Within the province of Kanchanaburi in Thailand, in the north of the province, you will find sleepy Sangkhlaburi. Sitting on the border between Thailand and Burma, it has a wide range of inhabitants living alongside each other. Ethnic communities include Thai, Burmese, Laotian, Chinese, Bangladeshi, Mon and Karen. Although the journey is long to reach remote Sangkhlaburi, it is a journey worth making because of the wonderful blend of people, the fusion of cultures and the stunning places to see around the town.
The Three Pagodas Pass can be found just outside the town. Although this land border between the Kingdom of Thailand and the Union of Myanmar is often closed to non-nationals of either country, many Burmese people cross each day to set up delightful market stalls on the Thai side of the border. Here you will find many traditional Burmese goods and handicrafts, as well as national drinks and food items. The pagodas are fairly small, but the saffron clad white structures are nice to see.
You can go to the top of the Khao Lam Dam for great views of the area. There is a colony of brown macaque monkeys who live atop the dam, and you need to be careful that they do not try to steal things that you are carrying. They will often make a snatch for food and drinks, and will sometimes take other items, mistaking them for sustenance.
Creating this dam required parts of the town and surrounding villages to be flooded. Residents relocated, but parts of their former home can be seen poking through the lake’s waters. A boat ride is the only way to see the few buildings high enough to protrude out of the water; at certain water levels boats can drift inside the now roofless walls of an old Mon temple. There is a small shrine inside.
Thailand’s longest wooden bridge spans the lake, joining the main town of Sangkhlaburi to a Mon village. You can walk along the bridge, or alternatively see it from a boat ride. The bridge is silhouetted nicely against the changing colours of the sky at sunrise or sunset.
Wat Wang Wiwekaram has a large, beautiful golden stupa, and is home to a large marble Buddha image.
Around Sangkhlaburi there are many places of natural beauty and interest, including caves and waterfalls. The Sawan Bundarn Cave is easy to explore. Although nothing too exceptional, it is nice to see the different rock formations. Kreng Krevia is a small but lovely waterfall, which makes for a nice picnic stop.
As well as visiting surrounding villages, hiking and trekking through the rugged countryside is popular. Elephant riding is also available.
There are several guesthouses in town, as well as a handful of options near to the Three Pagodas Pass. The main town is fairly easy to walk around, and public transport is available between the town and the Three Pagodas Pass. Buses run between Sangkhlaburi and Kanchanaburi. Basic meals can be found across town, although there is no real nightlife to speak of.
This post was written by Jules, editor of thedailyattack.com. You can read more travel articles here http://thedailyattack.com/travel/
