Kanchanaburi: Hotels in Kanchanaburi, Hotel & Resort Reservation Service in Kanchanaburi Thailand

The distance from Bangkok to Kanchanaburi is 129 Kilometers, it takes only about 2 hours by car. The province is fulled of waterfalls and abundant western forests, and the city it self, too, is fulled of tourist attractions; the railway of the death on the Kwae river, the alliance soldier cemeteries, war museums, and fafting from SongKwae rd., for example.

The front gate of the Kanchanaburi city. Behind this gate, the statue of King Rama III is situated, sitting facing the city. this picture is taken from Pak Prake rd., On the wall, "Kanchanaburi City, 1831" is written.

Before the Kanchanaburi City
Before reaching the Kanchanaburi city, we will have to pass Amphoe Thamaka, and Amphoe Thamuang first. Although this two districts are not as famous as Amphoe Saiyok, Amphoe Si Sawat, Amphoe Thongpapume, and Amphoe Sangklaburi, they also have many interesting places to visit, most of which are caves and old temples.

The Pongtuk ancient site: Only 90 Kilometer from Bangkok, 38 Kilometers fromt the Kanchanaburi city, this is an ancient site where the great community in Dwaravati period prospered. Most of the discovered ancient objects are kept in the National Museum, yet some of them are at Wat Dongsak now. The are really fascinated by the ones who are interested in archeology and antiquity.

Wat Dongsak: is near the Pongtuk ancient site, the temple’s hall is used for storing some ancient objects, for instance, images of Buddha, pottery, beads, jades, and primitive bracelets. The admission is free.

Pratandongrang: Within Amphoe Thamaka, turn left at the kilometer marker 101 from the highway 323 for about 10 kilimeters, there situates the hugsrock called Pratangdongrang, in Pratan temple. Equally worth visiting is the mountain called Twaiprapleung, from which you can get a beautiful view over the area.

Wat Tham Sua: What Tham Sua belong to Amphoe Thamuang, about 10 kilometer before the Kanchanaburi city. Even though it is not and old temple, its sacred pangoda called Chedi KadeKeaw Mahaprasat, with 9 levels standing 59 meters high, makes this place attraction for many travellers. Up there the scenery is very fabulous. Around the foothill is a little cave called Tham Sua, and a temple called Wat Tham Khao Noi, where the Chinese style of temple is located.

Tham Keaw: 4.5 kilometer from Wat Tham Sua, there is an interesting cave worth visiting, called Tham keaw. This small cave produces beautiful stalagmite and stalactite, and a number of unique tiny stones. Also at the top of Khao Huorad, you can appreciate the fantastic view over Amphoe Thamoung.
Wat Thammangkonthong: Situated only 7 kilometers from the Kanchanaburi city on the highway 323, Wat Thammangkonthong possesses a museum collecting object from several periods. Another prominent point of this place is the 94 steps high dragon headed stairway up the hill.

Wat Intaram: At Amphoe Thamuang, another temple called Wat Intaram is situated. The religious places around here, and the souvenirs like woven cloths, palm sugar in cakes, and the hundred coloured loincloths are really famous.

The old Kanchanaburi City
Originally, the Kanchanaburi city was not situated where is now. In the past, Kan City was near the Kwae Yai river at Ban Tahsao, Tambon Ladya. However, after the Nine troops war, King Rama I had an order to change the city to the better location at Ban Pak Prak. The new city was built exactly where the Kwae Yai and Kwae Noi rivers meet, thus the water transportation is very convenient. After that, the watchtowers and the city wall constructed, and the city sat between Wat Neau and Wat Tai, along the river.

The old wall trace: Can be seen at Tambon Pak Prak, Amphoe Muang. Althogh it is badly ruined and neglected, we can still see it clearly in several parts. Around there the city pillar shrine and the front gate of the Kanchanaburi ciry are situated.

Wat Tai: Near the Klong river, Pak Prak rd., Wat Tai which is an old temple built since the period of King Rama I is located. There are many splendid points in this temple, the old archway, the five ancient Gudi (house of the Buddhist priests), and the axis and captive museum since the World War II, for instance. Especially the museum, it is very interesting and popular for the tourist. Along the hall, the old photographs and pictures drawn by the captives, and the military equipments used in the World War II are exhibited.

Wat Neau: Wat Neau, and old temple since the King Rama III period, is near the Kwae Yai river, Pak Prak rd., The highlight of the place is the wall paintings inside the temple, which are in the most perfect condition. Moreover, there is also a Mandana (a building with four arches and a pyramidal roof), with a duplicated footprint of the Buddha installed inside.

Wat Yuan: Along the northern side of the city wall the Kwae Yai river, there is a temple called Wat Yuan. Inside there are three famous sandstone Buddha images. Another place you should not miss is the Wat Yuan graveyard. Although it is not exquisitely decorated, it has a calm atmosphere and an important historical background, as a place to bury the hired wonders who sacrificed their lives in constructing the railway of the death.

Wat Neau	Wat Yuan

The Bridge over the Kwae River
This bridge is the best know symbol of Kanchanaburi for people around the world. Sometimes it is called the bridge of the death because so many captive lives, mostly the westerners, had been sacrificed in order to build this bridge during the World War II. Therefor, if you visit Kanchanaburi, make sure that you walk along the famous bridge.

How to get there
You can drive on the highway 323, about one kilometer from the Kan city, passing Donrak cemetery and the train railway, and then turn left for the foot of the bridge. You can also get there by train and get off at the kanchanaburi station (in case you would visit the Donrak cemetery), or get off at the Thakham station (in case you would visit the bridge).

Highlights
The bridge over Kwae river: This bridge is considered the first chapter of the trip in Kanchanaburi. It was built during the World War II according to the order of Japanese troops who at that time had conquered the whole area. In order to get to Burma, the railway throungh the Kwae Yai river must be constructed. The forest then was very wild and fulled of diseases. At first the bridge was built by wood, and finally it was reconstructed by steel imported from Indonesia. The whole work finished in September 1943. Nevertheless, this bridge was bombed on November, 28 1944. The number of lives lost during the construction and in the bomb accident were innumerable.

However, today the bridge is renovated and is ready for all travellers. On the bridge there are many excellent views for taking photograph, but you should be careful for the train as well.
Around the train station, several kinds of stream locomotives are exhibited. They are the real ones used in transporting weapons and supplies during the war. For shoppers, this place is also very famous for its jewelry, especially amethyst, black sapphire, and topez.

The World War II museum: If standing on the bridge, you can see the museum at the foot of the bridge about 100 meters to the south. Within the walking length, you can visit there very easily.
Very near the museum is the Taiyanusorn monument. This monument was built in September 1944 by the Japanese soldiers during the World War II, in order to recall the lost lives of the war captives and workers during the bridge construction. The memorial event is still organized every March even today.
Beside, there are also river boat programs by many boat service centers around the northern foot of the bridge. The eight seat long boat with a shafted outboard motor runs from the bridge, passing the war museum, Wat Tai, Chonggai cemetery, Wat Thamkhaopoon, and Wat Thammangkonthong. The whole course takes about two hours.

The Bridge Over The Kwae River

The War Cemeteries
It is not very common in Thailand that a cemetery should become a tourist attraction, but here is Kanchanaburi, the two war cemeteries, Donrak cemetery, and Chongkai cemetery, are visited by travelers from around the world. These places sometimes called by the local people “Susan Farang” (foreign cemeteries) are attentively watched over, and beautifully decorated.

Donrak war cemetery: Only one kilometer from the Kan city, Donrak cemetery is located in Tambon Banneau, Amphoe Muang, on the Sangshutoe rd., across the Kanchanaburi train station.
This is a very large cemetery where 6,982 graves lay. The graveyard is for the soldier captives who got killed during the railway construction. The atmosphere is calm and peaceful. The brass gravestones line up all over the place, on which the name, age, and country of the soldier are recorded. And as there were soldiers from so many countries, the memorial days varie according to their birthplace.

• 25 April: for Australian and New Zealander soldiers.
• 5 May: for Hollander soldiers.
• 11 November: for English soldiers.

Chongkai war cemetery: Two kilometers from the city, the cemetery is in Tambon Nongya, Amphoe Muang, on the bank of the Kwae Noi river.

Comparatively smaller to the Donrak cemetery, Chongkai cemetery used to be the biggest concentration camp tin Thailand. In old days, there were hospitals, theatre houses, and small churches created by the war captives.

The dead bodies from the hospitals were buried around the place. If you have a chance to watch the Hollywood movie called “To End All Wars”, you might not find it hard to picture this concentration camp.

Right now the cemetery is under the commonwealth soldier cemetery. If you travel with the boat service from the Kwae river, you can visit this cemetery, for it is also included in the program.
From Chongkai cemetery, drive out of town about one kilometer, you can also visit the Thamkhaopoon (the limestone mountain cave). And from there if you drive further about 5 kilometers, to the Bantoongnakrarat direction, you can visit the Suan Somdejya. Despite the fact that this park is a stone park, it is very cool and shady.

Before the Saiyok
On the highway 323 from the Kanchanaburi city westward to Amphoe Saiyok, another well known district of Kanchanaburi, you must pass two important tourist attractions: the Nine troops war Historical Park, and Bankhao National Museum. Both places are not at all far from th Kanchanabri city, and the transportation is very convenient.

The Nine troops war Historical Park: From the Kan city, take the highway 3199, heading Amphoe Si Sawat. Around the kilometer marker 24, you will find the signpost to the park. Turn left about 600 meters.

Once during the King Rama I period, this place was a battle field between Thai and Burmese. Thai, with only 4 troops of soldiers, succeedd in defencing and cutting the transporting courses of Burma. It took 10 months for the war to be over, and finally Thai defeated. And the war is called the Nine troops war ever since.

The Nine troops war Historical Park has an exhibition about the history of the war, and has the watchtower which you can go up to see the view. Moreover, there is also a significant monument that 4 flagpoles stand over 9 wooden stumps, signifying the 4 troops of Thai that overcome the 9 Burmese troops.

Bankhao National Museum: From the Kan city, heading Amphoe Saiyok on the highway 323, turn left to the highway 3229 for about 11 kilometers. Then turn right for about 2 kilometers and turn left for another kilometer, you will get there. The total distance from the city is 35 kilometers. Bankhao National Museum collects the evidence of Kanchanabri’s civillzation in the past. The whole place is peaceful and clean, and it is near the Muang Sing Historical Park.

During the World War II, there was a Hollander captive called Dr. Van Hungoren discovering many ancient tools while he was constructing railway near Bankao station. He had not revealed until the war was over that the place actually used to be a prehistoric community. After that, a number of ancient objects were also found around the Kwae Yai and Kwae Noi river, for example, skeletons, accessories, containers, coffins,stone axes, and many other utensils. Right now all of these important archaeological items are being kept in Bangkhao National Museum.

The museum opens on Wednesday to Sunday, and is closed on Monday, Tuesday, and official holidays.

Wall Painting illustraters the lifestyle of prehistorical
period community, at BanKhao National Museum