Kanchanburi is a city in the western side of the Thiland near to the Mayanmar Border and mostly famous for the world War 2 remains and the death railway which is build by the war prisoners under the supervision of the Japanes Army . Tham Krase wooden bridge near to the Kanchnburi is famous among the tourist for it’s design . It is a wooden bridge almost hanging from the mountain side . For making this railway almost 100000 people died . Kanchanburi is also famous for it’s prestine nature , limestone mountains and crystal clear rivers .
How to come to Kanchanburi ?
Though the quickest transport to come to Kanchanburi is by road transport from Bangkok but the tourists prefer to come here by the Railway as the History of the world war is associated with this Railway . This train takes almost 2 hour to reach Kanchanburi from the capital Bangkok . For the Locals the journey is free but for the tourists it is flat 100 THB for the whole journey from Bangkok either you get down at Kanchanburi or the Last station in Nam Tok . There is only 2 trains daily from Thonburi ( Bangkok) to Kanchanburi in this route .
There is numerous mini van from the Mochit 2 bus station in Bangkok and another parts of the city towards Kanchanburi .
Tham krase Rail bridge :
Tham Krase Railway bridge is situated in between the Nam Tok and Kanchanburi Railway station . Originally it was totally wooden bridge build by the POW under Japanes Army but now a days it is the combination of the wood and Concrete .
Train passes through this bridge very slowly where one side there is limestone mountain and in another side there is deep deep canyon of Khwae Noi river .
You will be astonished when you see the train passes through this bridge almost hanging from the near by mountain . Train passes through this bridge six times in a day and you can also walk through this bridge in between . This bridge has been very popular among the tourist .
Erwan Waterfall :
Erwan Waterfall is one of the major attraction to visit near the City of Kanchanburi . It is situated 52 km from the city and have multi Layer water slopes . It is situated inside the Erwan National Park . Also in this area you can find four caves .
Daily buses runs from the City bus station to the Erwan Water fall .
Erwan National park is opened from 8:00 am – 4 : 30 pm and fees for entry is 300 THB .
Saiyok Noi Waterfall :
The famous 415 km death railway once used to connect Ben pong of Thiland to Thanbyuzayat of Burma is now limited to only 130 km from the thonburi railway satation of Bangkok to Nam tok in Thiland . Near to this Nam Tok railway station this Saiyok Noi Waterfall is situated and just in front of the park you can see a steam engine used in the world war 2 by the Japanes army in this death Railway .
During the monsoon season this Waterfall looks very beautiful . Here the waterfall goes through the limestone mountains . in earlier times King Rama V of Thiland visited this waterfall and praised for it’s beauty .
This waterfall is opened for the public from 8 am – 5 pm daily and there is no entry fee for this .
Kanchanburi war cemetery :
If you are the history lover , then this place fascinates you where you can see the graveyard of 5000 commonwealth POW as well as 1800 Dutch POW who were used in making of the Thiland Burma death railway by Japanes Army . This prisoners of war (POW) were the forced labours to make the death railway between the June 1942 -October 1943 by the Japanes Army .
At the time of start there were all togeather 60000 POW and 200000 local labourers making railway through the dense Forest . Finally when it was finished almost half of the labours died due to malnutrition and Horrific working condition . Lots of people died of the Maleria .
After the world war ends this graveyards were collected from the different parts of the country and made cemetery here .
The Cemetery is opened from 8 :00 am – 17:00 pm in weekdays and 8:00 am – 12:00 pm in weekdays and entry is free .
Thiland Burma Death Railway Museum :
This Thiland Burma death railway museum is situated in the Kanchanburi to commemorate the death of the POW and the horrific conditions of Working in those camps . You can see lots of models which describe the situation in making this railway . This museum was build in the year 1990 and it is just beside the War Cemetery in the city of Kanchanburi .
This 415 km rail line between the Bangkok and Yangon was build between 1 year and almost 100000 people died in making this rail line . Some people died because of the horrific working condition but some are died because of the cholera , maleria and mal nutrition .
This Museum has been open from the 9 am to 5 pm and entry fees is 80 THB .
Jeath War Museum :
Hellfire pass :
Hellfire pass is a rail pass build by the POW and local labours by the Japanes Army in the World War 2 . sixty nine soldiers died in a period of 6 weeks for the horrific working conditions here .
After war has been finished the rail line has been dismantled and around 1990 Australian and Thai government made it a memorial for the world war 2 .
Kanchanburi Night market :
Kanchanburi night market situated near to the railway station is one of the attraction among the tourists . In this market you can get cloths , daily accessories and lots of different food . You can get boiled corn , different types of cakes and hot sea food making in the Pan . It is mainly among the tourist as a food hub . In the end of the market you can find some people making massage for relaxation .
This market opens from the 5 pm – 10 pm .
Summary :
Kanchanburi is a historical town situated in the western part of the Thiland and a historical town mainly conserve the world war 2 remains and the historical Death Raillway .
