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1. Christian Mueller says:

   December 7, 2025 at 6:34 am

   🌿 Experience the Spirit of Sangkhla Buri
   Hidden in Thailand’s far western mountains, Sangkhla Buri is a picturesque district where Thai, Mon and Karen cultures mingle. This border town sits on the shores of the Songkalia River, fringed by forests and misty hills. Getting there takes about 5 hours from Bangkok, but the journey rewards you with timeless wooden bridges, floating temples and a taste of life at the edge of Myanmar.
   🌉 Cross the Legendary Mon Bridge
   The town’s most iconic landmark is the Uttamanusorn Bridge, better known as the Mon Bridge. Stretching across the Songkalia River, it is Thailand’s longest wooden bridge and one of the longest in the world. Built between 1986–1987 by Mon villagers under the guidance of revered monk Luang Phor Uttama, this 850‑metre span links the Thai town and the Mon village of Ban Wangka, symbolising friendship between two communities Sapan Mon Bridge. The bridge is embraced by mountains and often shrouded in early‑morning mist; it offers beautiful sunrises and glimpses of local life as Mon children leap into the river or commuters paddle long‑tail boats. In 2013, part of the bridge collapsed due to heavy rains, but locals quickly built a temporary bamboo bridge while restoring the original structure Sapan Mon Bridge.
   🛕 Wat Wang Wiwekaram & The Sunken Temple
   Sangkhla Buri’s spiritual heart is Wat Wang Wiwekaram, founded in 1953 by Luang Phor Uttama with help from Mon and Karen villagers en.wikipedia.org. When the Vajiralongkorn Dam (Khao Laem Dam) flooded the old village in the 1980s, the temple was relocated to higher ground and rebuilt with a blend of Mon and Thai architectural styles en.wikipedia.org. The submerged remains of the old monastery, nicknamed the Underwater Temple, emerge during the dry season and can be visited by boat. This poignant site is a reminder of how the dam transformed the landscape and forced communities to adapt en.wikipedia.org.
   🌊 Vajiralongkorn Dam & Khao Laem Lake
   A short drive from town brings you to Vajiralongkorn Dam, also called Khao Laem Dam. This rock‑fill dam with a reinforced concrete crest stands 92 metres high and stretches 1,019 metres across the Khwae Noi River Vajiralongkorn Dam. Completed in 1984 to generate hydroelectricity and regulate water for farming, the dam created a vast reservoir now known as Khao Laem Lake. Visitors can cruise the lake to admire floating villages and emerald hills; overnight stays on floating rafts are popular Vajiralongkorn Dam.
   🚩 Three Pagodas Pass – Gateway to Myanmar
   Further west lies the Three Pagodas Pass, a mountain pass at 282 metres elevation linking Nong Lu in Thailand to Payathonzu in Myanmar en.wikipedia.org. Named after three small stupas built at the end of the Ayutthaya period as symbols of peace en.wikipedia.org, this border crossing has been a strategic route for centuries, serving as an invasion path during Burmese–Siamese wars en.wikipedia.org. Today it hosts a border market where travellers browse handicrafts from both sides. Visitors can obtain a one‑day pass to enter the Burmese village (US$10 fee) and shop for wood carvings, jade and textiles Three Pagodas Pass. The pass closes at 6 p.m. and access depends on current politics tourismthailand.org.
   🤔 Did You Know?

   Bridge of Friendship: The Mon Bridge’s length is often exaggerated. While locals call it 850 m, its official length is 445 m, making it the longest wooden bridge in Thailand and second longest in the world en.wikipedia.org.
   Relocated Temple: Wat Wang Wiwekaram was moved piece by piece to avoid flooding from the dam, with villagers donating time and materials en.wikipedia.org.
   Hydropower Giant: Vajiralongkorn Dam’s construction created a reservoir covering 388 km² and supplies electricity to western Thailand Vajiralongkorn Dam.
   Historic Pass: Three Pagodas Pass served as the main route for Burmese invasions and the Allied‑built Death Railway during World War II en.wikipedia.org.

   🌏 Connections with Cambodia & Laos
   Sangkhla Buri’s mix of cultures resonates with communities across Southeast Asia. The Mon people share linguistic and cultural roots with the Khmer; in Cambodia’s Battambang and Pursat provinces there are Mon minority villages, and Theravada Buddhism ties them together. The water festivals celebrated at Khao Laem Lake are reminiscent of Songkran, Bun Pi Mai and Chaul Chnam Thmey, the New Year water festivals of Thailand, Laos and Cambodia where splashing water symbolises purification and renewal en.wikipedia.org. Visiting Three Pagodas Pass highlights the flow of ideas and trade that has connected these nations for centuries.
   🚐 Travel in Comfort with MoriTour
   Exploring remote Sangkhla Buri is easiest with a knowledgeable guide and reliable transport. MoriTour is a Swiss‑managed company offering VIP vans and professionally trained drivers moritour.com. We customise your itinerary, provide bilingual guides (English, German, Thai) and ensure safety and comfort. Our team arranges boat trips to the sunken temple, visits to Mon villages and border markets, and can combine Sangkhla Buri with stops at Ayutthaya or Kanchanaburi’s war museums. With us you get personalised service that larger operators can’t match.
   😊📸 Photo & Video Inspiration

   Images: Search for “Mon Bridge Sangkhlaburi” on Wikimedia Commons or patricklepetit’s photo gallery to see sunrise scenes and the mist‑covered bridge.
   Videos: Watch “Sangkhlaburi Mon Bridge and Sunken Temple Tour” on YouTube for aerial views and boat rides across Khao Laem Lake.
   ThailandCambodia Channel: The @ThailandCambodia YouTube channel features videos connecting Thai and Khmer culture and includes a clip on Sangkhla Buri’s Mon community.

   📬 Contact MoriTour
   For bookings and tailor‑made tours: Email Moritour18@gmail.com, Line ID moritour, Facebook https://www.facebook.com/MoriTour/, Instagram https://www.instagram.com/moritour.thailand/.
   We hope to accompany you on a journey through this charming frontier town where cultures meet and history comes alive!
   Sources

   Sapan Mon Bridge – Tourism Authority of Thailand (construction dates 1986–1987, 850 m length, built by Mon villagers, collapse in 2013 and restoration) tourismthailand.org.
   Uttamanusorn Bridge – Wikipedia (445 m official length, built 1986–87 by Mon people under Luang Phor Uttama) en.wikipedia.org.
   Wat Wang Wiwekaram – Wikipedia (built 1953 by Luang Phor Uttama; relocated due to dam; underwater temple) en.wikipedia.orgen.wikipedia.org.
   Vajiralongkorn Dam – Tourism Authority of Thailand (92 m high, 1,019 m long, rock‑fill dam; reservoir and floating rafts) tourismthailand.org.
   Three Pagodas Pass – Tourism Authority of Thailand (border market; 240 km from town; opening hours and passport requirements) tourismthailand.org.
   Three Pagodas Pass – Wikipedia (named after three pagodas built during Ayutthaya period; main invasion route; Death Railway history; location and hill tribes) en.wikipedia.orgen.wikipedia.org.
   Water festivals – cross‑cultural information on Songkran, Bun Pi Mai and Chaul Chnam Thmey en.wikipedia.org.
   MoriTour – Our Vans page (VIP vans, professional drivers, Swiss management) moritour.com.

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