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1. Christian Mueller says:

   December 7, 2025 at 4:58 am

   🏞️ Discover Sangkhla Buri – A Peaceful Border Town with Rich Culture
   Sangkhla Buri is a remote district in western Thailand’s Kanchanaburi province. It covers about 3 ,349 km² and has a population of about 54 ,459 people en.wikipedia.org. Located on the border with Myanmar, the district is largely covered by the Khao Laem Reservoir formed by Vajiralongkorn Dam en.wikipedia.org. The area is part of the Thung Yai Naresuan Wildlife Sanctuary, one of Thailand’s largest protected forests en.wikipedia.org. Because Sangkhla Buri sits between Thailand and Myanmar, it has become a melting‑pot of Mon, Karen and Thai cultures, with influences from Laos and Cambodia through shared Theravada Buddhism.
   🌉 The Mon Bridge – Linking Cultures
   A visit to Sangkhla Buri is not complete without crossing the Uttamanusorn (Mon) Bridge. This wooden footbridge stretches 850 m across the Songaria River, making it Thailand’s longest wooden bridge and the world’s second longest after U Bein Bridge in Myanmar tourismthailand.org. Built in 1986–87 under the guidance of Luang Phor Uttama and constructed entirely by Mon villagers, the bridge links the Thai side of Nong Lu subdistrict to the Mon community on the opposite bank tourismthailand.org. The bridge symbolises friendship between Thais and Mon people and offers beautiful views of mist‑shrouded hills. In 2013 heavy rain and floating logs caused part of the bridge to collapse tourismthailand.org. Locals quickly built a temporary bamboo bridge while restoring the original, showing community resilience.
   🛕 Wat Wang Wiwekaram & the Underwater Temple
   Wat Wang Wiwekaram, also called Wat Luang Pho Uttama, is the spiritual heart of Sangkhla Buri. Luang Pho Uttama built the temple in 1953 with the help of Karen and Mon villagers en.wikipedia.org. When the Vajiralongkorn Dam project threatened to flood the original village, the temple and homes were relocated to higher ground, and each family received new land en.wikipedia.org. The new temple (completed in 1985) combines Mon and Thai architecture, and houses a museum with ancient Mon scriptures and relics en.wikipedia.org. The old temple site, now called the Sangkhla Buri Underwater Temple, becomes visible when the reservoir’s water level drops en.wikipedia.org. According to the Thailand Tourism Directory, this temple remains the centre of faith for Thai, Karen and Mon residents; locals consider Luang Pho Uttama a saint and celebrate his birthday each February with Mon and Karen dances, rope boxing and cultural performances thailandtourismdirectory.go.th. The temple’s relocation story highlights the community’s ability to adapt to environmental change.
   🚢 Vajiralongkorn Dam & Khao Laem Reservoir
   The Vajiralongkorn Dam (formerly Khao Laem Dam) is an engineering marvel. It is a concrete‑faced rock‑fill dam 92 m high and 1,019 m long en.wikipedia.org. Completed between 1979 and 1984, it creates a reservoir covering 388 km² and storing 8,860 million m³ of water en.wikipedia.org. The dam produces 300 MW of electricity through three 100 MW generators en.wikipedia.org. Tourists can take boat trips on the scenic lake; floating raft houses allow overnight stay stourismthailand.org. The reservoir submerged entire villages and farmland, but it also provided irrigation and electricity for western Thailand. Visitors to Sangkhla Buri often stay on raft houses and watch golden sunsets over the water.
   🗿 Three Pagodas Pass – Gateway to Myanmar
   Just north of the town lies the historic Three Pagodas Pass. This mountain pass stands 282 m above sea level and connects Nong Lu, Thailand to Payathonzu, Myanmar en.wikipedia.org. The pass takes its name from three small stupas built at the end of the Ayutthaya period as symbols of peace en.wikipedia.org. It has served as the main land route between Thailand and Myanmar for centuries en.wikipedia.org. Historical armies marched through it during Burmese–Siamese conflicts, and Japanese forces constructed part of the Death Railway here during World War II en.wikipedia.org. Today travellers can get a one‑day visa to cross into Myanmar to shop for handmade woodwork, jade and textiles en.wikipedia.org. During Songkran, the pass hosts festivals featuring cockfights, Burmese kickboxing and folk dancing, reflecting shared traditions en.wikipedia.org.
   🤔 Did You Know?

   Longest bridge – At 850 m, the Mon Bridge was once the longest wooden bridge in Thailand and remains the world’s second longest, after Myanmar’s U Bein Bridge tourismthailand.org.
   Underwater temple – The old Wat Wang Wiwekaram lies beneath the Khao Laem reservoir; when water levels recede, its ruins emerge, creating a haunting landscape en.wikipedia.org.
   Massive reservoir – Vajiralongkorn Dam’s lake covers 388 km², larger than the Cambodian lake Tonlé Sap during the dry season en.wikipedia.org.
   Cross‑border heritage – The Three Pagodas Pass may have been a route for Indian monks spreading Buddhism in the 3rd century and now appears on Kanchanaburi’s provincial seal en.wikipedia.orgen.wikipedia.org.
   Ethnic diversity – Sangkhla Buri is home to Mon, Karen and Thai communities. Celebrations combine Mon and Karen dances with Thai traditions thailandtourismdirectory.go.th.

   🌍 Parallels with Cambodia & Laos
   Sangkhla Buri’s blend of cultures mirrors the diversity of mainland Southeast Asia. Like Thailand, Cambodia and Laos are majority Theravada Buddhist societies en.wikipedia.org. The Three Pagodas Pass sits on an ancient trade route that linked India and Khmer territories, and its stupas resemble the smaller chedis seen at Cambodia’s Preah Vihear temple. The Songkran water festival celebrated in Sangkhla Buri parallels Cambodia’s Chaul Chnam Thmey and Laos’ Pi Mai New Year, where families splash water to cleanse and honor elders en.wikipedia.org. Even the wooden Mon Bridge echoes the architecture of Myanmar’s U Bein Bridge and shows the shared craftsmanship across the region.
   🚌 Why MoriTour is Your Perfect Partner
   MoriTour is a Swiss‑managed tour operator with a passion for authentic Thai experiences. Unlike mass‑market operators, MoriTour offers VIP van travel with professional drivers who are trained in limousine service moritour.com. They create customised itineraries to Sangkhla Buri, Khao Yai and beyond, ensuring safe driving, comfort and cultural insight. Guides speak English, German and Thai, making communication easy for international guests. Whether you want to walk across the Mon Bridge at sunrise, kayak around the underwater temple or explore ancient Khmer sites, MoriTour’s flexible tours and personal attention make each journey special. Their Swiss management emphasises reliability, hygiene and respect – qualities highly valued in Cambodia, Laos and Germany alike. 📸 Photos & Video Inspiration

   Official TAT gallery: Photos of the Mon Bridge and Khao Laem lake are available on the Tourism Authority of Thailand site. The jAlbum gallery also shows the underwater temple emerging from the reservoir.
   Video: Experience a virtual tour of Sangkhla Buri with Mon Bridge Adventure – Sunken Temple & Three Pagodas on YouTube (youtu.be link). Christian Mueller’s ThailandCambodia channel (https://www.youtube.com/@ThailandCambodia) documents Thai–Khmer culture; search there for clips about Sangkhla Buri and Khmer–Thai festivals.
   Travel resource: Thailine.com provides general travel information on Thailand, including western provinces – a handy resource for German‑speaking visitors.

   📧 Contact MoriTour: Moritour18@gmail.com, Line ID: moritour, Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MoriTour/, Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/moritour.thailand/.
   We hope this comment helps you appreciate Sangkhla Buri’s bridges, temples and cross‑border heritage. #SangkhlaBuri #MonBridge #UnderwaterTemple #VajiralongkornDam #ThreePagodasPass #Thailand #Cambodia #Laos #MoriTour #VIPTravel 🌏
   😊 Sources

   Sangkhla Buri district overview: area, population and geographic context en.wikipedia.orgen.wikipedia.org
   Mon Bridge facts: length, construction by Mon villagers, symbol of friendship, collapse in 2013 tourismthailand.orgtourismthailand.org
   Wat Wang Wiwekaram history: built 1953, relocation due to dam, new temple with museum en.wikipedia.orgen.wikipedia.org
   Temple as cultural centre: faith of Thai, Karen and Mon people; cultural events thailandtourismdirectory.go.th
   Dam statistics: height, length, reservoir area, capacity and power output en.wikipedia.org
   Tourism details for dam: scenic lake and raft houses tourismthailand.org
   Three Pagodas Pass history and tourism: location, naming of pagodas, ancient route, war history and modern festival en.wikipedia.orgen.wikipedia.orgen.wikipedia.org
   Theravada Buddhism and water festivals: shared traditions across Thailand, Cambodia and Laos en.wikipedia.orgen.wikipedia.org

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