Kanchanaburi is Thailand's fourth largest province. Kanchanaburi covers some 19,486 square kilometres, and borders Myanmar (Burma) to the west .
Kanchanaburi is the site of the world-famous Bridge Over The River Kwai, immortalized in books and movies, and is noted for rugged natural beauty where mountains and river valleys have inspired development of hydroelectric power and where labyrinthine dam reservoirs provide further scenic elements to the province's natural beauty.
Beyond the compact provincial capital, some 130 kilometres, and a comfortable two-hour drive, from Bangkok, where the Kwai Yai and the Kwai Noi rivers unite to form the Mae Klong River, Kanchanaburi unfolds in progressively arresting scenic beauty in a landscape characterized by several waterfalls, caves once inhabited by Neolithic man, national parks and tranquil riverine and reservoir settings.
Opportunities abound for bucolic living aboard rafts on dazzling rivers and reservoirs, and provide the focal point for memorable holidays for nature lovers who delight in natural surroundings and pleasures without sacrificing basic comforts.

CITY ATTRACTIONS :

Bridge Over The River Kwai
Internationally famous, thanks to several motion pictures and books, the black iron bridge was brought from Java by the Japanese army and reassembled under Japanese supervision by Allied prisoner-of-war laborers as part of the 'Death Railway' linking Thailand with Burma. Still in use today, the bridge was the target of frequent Allied bombing raids during 1945, and was rebuilt after the war ended. The curved spans of the bridge are the original sections.
The bridge, which spans the Kwai Yai river some 4 kilometres northwest of the Tourism Authority of Thailand's Kanchanaburi office on Saeng Chuto Road, is the focal point of a riverside area of restaurants, souvenir, handicraft and jewellery shops.

Second World War-vintage steam locomotives, and a peculiar hybrid road/railcar from the same era comprise a small Railway Museum on the bridge's eastern approach.

Japanese War Memorial This occupies a small plot of riverside land just south of the bridge.

The Kanchanaburi War Cemetery On Saeng Chuto Road, opposite the Railway Station, this immaculately 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 Bridge over the River Kwai.

The Chung-Kai War Cemetery 2 kilometres south of town, on the bank of the Kwai Noi River, this occupies the former site of the Chung-Kai Prisoner of War Camp. This second cemetery is more peaceful, attractively landscaped, and contains some 1,750 remains.

The JEATH War Museum This enclave in the riverside precincts of Wat Chaichumphon has been constructed largely in the form of an Allied prisoner-of-war camp. The name JEATH is derived from Japan, England, America, Australia, Thailand and Holland. The thatched detention hut with cramped, elevated bamboo bunks contains photographic, pictorial and physical memorabilia dating from the Second World War. Several prisoners of war who survived appalling conditions have donated items from that time to add to the museum's authenticity.

Opening hours: 8.30 AM to 6.00 PM daily

Admission fee: 20 baht

Wat Tham Khao Poon 1 kilometre southwest of the Chung-Kai War Cemetery, this Buddhist temple is locally renowned for a cave containing stalactites and stalagmites, and many beautiful Buddha images.

ACCOMMODATION :

Visitors wishing to stay at any of Kanchanaburi's national parks are advised to book beforehand, particularly if they wish to make weekend or public holiday outings. Reservations should be made through Bangkok's National Parks Division of the Royal Forestry Department (Tel: 579-5025, 5794842).

Visitors wishing to stay at Khao Laem or Srinagarind Dams must make reservations through the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) in Bangkok, Tel: 436-3179, 424-4794.

TRANSPORTATION :

Air-conditioned and regular coaches leave Bangkok's Southern Bus Terminal throughout the day for the 2 to 3-hour journey.

Trains leave the Bangkok Noi Railway Station daily for Kanchanaburi.

The TAT office in Kanchanaburi issues an updated and current timetable for bus and rail services between Bangkok and Kanchanaburi, and major neighboring provinces.

Travel Within Kanchanaburi Transportation within the provincial capital is most enjoyable on tricycles. These can be hired at the rate of approximately 150 baht for two to three hours, enabling visitors to see the Bridge over the River Kwai, the Kanchanaburi War Cemetery, the waterfront Song Kwai Road area, and the JEATH War Museum in one circuit.

Motorcycles or jeeps can be rented on a daily or weekly basis at several outlets on Saeng Chuto Road, beside the TAT Kanchanaburi office, and around the Song Kwai Road area. Visitors are advised to shop around since hire rates and conditions vary, and to check with the TAT office for prevailing rates.

The boat trip to the Lawa Cave and Sai Yok Yai Waterfall from the Pak Saeng Pier in Tambon Tha Sao takes around 4 hours for the return trip, and costs between ],000 and 1,500 baht per boat, each with a seating capacity of 10 to 12 persons.

The 45-70-minute boat ride to Sri Nagarind National Park headquarters, from the Tha Kradan Pier, costs 1,500 baht upwards, again on boats with seating capacities of 10 to 12 persons.

Visitors are advised to check with the TAT office in Kanchanaburi for prevailing rates and the availability of alternate methods of transportation, such as on public holidays and weekends.

OUT-OF-CITY ATTRACTIONS :

Route 323 Major attractions along, or near, Route 323, and within 250-kilometres of the provincial capital, include:

Phu Phra Cave 15 kilometres from town, this cavern is where a legendary character from Thai literature is said to have studied magic.

Muang Singh City

Well signposted from Route 323, and 43 kilometres from town, this ancient site is located on a steep bank of the Kwai Noi River where the waterway narrows and becomes fast flowing. The 800 year-old city ruins are of considerable archaeological interest, and the principal structure, the Khmer Prasat Muang Singh (Tower of the City of Lions) is believed to have been the westernmost outpost of the Angkor-centred Khmer empire. Skeletal remains dating back some 2,000 years have been unearthed, and a wide range of artifacts, including temple carvings, religious statuary, implements and pottery shards indicate the once-thriving city must have been inhabited from approximately the 12th to 14th centuries.

Admission fee to the Prasat Muang Singh complex is 20 baht.

Ban Kao Museum 8 kilometres from Prasat Muang Singh, and 35 kilometres from Kanchanaburi, this also overlooks the Kwai Noi River. The museum was constructed beside a Neolithic burial site discovered by an Allied prisoner of war during the construction of ' Death Railway'. Some 4,000 years ago, Neolithic man lived, roamed and hunted beside the Kwai rivers, sheltering beneath rock overhangs or in nearby caves. The Ban Kao museum houses skeletal remains, pots, axe heads, jewellery made from animal bones, and other artifacts dating from that era.

Sai Yok Noi Waterfall Also known as Khao Phang Waterfall, 60 kilometres from town on Route 323, this is the first of several waterfalls. The roadside cascade is best visited between July and September, when water is most plentiful, and is located 2 kilometres northwest of Nam Tok Railway Station, the terminus of the branch line originating in the provincial capital and which crosses the world-famous bridge.

The Lawa Cave 75 kilometres from town, this largest cave in the area has stalactites and stalagmites in several chambers. Visitors may take boats from the Kwai Noi River Pak Saeng Pier, at Tambon Tha Sao (southwest of Nam Tok Railway Station and Sai Yok, Noi Waterfall) to explore this cave, and travel afterwards upstream to the riverine Sai Yok Yai Waterfall, 104 kilometres from town.

Sai Yok Yai Waterfall This flows directly into the Kwai Noi River, and is the most popular attraction in the 300-square kilometre Sai Yok National Park. The park contains several interesting caves besides the Lawa. The Daowadung Cave, which also entails a river trip for visits, is the most popular. South of the Sai Yok Yai Waterfall, is another cascade flowing into the river, the Nam Jone Waterfall. Wildlife in Sai Yok's deciduous forests include small mammals such as bats, squirrels, and deer, and numerous bird species, including wreathed hornbills and blue-winged pittas. Human presence at Sai Yok is known to date back to the Stone Age, and the Sai Yok Yai Waterfall has been repeatedly celebrated in Thai poetry and song. Bungalow accommodation, river rafts and camping facilities are available.

Hin Dat Hot Springs 130 kilometres from town, these occupy a hollow some 3 kilometres northeast of Route 323.

Pha That Waterfall The three-tiered cascade, 140 kilometres from town, is some 12 kilometres northeast of Route 323, along the same track.

Khao Laem Dam 153 kilometres from town, this imposing structure has a 9-hole golf course, tennis courts, guest house and motel accommodation, and a scenic reservoir upon which several private raft complexes offer opportunities for boat rides, swimming and fishing.

Areas beyond Khao Laem Dam meriting visits either edge the extensive reservoir or nestle against the Myanmar border.

Pilog Mine 60 kilometres west of Amphoe Thonphaphum, on Route 3272, there was much mining of wolfram and tin in the Tanaosri Mountain range marking the Thai-Burmese border. A temperate fruit and decorative winter plant orchard, Pilog Hill, 32 kilometres from the amphoe, can be visited en route.

Sangkla Buri This petite settlement, some 225 kilometres from Kanchanaburi, edges the northernmost extremities of the Khao Laem reservoir. The scenic 75-kilometre route from Khao Laem largely parallels the reservoir, passes several raft complexes, botanical gardens and roadside cascades, and vistas of partly submerged trees crowding the reservoir banks.

Three Pagodas Pass This even smaller settlement, 241 kilometres from Kanchanaburi, marks the rugged Thai-Myanmar border, and is the site of a small but thriving border market. Visitors are allowed to enter the neighboring Burmese settlement between 6.00 AM and 6.00 PM (when the border is closed). The three miniature pagodas are memorials to what was the traditional invasion route favoured by Burmese soldiers during the Ayutthaya period (1350-1767).

Wat Wangka Wiwekaram This extensive temple on the southern outskirts of Sangkla Buri edges the Khao Laem reservoir. The complex is constructed in an unusual pastiche of Thai, Indian and Burmese Buddhist architectural styles, and the abbot is highly revered among local people, including tribal folk and Burmese.

Sangkla Buri Forest Tours Certain Kanchanaburi travel agents offer one day elephant-trekking and rafting tours in the immediate vicinity of Sangkla Buri. Visitors are advised to contact either local travel agents or the Kanchanaburi TAT office for current details, since the tours are not always conducted on a daily basis.

Thung Yai Sanctuary Park Northeast of Sangkla Buri, this sanctuary occupies a terrain of forested mountains and high plains, and hosts numerous protected wildlife species including tigers, bears, elephants and deer. The area is necessarily rugged, remote, and demands 4-wheeldrive vehicles for exploration. Special permission from the Forestry Department is needed for admittance. Visitors interested in entering the area are required to contact the Forestry Department, either in Bangkok or in Kanchanaburi.

ROUTE 3199 Major attractions along Route 3199 include beautiful waterfalls in three national parks.

Bo Phloi Some 40 kilometres from Kanchanaburi, and just off Route 3086, this area is famed for locally-mined blue sapphires and semiprecious materials such as onyx. A Jewellery Handicraft Centre enables visitors to see how these materials are made into finished jewellery creations.

Kanchanaburi Safari Park This brand new enclave, near Bo Phloi, dominated by a man-made hill adorned with decorative pavilions, hosts numerous African and Asian mammals, including giraffes, zebras, lions, tigers and elephants in carefully landscaped environs.

Chaloem Rattanakosin National Park or Tham Than Lod 97 kilometres from Kanchanaburi, and north of Bo Phloi, along Route 3086, this 54-squarekilometre park encompasses peaceful forests, waterfalls and several caves. The 300-metre long Than Lod Noi Cave near the park headquarters is the most popular attraction. Bungalow accommodation and camping facilities are available.

Erawan National Park 65 kilometres from Kanchanaburi along Route 3199, this 550-square-kilometre national park is the site of the 7-tiered Erawan Waterfall, widely regarded as being one of Thailand's loveliest cascades. A mountainside forest setting includes dense bamboo groves which support numerous bird species. The park's other major attraction is the spectacular Prathat Cave which contains monumental stalagmites. Bungalow accommodation and camping facilities are available.

Sri Nagarind Dam 69 kilometres from Kanchanaburi, and just 4 kilometres north of the Erawan national park, this massive structure marks the southernmost extremity of an extensive reservoir, which is part of yet another national park.

Sri Nagarind National Park This park covers 1,532 square kilometres. Park headquarters are 105 kilometres from Kanchanaburi. Major park attractions include the lovely 7-tiered Huay Kamin Waterfall, boat trips on the scenic reservoir, and encroaching deciduous forest and bamboo groves where kingfishers, parrots, bee-eaters, hornbills, woodpeckers, thrushes, babblers and numerous other bird species are readily seen. Larger, more elusive mammals within the park's remoter areas include deer, elephants and tigers. Phra and Niramit Caves near the park headquarters comprise other attractions.

Bungalow accommodation is available. The park's relative inaccessibility necessitates either a punishing 40-kilometre drive along a dry weather track, and negotiable only by motorcycles, pickups or 4-wheel-drive vehicles, or a 45-75-minute boat ride from the Tha Kradan Pier 24 kilometres north of the Sri Nagarind Dam.

SPECIAL INTERESTS

Fishing This is popular on both Kwai rivers, and the Khao Laem and Sri Nagarind reservoirs. Several raft resorts offer hired rods. Edible and popular fish include the Giant Gourami, the Transverse Bellbarb, the Giant Snakehead Fish and the Striped Tiger Nandid. Each is delicious when freshly cooked, either simply fried or in Thai culinary styles.

Rafting Trips are available from the provincial capital and several holiday resorts. Raft trips leaving from the famous bridge, or the waterfront Song Kwai Road area, cost between 2,000 and 4,500 baht for 10-15 persons, depending on durations and destinations. Trips may entail 7-10 hour return journeys, or include an overnight stay on either the Kwai Yai or Kwai Noi rivers. Visitors are advised to contact TAT's Kanchanaburi office for current information and prices.

Rail Trips Railway enthusiasts may travel along one of Southeast Asia's most historical tracks, namely the surviving stretch of the 'Death Railway', from the provincial capital to the Nam Tok Railway Station near the Sai Yok Noi Waterfall. The winding track crosses the world-famous bridge and provides a clear indication of how difficult constructing the original track (long since repaired and restored) must have been. One particularly exhilarating stretch sees the line parallel the curving Kwai Noi on a wooden viaduct towering above the river and hugging a steep, cave-ridden cliff.

Golf Golf has become very popular in recent years and can be enjoyed at the courses listed below. Most offer clubhouse, pro shop and caddy facilities, and have rental equipment. Green fees vary widely, weekends generally being more expensive. Unless otherwise specified, courses listed below are each 18-hole, par 72.

Green World Hot Spring Resort & Golf Club Km
107 Kanchanaburi-Thong PHA Phum Road
Tel: (02) 539-4613, 539-2865-6

Grand Garden & Golf Club
Ladya, Muang, Kanchanaburi
Tel: (02) 243-5816-7, 249-0742-3

Khao Laem Golf Course (9 holes)
Thong PHA Phum Tel: (034) 599-077

Sri Nagarind Golf Course (9 holes)
Sri Sawat Tel: (034) 513-000

Nichigo Resort & Country Club
Ladya, Muang, Kanchnaburi
Tel: (02) 235-3034-8

Barrington Saiyok & Sports Club Singha, Sai Yok
Tel: (02) 541-4252-6 Fax (02) 541-4257

Mission Hill Golf Club
Nong Tak Ya, Tha Muang, Kanchanaburi
Tel: (02) 222-5514, 226-3390, (01) 312-0711-2

River Kwai Golf & Country Club
Ban Wang Mai, Sai Yok
Tel: (02) 279-5040, 279-5058 (034) 591-037

Evergreen Hills Golf Club
152 Mu 5, Tha Muang, Kanchanaburi
Tel: (02) 512-0294-6

Home Phu Toey Golf Resort Ban
Phu Toey, Sai Yok
Tel: (02) 280-3488-9

Local Culture

River Kwai Bridge Week Each year, late November and/or early December, the world-famous bridge becomes the focal point of celebrations. Highlights include exhibitions and historical and archeological displays; a carnival featuring sideshows, roundabouts, folk entertainment and cultural performances; rides on trains hauled by World War II vintage steam locomotives; and a nightly light & sound presentation reenacting the bridge's Second World War history, including an Allied bombing raid.

THAI ETIQUETTE

For example, Thais revere their royal family. Even social malcontents, who ignore legal and community standards, refuse to tolerate a faintly implied slur on the monarchy.

Outward expressions of anger are regarded as crude and boorish. Visitors who remain calm and smile will find all sorts of doors opened to them.

Visitors should dress neatly in all religious shrines. They should never go shirtless, or in shorts, hot pants or other unsuitable attire.

Shoes should be removed when entering a private Thai home, a Buddhist temple chapel, any of the Islamic community's mosques.

Each Buddha image, large or small, ruined or not, is regarded as a sacred object. Never climb onto one to take a photograph or do anything which might indicate a lack of respect.

Public displays of affection between men and women are frowned upon. Westernized Thai couples may hold hands, but that's as far as it goes in public. It is considered rude to point your foot at a person or object.

Thais regard the head as the highest part of the body, literally and figuratively. Therefore, they do not appreciate anyone patting them there, even as a friendly gesture.

Thais customarily ask questions which are regarded elsewhere as being personal. If the visitor is asked, 'Where are you going?' or 'How much do you earn?' such questions are asked in a friendly manner and signify genuine interest. Joking answers such as, 'I'm not sure' or "Never enough!' are perfectly acceptable.

SHOPPING

Kanchanaburi is a major source of high-quality Thai blue sapphires. These are mined at Ban Phloi, as are onyx and topaz. Purchases of finished jewellery creations can be made at Ban Phloi's Jewellery Handicraft Centre and other satellite outlets.

DINING