Singkhon Pass
{{Short description|Pass between the Tenasserim Hills, Thailand-Myanmar}}
{{Infobox mountain pass
| name = Singkhon Pass
ด่านสิงขร
| other_name =Maw Daung
| photo = File:Dan Sing Khon264.JPG
| photo_caption = Border checkpoint, Singkhon Pass
| elevation_m = 245
| elevation_ref = GoogleEarth
| traversed =
| location = Myanmar–Thailand border
| range = Tenasserim Hills
| map = Thailand
| map_caption = Location of Singkhon Pass on the Myanmar/Thailand border
| map_size =
| label = Dan Sing Khon
| coords = {{coord|11|47|22|N|99|38|27|E|type:pass_region:TH|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
| topo =
}}
Singkhon Pass{{Cite web |url=http://www.huahintoday.net/news/local-news/singkhon-checkpoint-to-open-this-year.htm |title=Singkhon Checkpoint to Open this Year |access-date=2015-04-02 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130703060727/http://www.huahintoday.net/news/local-news/singkhon-checkpoint-to-open-this-year.htm |archive-date=2013-07-03 |url-status=dead }} ({{langx|th|ด่านสิงขร}}), also referred to as Sing Khon and as Maw Daung after the name of the Burmese town west of the border,[http://mapcarta.com/14649802 Maw-daung Pass] is a pass across the Tenasserim Hills on the border between Thailand and Myanmar, at an elevation of {{convert|245|m|ft}}. The pass is close to the narrowest point of Thailand in Khlong Wan (คลองวาฬ) subdistrict, Mueang Prachuap Khiri Khan District, Prachuap Khiri Khan Province.
History
Singkhon pass was important during the wars between Siam and the Burmese, and also during World War II, when the Mergui Road was constructed by the Japanese invaders. The pass, on Thai Hwy 1039, about {{convert|14|km|abbr=on}} to the west of its junction with Thailand Route 41, was formerly closed, but was informally opened since May 2013{{Cite web |url=http://www.mcot.net/site/content?id=5456c347be0470f9788b463f#.VR4JIfxSWKk |title=Dan Sing Khon border crossing upgrade |access-date=2015-04-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150405213215/http://www.mcot.net/site/content?id=5456c347be0470f9788b463f#.VR4JIfxSWKk |archive-date=2015-04-05 |url-status=dead }} as a result of bilateral agreements.[http://www.huahintoday.com/local_news/singkhon-permanent-checkpoint-to-open-in-december/ Singkhon – Permanent Checkpoint to Open in December]
The road on the Burmese side leads to Myeik – via Mawdaung and Tanintharyi – and has recently been repaired.[http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/638232-singkhon-border-crossing-for-visa-runs-delayed-thais-only/ Permanent Thai-Myanmar checkpoint officially opens in Prachuap Khiri Khan] Singkhon Pass has been upgraded since late-2014 with improved public utilities, urban planning, and landscaping.{{Cite web |url=http://thainews.prd.go.th/centerweb/NewsEN/NewsDetail?NT01_NewsID=WNECO5801120010007 |title=NNT - Prachuap Khiri Khan to upgrade Sing Khon border crossing |access-date=2015-04-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150405040811/http://thainews.prd.go.th/centerweb/NewsEN/NewsDetail?NT01_NewsID=WNECO5801120010007 |archive-date=2015-04-05 |url-status=dead }}
The official inauguration ceremony of the border crossing took place on 23 May 2015 with a crowd of about 2000 from both sides of the border attending the event.[http://thainews.prd.go.th/CenterWeb/News/NewsDetail?NT01_NewsID=TNECO5805230010001 NNT - ชาวไทยและเมียนมากว่า 2,000 คนร่วมพิธีเฉลิมฉลองการเปิดจุดผ่อนปรนพิเศษด่านสิงขรอย่างยิ่งใหญ่ เปิดประตูการค้าชายแดนอาเซียน]{{Dead link|date=August 2019}}
Tourism
The Singkhon Pass border checkpoint is currently also being developed as a tourist attraction with new shops opening in the area by the road on the Thai side. It is also a place whereby traffic from one side of the road must change over to drive on the opposite side of the road. [http://www.pattayamail.com/news/dan-singkhon-border-crossing-upgrade-under-way-42477 Pattaya Mail - Dan Sing Khon border crossing upgrade under way]
| valign="top"
|File:Dan Sing Khon260.JPG tree (ตะเคียน) with offerings to Nang Ta-khian near the shrine close to the lake.]] |
References
{{Reflist|2}}
External links
- {{Commons category-inline}}
- [http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g1825963-d4266487-Reviews-Talad_Dan_Sing_Khon_Border_Market-Prachuap_Khiri_Khan_Prachuap_Khiri_Khan_Provin.html Singkhon Pass Border Market - TripAdvisor]
- [http://www.thaiworldview.com/south/south20.htm Tourism - Prachuap Khiri Khan]
{{Borders of Myanmar}}
{{Border Crossings of Myanmar}}
Category:Mountain passes of Thailand
Category:Mountain passes of Myanmar