Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda is the most important religious and spiritual center for the Intha people, an indigenous people who live in the villages surrounding Inle Lake. It is believed to have been built by King Alaungsithu of the Bagan Kingdom, who reigned in the 12th century and built numerous religious sites.

• Sacred Buddha Statues: Inside the pagoda are enshrined five sacred golden Buddha statues (known to Thais as "Bua Khem"), which originally stood approximately 9–18 inches (23–46 cm) tall. These Buddha statues, covered in gold leaf by Buddhist worshippers over centuries, have completely lost their original appearance, transforming them into incredibly heavy golden spheres despite their relatively small size.

• Miraculous Legend (Reasons for the Remaining Four): The most famous legend concerns an incident in 1965 during the Buddha Procession Festival, when a severe storm capsized a procession boat, causing the five Buddha statues to sink into the lake. Villagers attempted to recover only four Buddha images. Upon returning to the temple, the fifth Buddha image miraculously reappeared on its pedestal inside the pagoda, with traces of water and algae covering it. Since then, villagers have been reluctant to carry the fifth Buddha image onto a procession boat, leaving it enshrined in the pagoda for good.

• Phong Taw Oo Festival: This is the most significant annual festival in Shan State, held from September to October (the end of Buddhist Lent) and lasting 18 days. During this festival, four Buddha images are enshrined on a royal barge modeled after the Garuda (golden swan) and paraded through villages around Inle Lake, allowing villagers to pay homage up close. The procession is led by Intha rowers, who are known for their unique use of their legs. This is a spectacular sight and a national cultural highlight.

• Prayer Restrictions: As is the custom in many Burmese temples, women are not allowed to directly apply gold leaf to the Buddha images. Gilding is a privilege reserved for men. Female pilgrims can only pay homage and offer a red cloth to take home as a blessing.

• From Yangon, you can fly to Lucky Inle Township and then take a car or boat to Inle Lake.

• There are local boat services from the main pier to the pagoda.

• Tourists can rent boats to explore the lake and nearby villages.

• Visit in the morning or evening to avoid the intense sun and crowds of tourists.

• Bring comfortable shoes, as they must be removed before entering the pagoda.

• Dress respectfully to respect the sacred site.

• Try a boat trip to see a floating village and experience the local silk-making process.

Admission Fees:

• There is no entrance fee to the pagoda itself, but there may be a donation box for its maintenance.

Opening Hours:

• Inle Lake Entrance Fee: Foreign tourists entering the Inle Lake area are required to pay an entrance fee of approximately 3,000 kyats (some sources indicate that a fee of approximately 3,000 kyats is charged to enter the pagodas, which may be a specific entrance fee or a combined fee).