Sarasin Bridge ( th, สะพานสารสิน, , ) is a bridge in Thailand, it is a bridge connecting the mainland of

Phuket Phuket (; th, ภูเก็ต, , ms, Bukit or ''Tongkah''; Hokkien:普吉; ) is one of the southern provinces (''changwat'') of Thailand. It consists of the island of Phuket, the country's largest island, and another 32 smaller islands of ...

and

Phang Nga Phang Nga ( th, พังงา, , ) is a town (''thesaban mueang'') in southern Thailand, capital of Phang Nga Province. The town covers the whole ''tambon'' Thai Chang of Mueang Phang Nga district. As of 2005 it had a population of 9,559 and ...

southern Thailand Southern Thailand, Southern Siam or Tambralinga is a southernmost cultural region of Thailand, separated from Central Thailand region by the Kra Isthmus. Geography Southern Thailand is on the Malay Peninsula, with an area of around , bounded ...

, and known as one of the most beautiful bridges and has an unforgettable history of Thailand. It was built in 1951 and officially opened on July 7, 1967. It is considered the first bridge linking Phuket and Phang Nga, total length is with total budget of 28,770,000

baht The baht (; th, บาท, ; currency sign, sign: ฿; ISO 4217, code: THB) is the official currency of Thailand. It is divided into 100 ''satang'' (, ). The issuance of currency is the responsibility of the Bank of Thailand. Society for Worldw ...

. Its name after

Pote Sarasin Pote Sarasin ( th, พจน์ สารสิน, , ; 25 March 1905 – 28 September 2000) was the 9th Prime Minister of Thailand from the influential Sarasin family. He served as foreign minister from 1949 to 1950 and then served as ambassad ...

, a former

Prime Minister of Thailand The prime minister of Thailand ( th, นายกรัฐมนตรี, , ; literally 'chief minister of state') is the head of government of Thailand. The prime minister is also the chair of the Cabinet of Thailand. The post has existed si ...

, while he was Minister of National Development. This bridge on February 22, 1973 caused an unforgettable tragedy. When two young Phuket lovers are Dam Saetan and Kanchana "Gew" Sae-ngo, they jump in the water from unrequited love. Dam was a local ''

songthaew A songthaew ( th, สองแถว, , two rows, , ; lo, ສອງແຖວ, ; ms, dua baris) is a passenger vehicle in Thailand and Laos adapted from a pick-up or a larger truck and used as a share taxi or bus. Overview The songthaew take ...

'' (local bus) driver and rubber tapping worker. He came from a poor family and struggled to make ends meet. Gew was a

teachers college A normal school or normal college is an institution created to train teachers by educating them in the norms of pedagogy and curriculum. In the 19th century in the United States, instruction in normal schools was at the high school level, turni ...

student who used to ride on Dam’s bus. Gew came from a wealthy family and was expected to marry someone who was also rich. As the two got to know each other, they began to fall in love. They sought Gew’s father’s blessing to get married, but he refused their plea and forbade them from seeing each other ever again. Having their love stifled by Gew’s father, the couple decided that if they couldn’t be together, they would take their own lives. On the night of February 22, 1973, they bound themselves together with a

loincloth A loincloth is a one-piece garment, either wrapped around itself or kept in place by a belt. It covers the genitals and, at least partially, the buttocks. Loincloths which are held up by belts or strings are specifically known as breechcloth or ...

and jumped from the Sarasin Bridge. The story of the two lovers is forever imprinted in Phuket’s collective memory. In the year 1987 has also been made into a

Thai film The cinema of Thailand dates back to the History of film, early days of filmmaking, when Chulalongkorn, King Chulalongkorn's 1897 visit to Bern, Switzerland was recorded by François-Henri Lavancy-Clarke. The film was then brought to Bangkok, wher ...

titled ''"Saphan Rak Sarasin"'' (สะพานรักสารสิน; ''Sarasin, The Bridge of Love'', starred by

Chintara Sukapatana Chintara Sukapatana ( th, จินตหรา สุขพัฒน์; ), born Chittima Sukapatana ( th, จิตติมาฆ์ สุขพัฒน์; , on January 22, 1965), nickname Mam ( th, แหม่ม; ), is a Thai actress. H ...

and Ron Banjongsang). Sarasin Bridge has since become a tourist attraction and well-known in Phuket and Phang Nga. At present, Sarasin Bridge does not provide services for cars to run through as in the past. Since the construction of a new bridge adjacent named "Thepkasattri Bridge" (สะพานเทพกษัตรี, or popularly known as New Sarasin Bridge or Sarasin II Bridge) since 2011, Sarasin Bridge becomes the only

pedestrian bridge A footbridge (also a pedestrian bridge, pedestrian overpass, or pedestrian overcrossing) is a bridge designed solely for pedestrians.''Oxford English Dictionary'' While the primary meaning for a bridge is a structure which links "two points at a ...

and there are installed

light pole A street light, light pole, lamp pole, lamppost, street lamp, light standard, or lamp standard is a raised source of light on the edge of a road or path. Similar lights may be found on a railway platform. When urban electric power distribution ...

s and pavilions for sightseeing.

References

External links

* {{commons category, Sarasin bridge Bridges completed in 1967 Bridges in Thailand 1967 establishments in Thailand Tourist attractions in Phuket province Tourist attractions in Phang Nga province