Kanchanaburi in Thailand, the complete guide

The complete guide to what you need to know to discover the city and province of Kanchanaburi located in central Thailand.

Kanchanaburi is known for its tragic history during the Japanese occupation and the construction of the famous Bridge on the River Kwai, but it is also an attractive, waterfront town that is very popular with tourists.

Description

Kanchanaburi Province

It is a pleasant little town spread out along the River Kwai , it is 130 km from Bangkok and has a population of 52,000.

Many of its restaurants, live music bars and guest houses are located on barges on the River Kwai.

History of the Bridge on the River Kwai

In 1941, the Japanese army invaded Thailand with the primary aim of subsequently invading Malaysia.

In 1942, the Imperial Japanese Army ordered the construction of a railway that was to link Thailand to Burma.

30,000 Western prisoners and 100,000 Asian workers were used to build 415 km of railway.

Then the Japanese decided to invade India using this route, so they accelerated the work and the work rate became infernal.

Forced labor and malaria caused thousands of deaths. In the final months, Japanese soldiers were also forced to participate in the work to meet deadlines.

During this period the bridge was bombed about ten times by the Allies.

After the war, the Thai government decided to restore this line to attract tourists and they did not hesitate to ask Japanese banks to participate!

A monument and two museums were built to commemorate this tragic story:

The Thailand-Burma Railway Museum (opened in March 2003) and the Jeath War Museum about the bridge itself.

There is also the Death Railway and a World War II Allied cemetery.

Things to do in Kanchanaburi

The tourist information center is located on Saeng Chuto Rd just south of the bus station.

Open from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. every day.

The Bridge on the River Kwai

It is located 3 km north of the city.

See his story above.

Kanchanaburi Military Cemetery

Located on Saeng Chuto Street, opposite the train station, this perfectly maintained enclave contains the remains of 6,982 Allied prisoners of war who perished during the construction of the 'Death Railway'.

An estimated 16,000 Allied prisoners of war and 49,000 forced laborers died during the construction of the Death Railway and the Khwai River Bridge.

Kanchanaburi Cemetery

The JEATH War Museum

The name JEATH is derived from the initials of Japan, England, America, Australia, Thailand and Holland.

The thatched detention hut with its cramped, high bamboo beds contains photographic, graphic and physical memorabilia of World War II.

Several prisoners of war who survived appalling conditions donated objects from that period to bring greater authenticity to the museum.

Address: Thanon Pak Phraek (Adjacent to Wat Chaichumphon temple 1 km south of the city center).

Open from: 8:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Entrance fee: 20 baht

Chongkai War Cemetery

It is a small, well-kept cemetery 2 km from town along the road to Wat Thaopoom, the final resting place of the Dutch and British forces.

Wat Tham Khao Pun

Located 1 kilometer southeast of the Chong Kai War Cemetery, this Buddhist temple is locally renowned for a cave containing stalactites and stalagmites as well as many magnificent reproductions of the Buddha.

Parties, festivals and concerts

Every year during the fall, a multi-day festival is held to commemorate the construction and destruction of the first bridge.

Entrance to the compound is around 20 to 30 baht depending on the day.

A sound and light show depicting this story takes place every evening of the festival, for around 100 baht per person.

There is also a rave party and concerts.

But above all, it is an opportunity for many local merchants to boost their turnover by displaying their stalls to the enormous festival crowd: fried insects, popcorn, hot dogs and clothing are the main goods sold.

Other activities

Kanchanaburi is the closest town to the Tiger Temple (now closed) and Erawan National Park with its magnificent waterfalls.

Erawan Waterfall panoramic view

Find a hotel in Kanchanaburi

You'll have no trouble finding hotel rooms, but if you're coming between November and February, Thailand's peak season, it's best to book in advance.

Climate of Kanchanaburi

Kanchanaburi generally enjoys cooler temperatures than central Thailand due to its geographical location.

Indeed, Kanchanaburi is located in the valley of the River Kwai and bordered by mountainous terrain.

The average temperature is around 30 degrees Celsius, with winter being felt most from January 1st to 15th, but remaining pleasant.

Kanchanaburi's climate can be divided into two six-month periods: a wet period where it rains every afternoon until mid-December and is subject to violent thunderstorms (the monsoon), then a very dry period until mid-June.

Transportation to/from Kanchanaburi

You can find long-haul flights on Trip.com , for regional flights see above.

To get an idea of ​​the prices of transport by bus, train, boat or plane or to book your ticket, you can consult our partner 12go.asia .

By bus

From Bangkok (it takes 3 hours):
– Via the southern bus station Sai Tai Mai : departures from 5:30 a.m. until approximately 10:30 p.m. every 30 minutes (approximately 80 baht)
– Via the northern station Mo Chit departures between 5 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. (approximately 130 baht)

By train

From Thonburi Station (in Bangkok): Departure at 7:35 and arrival at 10:30 or at 13:45 and arrival at 16:30.
From Kanchanaburi: The train departs at 7:19 and arrives at 10:00 or at 14:44 and arrives at 17:30.

By car

From Bangkok just follow route no. 4 (Phetkasem) via Nakhon Chaisi, Nakhon Pathom, Ban Pong, Tha Maka, Tha Muang, the journey takes about 2 hours.

See also: Transport in Thailand, getting around in the land of smiles

Video about Kanchanaburi

A nice little video that presents the city and the main attractions in less than 3 minutes (in English, but gives a good overview of the things to see and the atmosphere):

Kanchanaburi City and Province Maps

Kanchanaburi City Map

Map of Kanchanaburi province

See also:
Photos of Kanchanaburi
Good deals on Kanchanaburi
Maps of Kanchanaburi

Photos: The Bridge on the River Kwai: Tsavop ; World War II Cemeteries in Kanchanaburi: Rdsmith4; Kanchanaburi Railway Station: yeowatzup; Bridge on the River Kwai 2: Aekkapuncs