Kanchanaburi is a province in Thailand best known for its dark World War II history, but what more does Kanchanaburi have to offer? Is Kanchanaburi worth visiting when you come to Thailand? That’s the question that we’ll be answering in this article.
Getting to Kanchanaburi
Kanchanaburi is an easy 2.5 hour train ride from Bangkok. Trains depart twice daily from Bangkok’s Thonburi station and allows you to experience the historic railways while seeing the beautiful countryside at the same time. Tickets are just 100฿ or $3.33 USD making the train the most economic way to get there.
The Jeath War Museum
If you are fascinated by World War II history, then you should definitely go to Kanchanaburi. The Jeath War Museum is a great place to learn about the Japanese occupation in Thailand and their horrendous treatment of the allied prisoners of war.
Want to see this history come to live? Watch the video below!
Japan occupied Thailand during World War II and wanted to build a railroad in Thailand to eventually invade India through Myanmar. The museum shows the railway cars in which the Japanese housed their prisoners. It also shows many of the guns and vehicles that they used to navigate the railroad project.
The Bridge on the River Kwai
Just steps away from the Jeath War Museum is the Bridge on the River Kwai. These train tracks are still active, but you can walk on them at your own risk.
The bridge is now one of the most popular tourist attractions in the province. You can walk across the bridge to see great views of the river, temples, and markets on either side of the river.
The bridge has plenty of platforms so you can move to safety should a train come your way.
The Death Railway Museum
The Death Railway Museum is also a must for the history lover. This museum gives a chilling report of the sufferings of the prisoners of war many of whom died of malaria, malnutrition, and from simple illnesses that these men would have easily recovered from if they were well-nourished and well cared for.
The museum did a good job of telling the brutality of the history with documentary films, charts, and life-like exhibits of the suffering prisoners of war. A total of 100,000 men died working on the death railroad including kidnapped Malay and Burmese men and British, Dutch, Australian, and American prisoners of war.
The Tiger Cave Temple
But there’s so much more to see than just museums in Kanchanaburi. We also enjoyed the beautiful Tiger Cave Temple. The architecture of each building and pagoda is lovely. This temple sits so beautifully in the surrounding landscape. You have to see it for yourself.
The Giant Monkey Pod Tree
About 15 minutes from the Tiger Cave Temple is the Giant Monkey Pod Tree. This might be one of the biggest trees I’ve ever seen. It’s amazingly symmetrical and cool to walk around and explore.
Kanchanaburi Waterfalls
Kanchanaburi is also well known for its beautiful waterfalls. Erawan Falls and Huay MaeKhamin Falls are national parks that both have 7 tiers of waterfalls. These falls are so impressive that we recommend reserving a whole day to explore them. Want to see even more about these waterfalls, check out our video below.
River Kwai Bridge Week
Once a year, Kanchanaburi hosts a huge fair on the River Kwai. Every night of the fair, they raise awareness about the men who died making the railway by sharing their stories. They also have light shows and fireworks by the bridge.
After watching the show, we checked out the rest of the fair with loads of carnival rides for the whole family. There were also hundreds of food vendors and lots of shopping. There were even several stages of live music. This place was packed with so much to see and do.
This festival happens once a year from late November to early December.
Keeree Tara Restaurant
Keeree Tara Restaurant is a riverside restaurant that we highly recommend for delicious food, nice ambiance, and great river views while you are in Kanchanaburi. At Keeree Tara you can sit directly on the water, enjoy a beautiful sunset, and enjoy the delicious food.
Conclusion: Is Kanchanaburi Worth Visiting?
Kanchanaburi really has a lot to offer the traveler from history, to nature, to festivals, and stunning views. Kanchanaburi is definitely worth visiting, and you will definitely not regret coming!
Want to learn more about the lovely waterfalls in Kanchanaburi? Check out our Kanchanaburi Waterfall post here!
Planning to go to Kanchanaburi in the future? Why not pin this article for later?
Want to learn even more about Thailand? Check out these destinations below!
- Your Guide to Kanachanaburi’s Waterfalls
- The Best Krabi Beaches
- Take a Walk Through History in Ayutthaya
Some of Our Top Travel Recommendations!
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