Kanchanaburi - The Death Railway

Kanchanaburi, important for its historical role during World War II, is the third largest province in Thailand and a border province of Thailand and Myanmar (Burma). Kanchanaburi is comprised mainly of mountains and plateaus that are rich in natural resources. There are two main rivers, the Kwai Noi and Kwai Yai, flowing through the province before they meet to form the Mae Klong River.

Kanchanaburi has many interesting attractions for tourists, both natural and historical. It can be a very rewarding one day side excursion from Bangkok, where a visitor can take in the beautiful landscape and also visit some important, if not infamous, WWII memorial sights.

A visit to Kanchanaburi can be arranged as a tour or you may want to take the train from Bangkok and explore the area on your own.  Make sure to look into tours of the famous Death Railway, a particular favorite is to take a short trip from Kanchanaburi and to the west, along a section of this historic iron link between Thailand and Burma. 

Kanchanaburi - The Death Railway and the Views Kanchanaburi - The Bridge across Kwai River 

The railway was constructed by the Allied Prisoners of War (PoWs) and Asian laborers under the control of Japanese army. Working in terrible conditions and struggling over harsh terrain resulted in the deaths of thousands of Allied PoWs while building this 415 kilometer long supply link. The railway, which suffered great damage from bombings, was subsequently rebuilt after the war.  Nowadays this railway is still in use and the daily tours run from Kanchanaburi Station to Ban Ta Sao (Nam Tok Station), the end of the route. The natural scenery along the railway route is renowned for its rugged beauty.

Also, do not miss a visit to the famous Bridge over the Kwai River, the subject of a blockbuster 1957 Hollywood film.  The bridge has also been rebuilt since the war and is now preserved as an historic site to remind us of the suffering of Allied PoWs.  At the foot of the bridge there is a unique war train museum which contains lots of information about the original architecture and the history of events surrounding this unique site.

Kanchanaburi - The Ancient Train at the JEATH Museum Kanchanaburi -WWII Museum

To fully appreciate the historical importance of this area a visitor can also visit the War Museum and the JEATH (Japan, England, Australia, America, Thailand, Holland) museum and make a trip to the Kanchanaburi war cemetery to pay respect to nearly 7,000 fallen prisoners. 

Many visitors visit Kanchanaburi for the historical significance but soon come to appreciate the province for its wild beauty and the rivers, parks, waterfalls and caves.  Many are prompted to extend their stay so it might be a wise idea to book a room, just in case.