Yawnghwe
Introduction
Yawnghwe, also called Nyaungshwe, was a Shan state in what is now Myanmar and ranked among the most important of the Southern Shan States. Its territory took in Inle Lake, and its administrative capital was Taunggyi, in the northern part of the state. The state held two seats of power worth knowing before you go. Taunggyi was the administrative centre and the residence of the British Superintendent of the Southern Shan States, while the king's palace stood at Yawnghwe itself.Three days in Yawnghwe
Day one: Base yourself in Nyaungshwe, the town also known as Yawnghwe, on the edge of Inle Lake in the Southern Shan States of Myanmar. Spend your first hours on foot getting a feel for the place, then take a boat out on Inle Lake to see the leg-rowing fishermen and the floating gardens. In the evening, eat Shan food in Nyaungshwe.
Day two: Head out on the water again, this time to the villages and markets around Inle Lake, where you can watch silk weaving and other crafts. If your visit falls on a market day, the market moves between locations around the lake, so ask locally where it is being held. Return to Nyaungshwe for the night.
Day three: Travel to Taunggyi, the capital of the Southern Shan States, for a change of scene from the lake. Back in Nyaungshwe, round off your stay with a last walk through town and a Shan meal. If you want context for what you have seen, the town's history under the British Superintendent is part of its story.