Muang Badan (The Underwater Temple)
Kanchanaburi Province, Thailand

           Not only visiting Mon Bridge but cruising to Wat Tai Nam or Muang Badan is also one of the highlights of traveling at Sangkhlaburi regarding the interesting history about three ancient temples which are the symbolic of three nationalities- Wat Wang Wiwekaram of Mon, Wat Srisuwan of Karen and Wat Somdej of Thais. For the cruising trip, Wat Wang Wiwekaram (Wat Lung Phor Uttama) and Wat Srisuwan are under the water, but Wat Somdej is located on a hill. The angle of three temples is, where three rivers consist of the Beekly, Rantee and Song Kalia rivers meet, called “Three Suffering”. The river that has been a vital river of all local people for a long time.

Wat Wang Wiwekaram (Wat Lung Phor Uttama) 

           For the first temple, Wat Tai Nam or Wat Jom Nam was originally built as Wat Wiwekaram in 2498 BE by a strongly faith devotation to Lung Phor Uttama. In 2527 BE, the project of Vajiralongkorn Dam (formerly named the Khao Laem Dam)was created by Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand to be a hydroelectricity. After filling the water to its reservoir, the water level had been risen and caused flooding all over the old district more than 1,000 rai (approximately 400 acres), Mon’s villages over 1,000 homes including Wat Wiwekaram. The government immigrated the affected people out of flooding area and moved the temple to the hill on the western of Khwae Noi River. The original one has been drown under the water or Muang Badan and become an Unseen in Thailand for tourists.

Wat Wang Wiwekaram (Wat Lung Phor Uttama) 

           During March to May, tourists can see the ruins of the temple like the structure of the belfry with a white tip of the pagoda which is the only part of the temple that emerge from the water when the dam is full. There are some parts like a refectory, an entrance and an arch of the church that can be seen the decoration when the water level is low enough until you can walk inside. Mon artistic work has still left to be seen on the walls such as 2,500 images of Buddha which some have been damaged by time. Luang Phor Uttama image has enshrined inside the church for worshipping. Mon children are going to be a guide and sell flowers to tourists. However, if you come during the winter or rainy season, you can just cursing around the church to see some emerge parts or see none of them, if the water level is extremely high.

Wat Somdej

           After a while, you will find Wat Somdej on the hillock on the opposite side of Muang Badan which was built by Phra Kru Wimonkanchanakhun. It has not drawn but abandoned since Vajiralongkorn Dam was constructed. The principle Buddha image of this temple is quite perfect and the church is full with Banyan tree around that much more create mysterious feel.

Wat Srisuwan 

           For the last point, Wat Srisuwan, the symbolic of Karen, has the name of Phra Srisuwankiri, the position’s name of Sangkhlaburi’s header. It has located on almost the end of Rantee River. Because of the low area, the temple is flooded an entire year. So, it is impossible to get inside the temple.