Amazing Thailand - Kanchanaburi and around

Located 130 km. west of Bangkok, just a three-hour drive away, the small town of Kanchanaburi is the capital of Thailand’s third-largest province, which covers almost 20,000 square kilometres and stretches as far west as the border with Myanmar.

The province boasts some of the country’ s most beautiful waterfalls and caves in its national parks, as well as the historic bridge over the River Kwai, and exciting activities like rafting trips are also available. Thus it is an ideal spot to explore the Thai countryside without travelling too far from Bangkok. Kanchanaburi has lots of character, and is a great place to stay in raft houses on the river.

War Cemetary

There are many places worth visiting around town, but top of most people’s list are the bridge and the war museums that chronicle the building of the infamous “Death Railway” across the River Kwai and on into Burma during World War II. The hills and valleys around are scattered with intriguing temples and historical sites, and the lushly-wooded landscapes are ideal for cycling, trekking, raft trips or elephant rides.

Famous for:

Bridge over River Kwai and World War II Cemetery and Museum
Wat Pha Luangtabua – “Tiger temple” where monks live with 10 wild tigers.
River rafting

Climate:

Season	Months	Aveg Temp (Celsius)
Cool	Nov - Feb	24 - 28
Hot	March - June	29 - 31
Green	July - Oct	27 - 29

Useful links

Tiger Temple tour or Hellfire Pass Tour:
www.wts-thailand.com (World Travel Service)
Tiger Temple website www.tigertemple.org/Eng/index.php
Thailand Railways www.railway.co.th
For accommodation information www.tourismthailand.org/
www.aviationandtourism.com.au
General Information on Kanchanaburi www.kanchanaburi.sawadee.com

By Train - Catch a train #127 from Thonburi (Bangkok Noi) station at 07:40 and 13:45, arriving at 10:46 and 16:20. The last train heading for Bangkok departs at 2:50pm.

By Bus - Buses leave Bangkok from the Southern terminal every 15 minutes. The trip takes 3 hours. The last bus back to Bangkok leaves at 7pm.

“Bridge over River Kwai” – this bridge was built in 1943 by Australian, British, American, Dutch and Thai Prisoners of War, who were being held by the Japanese during their occupation of the area in World War II. The bridge was built as part of the Thai-Burma Railway, also known as the “Death Railway”. The original bridge was bombed by the Allies in 1943 and this replica was built in 1945. War Cemetery and Museum – the Australian and British war cemetery is located in the centre of the city, with the JEATH war museum (Japan, England, Australia / America, Thailand and Holland) next to it. For more info on WWII attractions in this area, click here.
Tiger temple – the popular Wat Pha Luangtabua is a remote forest temple, whose monks live with numerous wild animals, including tigers, which they take for a walk on a leash every afternoon. This temple is located 30 minutes from the city and can be reached by taxi or as part of a tour. Click here for the official website. Click here to Read Travellers Tales.
Waterfalls and caves – there are seven major waterfalls and numerous caves hidden in the forests around Kanchanaburi. Erawan Falls are the easiest to access from the city. Some can be accessed from the Mae Klong River and its many tributaries. Simply jump in a long-tail boat or hire a raft for the day. Others can be accessed by public transport or motor bike. Wat Tham Seua is a half-Chinese cave monastery, built on the top of a ridge, overlooking the river Kwai on one side and rice paddies on the other.
Stay at the Jungle Rafts – for something really different, stay on a floating bamboo raft, with no electricity or hot water. This basic but beautiful accommodation is run by the friendly Mon tribe, Burmese refugees. Elephants even bathe next to you while you eat breakfast!
Elephant Riding - go for a 30 or 60 minute elephant ride through the Thung Yai-Huai Kha Khaeng National Park.
Golf – Nichigo Resort & Country Club is one of the best golf courses in Thailand. The area also boasts Mission Hills Golf Club, designed by Jack Niklaus.