The Wooden Mon Bridge of Sangkhla Buri (Kanchanaburi Province) [สะพานไม้มอญ]

This spectacular wooden bridge in Sangkhla Buri is an unusual landmark. It is a footbridge spanning across the Songaria River, one of the three streams, which form the Khao Laem Reservoir.

Its construction was initiated in 1986 by the former abbot of Wat Wang Wiwekaram, on the other side of the river. Luangpho Uttama (1910-2006) was a Burmese monk, who took refuge in Thailand, where he later became highly respected, included by the former royal King Bhumibol (Rama IX). 

Originally, this bridge was meant to be a way to link the town of Sangkhla Buri with the hill tribe Mon village of Wangkha. In 1987, the bridge was already completed. It is called Saphan Mony in Thai.

The Mon Bridge has a total length of 850m with a span of 400m. It is the longest wooden bridge in Thailand, and the second-longest in the World after another wooden bridge near Mandalay, in Myanmar.

Besides being a local attraction, this bridge gets alive every morning as it is a way to make merit to feed the monks in the Mon village. This is, itself, another major event to attend every morning.

Christian Sorand