Indawgyi Lake

Indawgyi is a large lake in Kachin State, some twenty kilometres long, surrounded by wetland, paddy and forested hills, and designated a UNESCO biosphere reserve in 2017. Shwe Myitzu pagoda stands on an island near the shore, and in the dry months a sandbank emerges that allows pilgrims to walk out to it, which is the focus of a festival in March. The lake holds large numbers of wintering waterbirds, and the shore villages run a modest community tourism operation with bicycles and boats.

What you actually see

• The lake - around twenty kilometres of open water with hills on the western side.
• Shwe Myitzu Pagoda - an island shrine reached on foot across a sandbank in the dry season.
• The wintering birds - large concentrations of ducks and waders from November.
• The shore villages - Shan and Kachin settlements with a community tourism arrangement.

When to go

November to March is the dry season and the birding season. The sandbank to the pagoda appears around February and March, and the festival falls at the full moon of Tabaung. The monsoon makes the access road difficult.

Honest expectations

Access to Kachin State has been restricted at various times and permit requirements change, so the position needs checking before travelling. Facilities around the lake are basic. The road from Hopin is rough and public transport is limited.

Nearby

Hopin is on the railway to Myitkyina, which is the state capital several hours north.