Introduction to Kanchanaburi
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The wonderful forests, hills and mélange of different peoples of this western tract of Thailand are overshadowed by a terrible history – during the Second World War thousands of prisoners of war and local laborers died at the hands of their Japanese captors building a railway line through almost impassable terrain. This piece of history was made famous in David Lean’s 1957 Oscar-winning epic, Bridge on the River Kwai. Today, the bridge, sited at the town of Kanchanaburi, and the war museum and memorials associated with it, has helped turn the region into a tourist Mecca. Most come not only to visit the famous bridge but also to relax by Kanchanaburi’s elegant Kwai Noi River.
Famous for the Bridge over the River Kwai, Kanchanaburi is surrounded by a vast area of great natural beauty making it a good base to visit national parks, sail down the Kwai River or travel to one of a number of waterfalls and caves. Over the years with the languid river providing a charming backdrop, the town has become one of Thailand’s biggest tourist destinations for foreigners and Thais alike. The main run of Kanchanaburi’s backpacker hand-outs, internet cafes and inspired food available along Mae Nam Kwai Road is reminiscent of Khao San in Bangkok – there’s very little local flavor left here. Head out of the backpacker ghetto and large parts of the rest of the town are filled with markets, shophouses and memorials to the dead of the Second World War. Apart from markets, shophouses and memorials to the dead of the Second World War. Apart from tourism the province’s wealth is derived from gems mined at the Bo-Phloimines, teak trading with Burma and sugar cane plantations. It was from here that the Japanese set Allied prisoners of war to work on the construction of the notorious ‘death railway’, linking Thailand with Burma during the Second World War.
Getting there
There are regular connections by train and bus with Bangkok. The journey from Bangkok takes around 2 and a half hours by train while any of the numerous buses take two hours. There are also bus connections with Nakhon Pathom (1 and a half hours), Suphanburi and onwards to Sangkhlaburi. Unfortunately, there are no direct bus connections with Ayutthaya – you can get there by connecting with a slow local service at Suphanburi. This is something local tour operators in Kanchanaburi have taken advantage of, cramming rickety minibuses with backpackers willing to pay inflated prices you’re better advised to travel via Bangkok.
Getting around
Bicycles, motorbikes and jeeps can all be hired in Kanchanaburi and offer the most flexible way to explore the surrounding countryside. Alternatively saamlors provide short-distance trips around town while tuk-tuks are handy for longer journeys. Rafts and long-tailed boats are available for chart on the river.
Tourist information TAT
Saengchuto Rd, T034-511200 (walk south, towards Bangkok, from the market and bus station).
A good first stop as it supplies up-to-date information on accommodation. It covers Kanchanaburi, Nakhon Pathom, Samut Sakhon and Samut Songkhram. Most tour operators offer similar excursions: jungle trekking, elephant rides, bamboo rafting, visits to Hellfire Pass and various waterfalls. In Bangkok, virtually every hotel or tour office will be able to offer a day tour (or longer) to Kanchanaburi and surrounding sights.
