Sangkhlaburi is a district in the Western part of Kanchanaburi province, bordering Burma. Its main town also named Sangkhlaburi is situated at the edge of Vajiralongkorn Lake. The small, rural town was built fairly recently when the old village was submerged after the completion of the Vajiralongkorn dam. A remote place of forests, waterfalls, small villages and farmland, Sangkhlaburi takes some effort to get to. A long journey across a scenic route leads to the town, which is a mix of Thai, Burmese, Karen and Mon people.
To do & see in Sangkhlaburi
Sangkhlaburi district houses a number of natural, cultural and historical sites that are worth a visit.
Mon bridge and Mon village
The Mon bridge or “Saphan Mon” is Thailand’s longest wooden bridge and the second longest in the world measuring over 400 meters long. The handmade footbridge constructed in the 1980’s spans the Song Kalia river to the Mon village Wang Kha. The village’s main attractions are Wat Wang Wiwekaram temple and the market, where visitors can sample Mon food and buy handmade Mon products. Late July 2013 part of the bridge collapsed after heavy rainfall. The pressure caused by a buildup of weeds brought there by strong currents made of section of the bridge come down. The bridge has been restored since then.
Sunken temple
In the 1980’s Thai authorities build a dam to create a large reservoir of water, now called Vajiralongkorn lake. Fed by several rivers, the waters of the lake submerged the old village in the valley. Today the only thing still visible of the old village is Wat Samprasob temple, located on a hill. During most of the year merely the upper section of the ordination hall and the top of the bell tower can be seen. Towards the end of the dry season when the water level is lower a small island forms, and visitors can walk around the ruins of the temple. Local people offer boat trips across the lake. A one hour trip costs about 250 to 300 Thai Baht
Wooden Mon bridge