Wat Wang Wiwekaram

Wat Wang Wiwekaram is a prominent Buddhist temple in Nong Lu, Sangkhla Buri District, Kanchanaburi Province, near the Thai-Myanmar border. Founded by revered Mon monk Luang Por Uttama in 1953, it is the centre of the local Mon community. The original temple was submerged after the construction of Khao Laem Dam, and the present temple was rebuilt on higher ground, noted for its Mon-Burmese architecture.

Visitors can expect a large temple complex with Mon and Burmese architectural influences, including ornate wooden buildings, a golden pagoda, and a memorial hall dedicated to Luang Por Uttama. The grounds include prayer halls, Buddha images, Mon-style decorations, and open courtyards. The setting is on elevated land near the Khao Laem Reservoir, with views of the surrounding town and access to Mon cultural exhibits and souvenir shops.

Founded in 1953 by Luang Por Uttama, a highly revered Mon monk who led Mon communities to Sangkhla Buri. The original Wat Wang Wiwekaram was located in the lowlands and was submerged following the construction of Khao Laem Dam (Vajiralongkorn Dam) in the 1980s. The temple was subsequently rebuilt at its current elevated location, preserving its role as the spiritual centre for the Mon people.

The temple is the most important religious and cultural centre for the Mon community in Thailand, reflecting Mon-Burmese Buddhist traditions. It serves as a place for merit-making, festivals, and preservation of Mon language, crafts, and architecture, and is closely associated with the veneration of Luang Por Uttama.