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The Fishermen of Inle Lake

Fish caught from the lake - the most abundant kind is called nga hpein locally (Inle carp, Cyprinus intha) - are a staple of the local diet. A popular local dish is htamin gyin - 'fermented' rice kneaded with fish and/or potato - served with hnapyan gyaw (literally twice fried - Shan tofu).

In addition to fishing, locals grow vegetables and fruit in large gardens that float on the surface of the lake. The floating garden beds are formed by extensive manual labor.

The farmers gather up lake-bottom weeds from the deeper parts of the lake, bring them back in boats and make them into floating beds in their garden areas, anchored by bamboo poles. These gardens rise and fall with changes in the water level, and so are resistant to flooding. The constant availability of nutrient-laden water results in these gardens being incredibly fertile. Rice cultivation and consumption is also significant facet of the local diet and agricultural tradition.

Fisherman about to drop his net.

Fisherman collecting his net.

Fisherman setting traps for fish in the lake.

Fisherman collecting seafood from traps.

Fisherman collecting weeds from the bottom of the lake.

Fishermen carrying the weeds to the floating gardens.

Karaweik barge.
The word karaweik comes from Pali karavika, which is a mythical bird with a melodious cry.

  • Phaung Daw U Pagoda (lit. 'principal royal barge pagoda') is a notable Buddhist pagoda in the village of Ywama on Inle Lake.
  • The pagoda is the site of a major annual pagoda festival during which the temple's principal Buddha images are circulated on this royal barge across Inle Lake.
  • See more at Phaung Daw U Pagoda - Wikipedia.

Typical Inle lake house

Typical Inle lake house.
Most people live in simple houses of wood and woven bamboo on stilts.

  • Almost all the houses in the village on the lake itself sit on stilts and are made of woven bamboo.
  • Sanitation in the villages around the lake is an ongoing concern for public health authorities, due to untreated sewage (with 72% of households using open pits, not latrines) and waste water flowing into the lake.

See also

Source

Location

Location: Inle Lake, Myanmar (Burma)