Kanchanaburi

KANCHANABURI is a town located 120 km west of the capital Bangkok. It takes two hours to drive by car from Bangkok and is also accessible by rail. Kanchanaburi city, located at the point where the Kwai Noi and Kwai Yai Rivers meet and form the Mae Klong River, is a popular resort town with a population of approx. 30000. Even the climate of Kanchanaburi, cooled by the altitude, forest and rivers, is a welcome respite from the heat and congestion of the nearby capital city. Kanchanaburi City is also the gateway to explore the province, for many one of the most beautiful ones in the country, with spectacular waterfalls, lush forest, three of Thailand’s largest reservoirs. White water rafting, elephant trekking and golfing are popular activities for visitors. In the west the province borders Kayin State and Mon State of Myanmar. It is definitely an excellent tourist destination for nature lovers. The town itself is a place to relax, watching the water from the banks of the river, inside a raft house or from a riverside restaurant. It’s known for the Death Railway, built during WWII. The line crosses over the River Kwai via the Death Railway Bridge. Displays at the JEATH War Museum honor the prisoners of war who died building the bridge. The Thailand-Burma Railway Center explores the wider history of the railway. Nearby, thousands of Allied soldiers are buried at the Kanchanaburi War Cemetery.

HISTORY. Kanchanaburi appears in the chronicles that it was a colony of Suphanburi during the Sukhothai period and until the Ayutthaya period. In the late 18th century Kanchanaburi was established by King Rama I as an important outpost in the war between Thai and Burmese armies. In 1831 King Rama III ordered the construction of the city wall and in 1833 the town was moved about 16 km to the southeast along the river to its present site. Later in the reign of King Rama V, when there was a form of government as a county, Kanchanaburi was transferred to Monthon Ratchaburi and later became Kanchanaburi Province in 1924. Most foreigners are mainly aware of Kanchanaburi's recent history with the Burma Railway. During Japanese occupation of Thailand in 1942, both allied prisoners of war and Asian laborers were ordered by the Japanese to build a Thailand-Burma Railway. Eventually, more than 100000 people died from horrific working conditions.

GETTING THERE. Buses leave Bangkok about every 20 minutes and the ride takes 2-3 hours (depends on the route). There are also buses available to/from other major tourist destinations in Central Thailand, such as Pattaya, Hua Hin or Ayutthaya, as well as to all neighboring provinces, like Tak, Uthai Thani, Suphanburi, Nakhon Pathom and Ratchaburi. There are also trains leaving Bangkok’s Thonburi Train Station for Kanchanaburi, but takes more time, compared by the trip on the road. You may be interested in buying a ticket all the way to the River Kwai Bridge, since some of the trains continue from Kanchanaburi and do cross the famous Bridge over the River Kwai.

ATTRACTIONS. In the provincial town itself for most visitors the main sight of interest is the Bridge over the River Kwai as the start of the infamous World War II Death Railway to Burma (Myanmar), as well as the many associated museums. The Thailand-Burma Railway Center gives a good introduction of the Burma Railway and its history. There are also two war cemeteries, the most moving of which is the Kanchanaburi War Cemetery. The area northwest of Kanchanaburi City is dominated by the beautiful River Kwai Valleys with numerous floating resorts. It is an area of great natural beauty with national parks, lot of waterfalls, caves, lakes and mountainous scenery. A scenic boat trip is a must here. But most attractions can be visited as a day-trip from Kanchanaburi. Let’s start with Erawan National Park, who’s major attraction is the seven-tiered waterfalls. There are also four caves in the park. Sai Yok is a national park in Sai Yok District. It is home to mountains, waterfalls and caves. The park's major sights are its waterfalls, including Sai Yok Yai Waterfall which flows into the Kwai Noi River. But the park contains also the Lawa Cave with a length of 500 meters. Other national parks in the area are Thong Pha Phum National Park and Khao Laem National Park. Another place of interest in Sai Yok District is the Hellfire Pass. It is the name of a railway cutting on the former Burma Railway in Thailand which was built with forced labor by POWs and Asian laborers who cut and blasted through rock by hand to clear this pass for the Death Railway. Sri Nakarin Dam National Park is located north of Erawan National Park. The park holds a big water reservoir and is mainly famous for Huai Mae Khamin Falls, but also has several caves and hot springs. Sangkhlaburi is an idyllic town in the far west of the province, right on the Myanmar border. A large part of the district is covered by the Khao Laem Reservoir, an artificial lake. The landmark of Sangkhlaburi is Saphan Mon, the 400 meters wooden bridge, which is the longest handmade wooden bridge in Thailand, which spans the Song Kalia River to the Mon village Wang Kha. Another popular place to visit here in the area is Three Pagoda Pass and its border market right at the crossing station to Myanmar. About festivals. Beside the well known nationwide festivals the Long-Tail Boat Racing in September/October and the River Kwai Bridge Week in December are the ones which attract many visitors.