Kanchanaburi

Museums
The War Museum is one of two war museums about the Death Railway It is located onlyapprox. 300 meters from in Kanchanaburi.It includes a prehistoric view on the province. Entrance fee 60
The Jeath War Museum is located inthe grounds of a temple at the junction of the Kwai Yai and Kwai Noi Rivers aprox 3 Km downstream from thebridge and is open daily from 08:30 to 18:00 and Entrance 30.
Hellfire Pass Memorial Museum Commemoratesthe 1000 Australian and British troops who dug through this mountain passmostly with bare hands, over 700 died in the process. Entrance free donationappreciated trips available in town or by taxi usually included in excursionsfrom Bangkok.

Attractions
The Animal Welfare Farm
Located at Phupradoo Village,around 20 km from Kanchanaburi not to farfromBaan Kao National Museum.It is the animal welfare centre, around 2,000 dogs and cats, a place for doglovers. Kreng Kravia Waterfall and Dai Chong Thong Waterfall Located close to each other about 170 kmfrom Kanchanaburi in a beautiful area.

Tiger Temple Worldfamous attraction where visitors can watch the monks walkingalongside wild tigers being rehabilitated at the centre then you have thechance to walk up and touch them and get a great photo opportunity then walkback with the tigers to the nigh time rest spot watching all the other wildanimals being fed. Included in many trips fromBangkok or easily booked locally or hire ataxi to take you there. 15.30 – 17.00 Entrance 300

Getting There Kanchanaburi is connected by daily road and rail services with Bangkok and other neighbouringprovinces. Air-conditioned and non-air-conditioned coaches frequently leave Bangkok’s Southern BusTerminal throughout the day, departing every 15 minutes from about 5.00 to 22.00 for the 2 to 3-hour journey.

Or take a minibus fromBangkok’s Khaosan Rd. around 2 hours.  Trains from Bangkok Noi Railway Station twotimes daily. Many day trips and multiple day trips availableat hotels and travel agents.                        
                                                                                        Kanchanaburi

There is no dought that the fame of Kanchanaburi comes directly from the 1957 movie The Bridge on the River Kwai thatstarred Alec Guinness.

The movie depicted the terrible conditions thealied and Asian POW’s had to endure to build this small part of the’Death Railway’ and 50 years later the image is still strong even with people not born for 30 years after the movie let alone the actual events. Most of thevisitors are young often backpackers from Europe and North America, butvery large numbers of tourists are Japanese often younger Japanesewhich also comes as something of a surprise.

As you walk across the bridge try to imagine that they say one man died for every woodensupport for the lines not only on the bridge but along the entire railline.

The original wooden bridge depicted in themovie was a temporary bridgebuilt while the bridge you see above was beingconstructed both were bombed by the allies the wooden one was not rebuilt and has now rotted away.

The river itself is beautifully clear and the views alongthe banks are stunning it also contains the world only fresh water stingray.

Crossing the bridge on foot is free but be very careful there are gaps in thewooden planking but not any real danger, trains also cross the bridge, butalways at a snails pace and there are plenty of platforms to step out of theway.

Festivals


Boatand Raft Festival A colourful festival at the beginning ofNovember there are boat races and water sports games are held at this annual inthe area of Khun Phan Dam.

River Kwai Bridge Festival Every year last week in November into firstweekof December the River Kwai bridge festival where a spectacular sound and lightshow tells the story of the ‘Death Railway’ there is also a large fair.

Yoei Dance Festival During Songkran and New Year festivalsis a kind of folk play that has been performed for more than 500 years.. Thereare male and female actors formed in a circle. A player takes turn to singhis/her own verses. There is also dance with the music from a long drumband.

Ban Nong Khao Fair Held during the Songkran festival in April at WatIntharam..  promotes the culture andtraditions of the local villagers, games, play performances, bull races, aredemonstrations of sweet making, cloth weaving, a beauty queen contest, and lots of other entertainment Safari Park.

This is an open zoo Located onHighway No 325 – 40 km from Kanchanaburi.. Use your own car or the parkhas a car service available. Open from 09.00. to 17.00 p.m. daily. Entrance 120adult and 60 for kidsWachiralongkorn Dam   Part of  the Mea Klong river development which covers the areaof 3 million rai 12 km’s from Kanchanaburi.
Wat Tham Khao Noi and Wat Tham Seua A large Chinese style temple complex at tambon Muang chum
Local and international tour operators canarrange all kinds of day/ overnight three day trips from the town including theattractions above and many others such as bamboo river rafting, white waterrafting, leisure cruise on the river, canoe trips, freshwater big game fishing,hot natural spa’s, visit hilltribe Karen village, elephant treks and much more all thesethings tend to be out of town so practical to organise on your own.