Wat Saam Prasop

Wat Saam Prasop is a submerged Buddhist temple ruin in the Khao Laem Reservoir at Nong Lu, Sangkhla Buri District, Kanchanaburi Province. Flooded after the construction of Khao Laem Dam (Vajiralongkorn Dam) in 1984, the brick temple remains stand above water only in the dry season when reservoir levels recede. It is notable as part of the old Mon settlement and a symbol of the former town of Sangkhla Buri.

Visitors can expect to see brick ruins of the former temple including walls, pillars and Buddha image bases standing in the reservoir bed. The site is surrounded by water for most of the year and is reached by long-tail boat from the pier. During low water (typically March to June) the ruins are exposed and can be walked around; during high water only upper parts are visible. The setting is open, quiet and scenic with views of the reservoir and surrounding hills.

Wat Saam Prasop was part of the old Sangkhla Buri settlement inhabited by Mon and Thai communities. It was abandoned and submerged following the construction of Khao Laem Dam, now Vajiralongkorn Dam, completed in 1984, which created the Khao Laem Reservoir. The temple, along with the old Wat Wang Wiwekaram, remains as a physical reminder of the relocated town and reservoir development.

The temple represents Mon Buddhist heritage in Sangkhla Buri and is associated with the community led by Luang Pho Uttama. It remains a respected religious ruin and a cultural landmark illustrating the history of displacement and resettlement of the local Mon population.