Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
“Great Royal Lake” (as the name translates) was created by the British using water chan-
nelled from Inya Lake - it's around 8km in circumference, but not much more than 1m deep
at anypoint. The best views ofthe water are fromYeik Thar Road onits southern side, either
from an attractive boardwalk or from the adjacent public road (which the government gener-
ously allows overseas visitors to use free of charge, although there's an ugly fence between
you and the lake).
Karaweik Palace
Impossible to miss on the east side of the lake is the striking
Karaweik Palace
, a chintzy
pagoda-style hall built in 1974 and set on a pair of barges pointing out into the water, each
with the head of an enormous karaweik (a mythical bird famous for its melodious song) on
its prow. The design echoes the
pyigyimun
, or royal barge, commonly used for ceremonial
purposes by Burmese monarchs of the past. It's a nice place to watch the sun set over Sh-
wedagon, while the lavish interior now houses a restaurant staging a touristy nightly dinner
