Mukdahan Province, Second Thai Lao Friendship Bridge, Thailand. ( 4 )

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• published: 29 May 2014
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Mukdahan is one of the north-eastern provinces ( Changwat ) of Thailand. Neighbouring provinces are (from south clockwise) Amnat Charoen, Yasothon, Roi Et, Kalasin, Sakon Nakhon and Nakhon Phanom. To the east it borders the Mekong River, across which lies Savannakhet Province of Laos. Lord Chandrasuriyawongse and his followers founded a settlement at Baan Luang Phonsim near the Thad Ing Hang Stupa along the left banks of the Mekong River in Laos. Later, after some several decades, he died. Lord Chanthakinnaree his son, succeeded him as ruler. Then, in B.E.2310, a huntsman crossed over the Mekong and arrived along the right side at the mouth of the stream Bang Muk where he discovered a discarded realm complete with a monastery and seven sugar palms located on the nearby riverbank. He found the area much better than the territories along the left side of the Mekong, and at the site of mouth of the Bang Muk was a huge abundance of fish. Thus, he headed back to report this to his ruler Lord Chanthakinnaree. Lord Chanthakinnaree led his followers across the Mekong to inspect the area and found that the area was indeed the remains of an ancient realm and in much better condition than any area along the left side of the Mekong. He thus led his people from Baan Luang Phonsim to establish a settlement along the right side of the Mekong at the mouth of the Bang Muk. When he began to clear away the forests to make way for his resettlement of the realm, he found two Buddha images beneath a Sacred Fig tree on the banks of the Mekong. The larger of the two was bricks-and-mortar, while the smaller one was made of fine iron. He had a new monastery built at once near the old, abandoned temple on the banks of the Mekong, and named it Wat Sri Moungkhoun (cognate to Sri Mongkol in Central Thai, meaning Temple of Serene Auspices). He also constructed a palatial manse ( house ) near the temple where he enshrined both Buddha images in vihara. Later, the iron Buddha image ( the smaller one ) appeared to mysteriously re-establish itself beneath the fig tree where it had first been discovered and ultimately, after some three or four spectacles of this nature, began slowly sinking into the ground there until only the crown of the head could be seen. Thus, an alternate place of worship was built there to cover the site instead and the image itself was then named Phra Loup Lek or Venerable One of Iron metal Who Shrouds Himself. Nowadays the site where Phra Loup Lek would submerge himself beneath the earth has been overtaken by the waters of the Mekong and washed away (presumably leaving only the shrine rescued and preserved at the front of the vihara at today's Wat Sri Mongkol South In 2006, the Second Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge from Mukdahan to Savannakhet, Laos was opened. The Second Thai--Lao Friendship Bridge Thai over the Mekong connects Mukdahan Province in Thailand with Savannakhet in Laos. The bridge is 1600 metres ( 1.0 mile ) long and 12 metres ( 39 ft ) wide, with two traffic lanes. Traffic on the bridge drives on the right, as in Laos, while traffic in Thailand drives on the left; the change-over is on the Thai side Bridge construction began on March 21, 2004. Supports and spans were constructed on shore, then moved out onto pylons in the river by crane. The total cost was about 2.5 billion Baht funded largely by a Japanese loan. An official opening ceremony was held on December 19, 2006, although the bridge only opened to the general public on January 9, 2007. Wat Phu Manoram Temple, Mukdahan Province, Thailand. This small hilltop temple/park offers scenic views of Mukdahan, the Mekong and across to Savannakhet in Laos. There's little to see at the temple itself, but it's a breezy and pleasant spot to escape the midday heat. If you want to be like the locals, bring some food and some beers and while away a couple of hours lounging in one of the covered huts. Phu Manoram is located about four kilometres south of town. To get here, head south on Samut Sakdarak Road, take the first U-turn after Mukdahan Tower then the first left, which will take you right up to Phu Manoram after a couple of kilometres. A tuk tuk can also take you here and back for around 120 Baht. Early morning when the sun is rising is particularly pleasant.