Wat Wang Wiwekaram

Luang Pho Uttama (Phra Ratchaudommongkhon), a Mon monk born in 1910 at Ye, Burma, was ordained in 1931, first came to Thailand in 1943, and fled Burma's civil war to settle here in 1948 via Pilok. In 1951 he led Mon refugees to Ban Wangka; in 1956 he built a sala with villagers, the temple's beginning. He became abbot in 1961, and the temple was registered in 1962.

In 1984 the Vajiralongkorn Dam flooded the old temple and it moved to its present site. At low water, roughly March–May, the old ordination hall, bell tower and walls emerge and can be walked into — the 'sunken temple' or 'underwater city'. Boats from the Mon Bridge piers cost about 500 baht; in the rains only the roof tips show.

The Bodh Gaya chedi, a replica of the Mahabodhi stupa about 1 km from the temple, was begun by Luang Pho in 1978, with concrete work from 1982 by some 400 Mon villagers. Its base is 42 × 42 m; it is 59 m tall. In 1989 the Crown Prince enshrined relics from Sri Lanka in it. Luang Pho received his final title in 1991 and died at Siriraj Hospital on 18 October 2006.

The vihara holds Luang Pho Uttama's body in a nine-tiered Mon-style pavilion made by Chiang Mai craftsmen, a life-size wax figure, and Luang Pho Khao, a white marble Buddha of about 9 tonnes. It is open 07:30–18:30 and free; dress modestly. His birthday is celebrated in February, with Mon dress and offerings, and 18 October is his memorial day. Wear a life jacket on the sunken-temple boat. Phone 034-595-422.