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When it comes to Shan State - the eastern region of Myanmar, Vietnamese tourists often only mention Inle Lake. However, if you have ample time to explore, travelers will discover that besides Inle, Shan has many fascinating destinations for those who appreciate ancient cultural beauty. For Western travelers, Pindaya Cave, located about 100km from Inle, is an unmissable destination when visiting Shan.
Exploring Pindaya Cave – A Fascinating Destination in Eastern Myanmar
The journey from Heho Airport to Inle Lake by car takes about 45 minutes, and the trip from Heho to Pindaya Cave takes about the same amount of time but in the opposite direction. Upon entering Shan State, the car stops at a ticket booth where tickets cost 2 USD per person. The road, although narrow, is smooth, with beautiful and peaceful highland landscapes on both sides.
En route, the car stops at a local household producing Myanmar's betel nut leaves grown in their garden. We learn about the process of harvesting, separating leaves, and then drying them in a specially designed kitchen, before neatly packing them into baskets to sell to families making betel quids.
As we near Pindaya Cave, the car also stops for everyone to visit a local market. Here, besides the abundance of typical items and products, visitors can freely take photos of elderly people, women, and children with faces adorned with thanaka - a fine powder made from wood. The locals are very friendly and comfortable interacting with tourists as international visitors frequent this place daily.
Pindaya Cave sits amidst a mountain range approximately 1,200 meters above sea level. Along the path leading to the cave area stand hundreds of centuries-old banyan trees, with their sprawling branches covering a vast expanse of space.
From the outside, Pindaya Cave resembles a temple, with a pathway for visitors covered by a roof extending from the base of the mountain to the cave entrance. Upon entering, one encounters an array of Buddha statues, varying in size, shape, and stature, all adorned in radiant gold.
According to the guide, there are nearly 8,000 Buddha statues spanning the 150-meter length of the cave, including many rare ancient statues.
Some statues exhibit distinct forms and styles, representing different eras. The density of statues is such that some passages allow only enough space for two people to pass each other. Statues are arranged from the cave floor to its ceiling, prompting visitors to explore from the entrance to the top, offering panoramic views of the cave adorned with thousands of Buddha statues.
The second chamber of the cave opens into a vast space filled with thousands more Buddha statues. These statues are interspersed with stalactites, sparkling with golden and silvery hues, exuding an aura of solemn grandeur.
The cave is illuminated by white light along the pilgrim's path, casting an ethereal golden glow on the Buddha statues. Depending on the beliefs and spirituality of the devotees, Buddha statues are constructed and arranged according to various concepts and designs.
Within the cave, there are stalactites extending from the ceiling to the floor, with water trickling down day after day. In this second space, there's an area adorned with a collection of Buddha statues, surrounded by a circular path symbolizing reincarnation. It is believed that pilgrims who circumambulate this path seven times will encounter great fortune.
The locals refrain from burning incense inside the cave temple; the only offering they bring is fresh flowers. The vendors around the temple rely on selling souvenirs to visitors rather than a variety of offerings, unlike the offerings displayed outside temples in Vietnam.
After visiting Pindaya Cave, we stopped at a local restaurant for lunch. These restaurants, built in traditional Myanmar architecture, offer beautiful and spacious environments. The food is delicious and reasonably priced, with a meal consisting of three main dishes and a fruit juice costing around 180,000 Vietnamese dong.
Source: Doanhnhansaigon.vn
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Reference: Travel guide on Mytour
MytourDecember 31, 2015
