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Three Pagodas Pass, Kanchanaburi
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Three Pagodas Pass is 22 kilometers from Sangkhla Buri, the three miniature pagodas are memorials of an important route of the troops during the wartime of the Ayutthaya period. It also marks the rugged Thai-Myanmar border and is the site of a small thriving border marker. Visitors are allowed to enter the neighboring Burmese settlement. You have to prepare for your photo and passport.
Tourists enjoy shopping in Myanmar for cheap wooden products. In several tour program, they will include this pass together with Mon Bridge in the town.
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Ponnatee Resort
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beside the lake, offering 2 type of accommodation: floating house and wooden room. Rate is 1200-1500 Bht. Package tour for rafting and elephant riding is on request.
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P Guest House
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beside the lake, offer concrete bungalows with lake view. Selling package tour: 1000-1200 Bht/person.
Rafting and elephant riding are optional.
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Comment#
1
at:
2008-10-02 13:47:50
Comment by:
TT
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 Three Pagodas Pass locally called "Darn Chedi Sam Ong" is a pass on the Bilauktaung Mountains on the border between Thailand and Burma, at an altitude of 282 metres above sea level. The pass links the town of Sangkhlaburi in the north of Kanchanaburi Province, Thailand to the town of Payathonsu in Burma.
This pass has been the main land route into western Thailand since ancient times, and is believed be the point at which Buddhist teachings reached the country from India in the 3rd century. During the Ayutthaya period in Thai history (14th-18th centuries), the pass was the main invasion route for the Burmese, but was also occasionally used towards Burma by Thai armies. The three small, crumbling pagodas, or chedis, after which the pass is named, were probably built at the end of this period as a symbol of peace. They are now on the Thai side of the border. Parts of the border are still disputed.
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Comment#
2
at:
2008-10-02 13:49:34
Comment by:
TT
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 During World War II, Japan built the infamous Death Railway (officially Taimen - Rensetsu Tetsudo) on the pass. There is a memorial here to commemorate the Australian prisoners of war who (with many other Allied soldiers and Asian civilians) died as forced labourers during the construction of the railway.
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pic: Map of Sangkla District on the border
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Comment#
3
at:
2008-10-02 13:51:21
Comment by:
TT
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 Currently, the pass is popular with tourists who, subject to the occasional hostilities between the two countries, are allowed to obtain a one-day visa from the Thai side to visit Payathonsu. Tourist attractions on the Burmese side include the locally made wooden furniture, jade carvings, and textiles.
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Comment#
4
at:
2008-10-02 13:53:32
Comment by:
TT
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 At the Thai border you need a photocopy of your passport and 2 passport photos; your passport will be held at the checkpoint, and you must return on the same day. At the Myanmar checkpoint you need US$10 (if paying with US$ notes) or 500 baht (if paying with Thai currency) - therefore it's best to change some baht to US$ before leaving Kanchanaburi. Don't expect the border officials to know about anything called Euro. There are no banks here, the nearest (Siam Commercial Bank) is back in Sangkhlaburi. You only need US$ for the Myanmar entry permit - once in Myanmar, Thai baht is accepted for everything else.
Back at the border your passport will be returned and you can head back the same way back as you came. There is also the possibility to take a bus directly from Kanchanaburi to the Three Pagodas Pass. Note that you will not receive any passport stamps (neither Thai exit or entry stamps, nor Myanmar entry or exit stamps) - hence this border crossing cannot be used for "visa runs".
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Comment#
5
at:
2008-10-02 13:55:43
Comment by:
TT
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 The Thai side of the pass consists of the three smallish chedi, a couple of shrines, a market oriented around Burmese goods (carved wood, gems, textiles), and the border gate to Myanmar.
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Comment#
6
at:
2008-10-02 13:56:47
Comment by:
TT
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 In Myanmar you can take a look at a few temples as well as a market.
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Comment#
7
at:
2008-10-02 13:57:43
Comment by:
TT
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 None is really in any way very special. However there is one temple that is up on a hill, from where you get a great view across the border land.
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Comment#
8
at:
2008-10-02 13:58:32
Comment by:
TT
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 path to the top of the hill.
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Comment#
9
at:
2008-10-02 13:59:28
Comment by:
TT
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 From the top, you can view the Burmese village.
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Comment#
10
at:
2008-10-02 14:01:47
Comment by:
TT
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 Entrance to Wat Sao Rot Ton (Mynmar).
Wat or Temple is made and supported by 100 teak poles.
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Comment#
11
at:
2008-10-02 14:02:23
Comment by:
TT
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 White jade buddha image is another symbol of this temple.
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Comment#
12
at:
2008-10-02 14:03:07
Comment by:
TT
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 I could see a few monk here.
Pic: Burmese monk
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Comment#
13
at:
2008-10-02 14:04:31
Comment by:
TT
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 The Burmese side of the border is a dead end for tourists, so the only way out is back to Thailand.
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Comment#
14
at:
2008-10-02 14:09:24
Comment by:
TT
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 Sangkla is a little town by the lake. Here is abundant of fish.
On the border, there is a mini food shop, you may leave your stomach here. If it is not your favor, you may turn back to Sangkla town and find your meal in the market. Price should be around 30 Baht.
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