture. The complex also features a large hall with a seated Buddha and offers views of the lake. The annual Phaung Daw U Festival, when the images are taken on a royal barge around the lake, is a major event.
Don't miss
- Witness devotees applying gold leaf to the five Buddha images, giving them a unique, knobby appearance.
- Explore the main prayer hall and observe local worshippers making offerings.
- Visit during the Phaung Daw U Festival (October/November) to see the images paraded on a decorated barge.
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