chiang mai province

H o w T o G e t T h e r e
There are buses leaving
from Bangkok’s Mo Chit Bus
Terminal to Sangkhlaburi daily.
You can also take a van from
the Victory
Monument to Kanchanaburi
and then catch another van to
Sangkhlaburi. The ride takes
about 6-7 hours.
C o n t a c t
TAT Kanchanaburi office
0 3451 1200
0 3462 3 691 Sangkhlaburi
GPS Location
N15°15.556'
E98°45.333'
A bridge between cultures
KANCHANABURI PROVINCE. Sangkhlaburi is a little town that
has much to offer in terms of culture, landscape, and activity. It is
located less than 20 km away from the Thai-Burmese border and many of
its local attractions result from the Vajiralongkorn Dam’s construction in 1979.
Its reservoir submerged the whole Mon village and, ironically, created the
famous "sunken temple" that has become a renowned attraction. Most of the
accommodation stand by the reservoir. There are a couple of hip, bohemian
cafes, which makes it comparable to Pai but in a more measured manner.
All in all, the town is a perfect place to relax on a misty day.
The Thai and Mon sides of the village are joined by the celebrated
"Uttamanusorn" Bridge. This is the longest wooden bridge of Thailand, an
assemblage of unpolished wooden boards and planks spanning over
800 metres. The rickety feel and rawness of the material somehow makes it
beautiful and picture perfect. Cross it and reach Wang Wiwekaram Temple
of "Luangpho Uttama", a famous and highly revered monk who fled from the
1990’s civil war in Myanmar and became the spiritual leader of the community.
At 6:30 a.m. every morning, monks make their daily procession. You can
participate in this rite at the entrance of the bridge on the Mon side. It is a good
way to get a glimpse of the local culture.
A visit to the sunken temple is almost compulsory. Depending on the season,
you might see only the top of its bell tower. The relics of Buddha heads, the
artfully eroded edifice with green hills and water as a background can be quite
inspiring. You can either visit this holy place on a kayak by yourself or join an
organized tour package with elephant riding and bamboo rafting (which can
turn adventurous during the rainy season).
When we were there, the water level in the reservoir hit its lowest in 20 years.•
Left: The Mon wooden bridge, the longest in Thailand.
Right: The main hall of Wang Wiwekaram Temple.
Central Plains
Culture
Kayak and bicycles b WiFi @ English spoken
Discover N Get a
glimpse of the culture
of the Mon people - an
ethnic group originally
from Myanmar. Three
wonderfullandmarks here
bear their footprint: the
longest wooden bridge in
Thailand, the submerged
Wang Wiwekaram temple,
and the Bodh Gaya pagoda.
FeelY Popular among
travellers, this town still
maintains its pleasant
simplicity and tranquility.
A great place for outdoor
adventurers.
Share❖ Many
humanitarian workers
are based in the
surrounding Burmese
refugees camps. Shops
sell products (mostly
handwoven Karen fabric)
whose profit helps
support the volunteer
work. Look for
Ban Unruk shop.
For more info
www.baanunrak.org.
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