Uttama Memorial Mon Bridge Sangkhla Buri

Family Thailand Tour 2020

Sangkhla Buri | Thailand

06 Feb 2020 | Thu

Day 12 of 18

Hell Fire Pass Memorial
Lunch | Khrua Ngo Pa Kanchanaburi
Wat Tha Khanun Thong Pha Phum
Kroeng Krawia Waterfall Sangkhla Buri
Three Pagodas Pass Sangkhla Buri
Kingfisher House Sangkhla Buri
Uttama Memorial Mon Bridge Sangkhla Buri
Sangkhla Buri Night Market

Uttama Memorial Mon Bridge Sangkhla Buri

The Uttama Memorial Mon Bridge in Sangkhla Buri is a beautiful walkway that overlooks the river. It is a great place to come for a leisurely stroll or to enjoy the scenery. The bridge was named in honor of Luangpho Uttama, a Mon monk who was an abbot of Wat Wang Wiwekaram. The bridge is a popular spot for locals and tourists alike. Come and enjoy the stunning views of the river and the surrounding area from this unique bridge.

Uttamanusorn Bridge (Thai: สะพานอุตตมานุสรณ์; lit. ’Uttama Memorial Bridge’) or commonly known as Mon Bridge (สะพานมอญ; Mon: ဒဒန်ဆု) and Wooden Mon Bridge (สะพานไม้มอญ) is a wooden footbridge in Tambon Nong Lu, Sangkhla Buri District, northwest of Kanchanaburi Province, Thailand. It spans the Songaria River.

Uttamanusorn Bridge is the longest wooden bridge in Thailand and is the second longest in the world after the Mandalay’s U Bein Bridge in Myanmar. Its total length is 850 metres (2,790 ft).

It is named in honor of Luangpho Uttama, a Mon monk who was an abbot of Wat Wang Wiwekaram. He initiated the construction of this bridge in 1986 with local Mon workers. The bridge was completed the following year.

Uttamanusorn Bridge is considered a landmark and is one of the notable attractions of Kanchanaburi, as well as River Kwai Bridge and Death Railway, Sai Yok Noi Waterfall, and Three Pagodas Pass.

Locals walk across the bridge to make merit by giving food to monks, a daily routine.

In mid-2013, the bridge was destroyed by heavy rains and flash flooding flowing from Thung Yai Naresuan Wildlife Sanctuary. It was restored in 2014.

– Wikipedia Uttamanusorn Bridge

Luangpho Ajahn Tala Uttama (Thai: หลวงพ่ออุตตมะ, Burmese: ဦးဥတ္တမ [ú oʊʔtəma̰]; , March 1910 in Mawkanin, Myanmar – 18 October 2006 in Bangkok, Thailand), was a Mon Buddhist monk. He was originally a Burmese citizen and later fled to Thailand and became one of Thailand’s most admired and revered persons.

Luangpho Uttama was born in Mawkanin, Ye township in British Burma (now part of Tanintharyi Region in southern Myanmar). He fled to Thailand in 1948, avoiding abuse during the civil war in Burma. He later lived in the area of Wengka, located near the Burmese-Thailand border, and settled in Thailand. During 1943 he was invited by Luang Pu Waen Suciṇṇo for sharing vipassana meditation experience to his disciple. At 1947 invited by Luang Phor Fan (หลวงปู่ฝั้น อาจาโร) to teaching wicca and Nat (spirit) in Thailand

He was known and revered by civilians of Burmese and Thai for his profound and intensive Buddhist teachings and industrious meditation. He founded Wat Wang Wiwekaram in Sangkhlaburi, Thailand and gave shelter to Mon refugees who fled from Burma. In 1997, he paid a formal visit to Myanmar, visited Yangon (Rangoon), and was honoured with the title of Agga Maha Pandita by Khin Nyunt, then Burmese prime minister.

His prosperity integrated in Thailand reaching to the regards of the Royal Thai family. Luangphor Uttama invented the Bodh Gaya Pagoda, a pagoda shaped the same as Mahabodhi Temple with name Wat Wang Wiwekaram in 1978.

Lastly, he was hospitalized by the patronage of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit and was paid a tribute at his funeral by the then premier of Thailand, General Surayud Chulanont.

– Wikipedia Monk Luangpho Uttama