Kanchanaburi

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Kanchanaburi, about 120 km west of Bangkok and bordering Myanmar, is packed with national parks, rivers, dams and wonderful scenery. However, it is the events of World War II that has made the place famous, most notably the building of Death Railway and the famous Bridge over the River Kwai, portrayed in David Leans's film in 1957. An estimated 16,000 allied PoWs and more than 80,000 forced laborers died building the railway from Thailand to Myanmar and their remains are buried in two well-kept war cemeteries in town. The Jeath War Museum is a reconstructed PoW detention hut, with photos and relics showing how they lived and died. At Hellfire pass, 80 kilometres outside town, the Australians have built a second fascinating museum, while the pass itself is a haunting tribute. Steam trains run the route from Kanchanaburi to Namtok along rickety cliffsides, giving visitors a feel for the old railway line. Further to the north, Erawan and Than Lot national parks contain beautiful waterfalls, caves, wonderful scenery and plenty of wildlife.

Kanchanaburi is a beautiful and adventurous province, best visited for 3 to 5 days.