Wat Wang Wiwekaram
Kanchanaburi Province, Thailand

           Wat Wang Wiwekaram (Wat Luang Phor Uttama) is not only an important tourist attraction in Sangkhlaburi but a mind center of the local residences from different nationalities. For Thai, Karen and espacially Mon villagers, Luang Phor Uttama is like “a god of Mon” which their strong believe inspired this temple. Wat Wang Wiwekaram became a representative of Luang Phor Uttama and also a sacred place of Mon people.

Wat Wang Wiwekaram

           Phra Sad Kao Yod (Kao Yod Castle) is one of the places that visitors are allowed to get inside. The two storey building with the crown-like roof on the arched entrance, which was designed in Mon stlye, is the place that a sacred leaf book, an ancient Mon alphabets and a talipot fan have kept within- including Phra Sad Kao Yod.

Phra Sad Kao Yod

           The one of a kind Mon’s architecture like Phra Sad Kao Yod contains Luang Phor Uttama’s body. This unique coffin was made with a glass in the middle part to show the inside. To build the nine castles on the top, it is originally believed that a spirit will be sent to heaven. There is also Luang Phor Uttama wax figure in the front of Phra Sad Kao Yod.

 Luang Phor Kao

           The marble Buddha image or Luang Phor Kao is installed within the Marble Viharn which is on the right of the entrance. The marble Buddha image in the attitude of subduing Mara was ordered to make by Luang Phor Uttama. The pure marble had sent to be carved in Mandalay, Myanmar since 2514BE.  In the middle of 2515 BE, when the marble Buddha image was complete, it still could not be brought to Thailand due to an unauthorized from Department of Religious Affairs of Myanmar. Finally, the marble image was arrived Thailand in 2517 BE after waiting for almost two years.

The Ubosot of Wat Wang Wiwekaram

           The Ubosot of this temple was designed with an arched top castle roof on the entrance.  Kanok vector (Thai pattern) and a beautiful pillar are pretty attractive for visitors and tourists.