Serenity Amid Conflict at Myanmar’s Indawgyi Lake

Aug 25, 2017 | Hugh Scobie
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Hugh Scobie takes a journey to a serenely remote lake in northern Myanmar that is largely inaccessible due to surrounding military conflicts. Indawgyi Lake, located in the northern Kachin State of Burma/Myanmar, is a travel gem that is as rewarding as it is inaccessible. Floating golden pagodas, working elephants and a truly breathtaking number of migratory birds can all be found at the lake. While tourists have been visiting Bagan, Mandalay and Inle Lake in ever greater numbers since 2011, Indawgyi has remained largely untouched by the burgeoning tourism industry. The main reason for this is its remoteness; Indawgyi is not connected to any major highways or railways and there are no airstrips. The closest major destination is Myitkyina, the largest city in Kachin State, from where you can catch a train south. The railways were completed at the close of the 19th century and travel at antique speeds. If you’re travelling from the south, it can take more than 24 hours. Watch out for biting insects and try to make friends with the amused locals while you roll through valleys filled by rice paddies, farmers and buffalo.