Kanchanaburi
Welcome to Kanchanaburi
The insider's travel guide to KanchanaburiAlthough best known for its sobering role in WW2 history — with sites including the Death Railway, Bridge over the River Kwae (Kwai) and Allied War Cemetery — Western Thailand's Kanchanaburi has plenty to offer tourists wanting to stay a little longer.
The nearby Erawan National Park is home to a number of caves and one of the most popular waterfalls in the country — a 7-tiered series of falls with emerald green ponds and a head which allegedly resembles the Erewan, the three-headed white elephant of Hindu mythology. In the city, visitors can enjoy a Khmer temple ruins tours or explore the scenic River Kwae area, with peaceful bamboo raft journeys down the river available.
The Kanchanaburi atlas
2 picks Places & Experiences You Won't Find Elsewhere-
This scenic and historic town on the River Kwai (pronounced kway), along with the province of the same name, offers families a chance to learn Second World War history between visits to some of Thailand's most impressive waterfalls. A host of museums in the provincial capital cover the history of the Thai-Burma Railway and the roughly 100,000 Allied prisoners and forced labourers who died during its construction overseen by the Japanese Army in 1942-43. One highlight is the rail bridge that inspired the 1957 film, The Bridge on the River Kwai. Visitors can ride on part of the railway built atop trellises high above the river. Kanchanaburi's most riveting Second World War site is Hellfire Pass, a memorial where you can hike a portion of a now-closed stretch of railway that was extremely gruelling for the malnourished workers to build. It’s just 80km north of the provincial capital and you can visit with a tour, or independently. This sobering history is balanced by fabulous natural attractions, including the popular Erawan waterfall and the more remote Huai Mae Khamin waterfall. Bring swimsuits. If you have more time, consider venturing to the misty lakeside town of Sangkhlaburi or the border outpost of Pilok, both in the Tenassarim Mountains near Myanmar. Kanchanaburi is only 130km west of Bangkok, making it convenient for a short trip. But as the third largest province in the country, it's also worth considering for a longer stay. Most of Kanchanaburi town is family friendly, but you may want to avoid staying in the nightlife area at the south end of Mae Nam Kwai Road. For a more kid-friendly setting, stay towards the north end of this road or on the west side of the river. The nearby countryside also has quality resorts set in quieter areas along the River Kwai.
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Dive into Krung Thep Maha Nakhon (Sacred City of Angels), the Thai name used for the kingdom's New York City-sized swirl of life, art, history, boats, tuk-tuks, markets, malls and more than enough sizzling woks to make you sneeze. Rise for an early northbound train to wander the 14th to 18th-century ruins at Ayutthaya. On day three, journey west into Kanchanaburi for travertine waterfalls followed by various sites related to the brutal forced construction of the Thai-Burma Railway during World War II. If you have any time left, finish with a float down the River Kwai, which is pronounced kway, by the way.
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History lessons in Kanchanaburi
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Bangkok and beyond
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