Kanchanaburi is Thailand’s fourth largest province. Kanchanaburi covers some 19,486 square kilometers, and borders Myanmar (Burma) to the west. Kanchanaburi town has a population of 54,000 and was originally established by King Rama I as a first line of defence against the Burmese, who might use the old invasion route through the Three Pagodas Pass on the Thai-Myanmar border. It is situated on the River Kwai and the home of the famous Bridge on the River Kwai, immortalized in Pierre Boulle´s same named novel and David Lean’s movie. Every year in late November and early December the River Kwai Bridge Festival is held at the bridge with a spectacular Sound & Light Show. This event reminds to the history of the Death Railway and the bombardments during World War II.
The Province itself captivates beautiful nature and friendly people with their native charm. Major attractions include several waterfalls, mountains, caves (that were once inhabited by neolithic man), national parks and last, but not least, the River Kwai.
Kanchanaburi is as cheap as tourist destinations get in the vicinity of Bangkok. A two-hour drive from the capital (a mini-bus from Khao San will set you back 220 baht, or about US$7), the little town is known mostly – if at all - for the infamous bridge over the River Kwai. (The Japanese army paved an important railway connection on the backs of hundreds of thousands of prisoners of war and local laborers, the said bridge becoming the apotheosis of the impossible construction).
The bridge – nothing special but for the story – is the culmination of the town’s main street. Some 3 kilometres long, it hosts bars (e.g. “Get Drunk for 10 baht”), restaurants (Pad Thai starts at 20 baht), laundry services (15-20 baht/kilo) and massage parlors (100-150 baht/hour). Most of the better guest houses are located on the opposite end of the street from the bridge, many cheap entertainment venues away.
Places of Interest
The JEATH War Museum
This museum is actually a reconstructed Allied prisoner-of-war camp. The name JEATH is derived from Japan, England, America, Australia, Thailand and Holland. The thatched detention hut with cramped, elevated bamboo bunks contains photographic, pictorial and physical memorabilia dating from the Second World War. Several prisoners of war who survived appalling conditions have donated items from that time to add to the museum’s authenticity. Small admission fee.
Wat Tham Mongkon Thong
This “Cave Temple of the Golden Dragon” is set in limestone foothills, located about 5 km south of the town centre. Behind the bot a long stairway, flanked with dragon-sculpted balustrades, ascends into the caves. Following the lighted path leads to an opening right above the temple, offering a great view of the surroundings.
Kanchanaburi War Cemetery
The famous war cemetery is located opposite the Railway Station. It hosts the remains of 6,982 Allied prisoners of war who perished during the construction of the ‘Death Railway’. An estimated 16,000 Allied prisoners of war, and 49,000 forced laborers, died during the construction of the ‘Death Railway’ and Bridge over the River Kwai.
Wat Tham Khao Poon
The Wat is located one kilometer southwest of the Chung-Kai War Cemetery. The Buddhist temple is locally renowned for a cave containing stalactites and stalagmites, and many beautiful Buddha images.
Wat Pha Luang Ta Bua – Tiger Temple
Now over ten years old, this beautiful Buddhist temple keeps and cares for numerous animals, most notably the tigers who walk around freely, being stroked by visitors.
Erawan Waterfalls
The Erewan waterfall is rate often as one the best waterfalls of the kingdom. It is in the area of the national park, 65 kilometres from Kanchanaburi along Route 3199. it is a popular excursion for locals and tourists alike. You can also hire a motorcycle in the city.
River Kwai bridge
Thanks to the famous movie the bridge became the most known tourist attraction in the small city of Kanchanaburi. The iron bridge was brought from Indonesia by the Japanese army and reassembled by by Allied prisoner-of-war laborers as part of the ‘Death Railway’ linking Thailand with Burma. Still in use today, the bridge was the target of frequent Allied bombing raids during 1945, and was rebuilt after the war ended. The curved spans of the bridge are the original sections.
Getting There
By Car : From Bangkok, visitors can take a 2-hour drive along Highway No.4 (Phetkasem) via Nakhon Chaisi, Nakhon Pathom, Ban Pong, Tha Maka, Tha Muang to Kanchanaburi.
For an alternative route, visitors can drive along Highway No. 338 from Bangkok to Nakhon Chaisi and then proceed along Highway No.4 to Kanchanaburi.
By Bus : Non air-conditioned buses leave Bangkok’s Southern Bus Terminal every 15 minutes from 4 a.m.-8 p.m. The trip takes about 2 hours.
There are 2 types of air-conditioned buses. Standard 1 buses (blue colour) leave Bangkok’s Southern Bus Terminal from 5 a.m. till 10.30 p.m. daily at twenty-minute intervals. Standard 2 buses (orange colour) leave at twenty-minute intervals from 5.10 a.m. until 8.30 p.m. daily. The journey takes 2 hours.
By Rail : Ordinary trains leave Bangkok’s Thon Buri Railway Station (Bangkok Noi Station) every day at 7.35 a.m. and 1.45 p.m. for approximately 3 hour journey to Kanchanaburi. Call Thon Buri Railway Station at tel: 0-2411-3102 or Kanchanaburi Railway Station at tel: 0-3456-1052 or visit www.srt.motc.go.th. Exquisite Thailand
The weekend special train leaves Bangkok Railway Station (Hualamphong) at 6.30 a.m. on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays.