Kanchanaburi Map Hotels Travel Agents Guide

According to most historians, the ancient town of Kanchanaburi was located near Ban Lat Ya, a small village situated approximately 16 kilometers north of the present town. The site was repeatedly recorded in Thai history as an invasion route which the Burmese used to enter Thai Kingdoms.

Kanchanaburi, which has mostly mountainous terrain, covers an area of approximately 19,473 square kilometers and is the third largest province in Thailand after Chiang Mai and Nakhon Ratchasima. Situated approximately 129 kilometres west of Bangkok, Kanchanaburi shares a border with Myanmar to the west, Tak and Uthai Thani Provinces to the north, Suphan Buri and Nakhon Pathom Provinces to the east, and Ratchaburi Province to the south.

In north and west Kanchanaburi, the terrain is comprised mainly of mountains and high plains, with the Thanon Thongchai Range acting as a natural border between Thailand and Myanmar. The range is the source of Kanchanaburi's two most important rivers Maenam Khwae Noi and Maenam Khwae Yai, which form the famous Maenam Mae Klong. As a result, several of Thailand's largest Namtok (waterfalls) and most extensive wildlife sanctuaries are found in this area.

The magnificent landscape and charming beauty of Kanchanaburi have resulted in major tourist attractions including several well-known waterfalls, caves which were once inhabited by Neolithic man, pristine national parks, tranquil rivers, virgin forests, and reservoir. Together, they offer an intriguing experience for first-time or repeat visitors. Whether its fishing, rafting, canoeing, mountain biking, bird-watching, star-gazing, golfing, elephant and jungle trekking, or even living in bamboo rafts, Kanchanaburi takes pride in offering them all.

The city of Kanchanaburi is located at the point where two tributaries, the Khwae Noi and Khwae Yai meet and form the Maenam Mae Klong. This is the location of the notorious Death Railway and the Bridge on the River Khwae one of the worlds famous World War II sites which have been immortalized in print and film.

In economic terms, Kanchanaburi has been doing well on a national scale, with over 10 per cent growth annually. Important industries include sugar, agricultural products and jewelry. Tourism is also a main source of income for the locals as the provinces high tourism potential has made Kanchanaburi number one among the west provinces in having the highest number of visitors each year.

Residents of Kanchanaburi are engaged in agricultural activities. Most of the locals are of Thai ancestry with notable Mon and Karen minorities. Rural dwellers enjoy living simply and respecting nature. Moreover folk music and dances dating back at least 500 years are still performed today.

By car

Route 1: a 2-hour drive along Highway No.4 (Phetkasem) via Nakhon Chaisi Province, Nakhon Pathom Province, Ban Pong, Tha Maka and Tha Muang (of Ratchaburi Province) to Kanchanaburi.

Route 2:drive along Highway No. 338 from Bangkok to Nakhon Chaisi Province then switch to Highway No.4 to Kanchanaburi.

By Bus

Non air-conditioned buses leave Bangkoks Southern Bus Terminal daily every 15 minutes from 4 a.m. until 8 p.m. The trip takes about 3 hours. Call 02 434 5557-8 for more information.

First class air-conditioned buses (blue color) leave Bangkoks Southern Bus Terminal daily every 25 minutes Call 02 435 5012, 0 2435 1199 or 02 884 6249 or visit www.transport.co.th for more information.

There are also buses leaving frequently daily for Kanchanaburi from Nakhon Pathom. The journey takes up to 1.5 hours. From Ratchaburi and Suphan Buri Bus Stations, there are several buses leaving directly to Kanchanaburi. The trip takes some 2.5 - 3 hours.

By Train

Ordinary trains leave Bangkoks Thon Buri Railway Station (Bangkok Noi Station) daily. Only 3rd class seats are available. The journey takes approximately 3 hours. For more information, call Thon Buri Railway Station at tel. 02 411 3102 or Kanchanaburi Railway Station at tel. 034 511285.

The weekend special train leaves Bangkok Railway Station (Hua Lamphong) at 6.30 a.m., returning at 7.55 p.m. on Saturdays, Sundays and on public holidays. The trip usually includes several stop-overs at Phra Pathom Chedi (Nakhon Pathom), Death Railway Bridge, and a transfer (by minibus) to Phrasat Mueang Singh Historical Park, etc.

There are also special steam trains operating between Kanchanaburi and Wang Pho.

For more information, call the State Railway of Thailand at tel. 1690, or 02 223 7010, 02 223 7020 or visit www.railway.co.th.

Travelling around Kanchanaburi

Although the city of Kanchanaburi is possibly accessible on foot, it requires strenuous efforts in completing such a trip. Normally, bicycles, motorcycles and cars are common means of transportation. Bicycles and motorcycles can be rented from shops, guesthouses and hotels located along Maenam Khwae Road. Visitors can capture the citys atmosphere along their way to see the Bridge over the River Khwae, the Kanchanaburi War Cemetery, the waterfront Song Khwae Road area, and the JEATH War Museum. For visitors who enjoy driving themselves, cars can be rented on a daily or weekly basis at several outlets on Saeng Chuto Road and around the Song Khwae Road area.

The two major routes used to explore Kanchanaburis attractions are Highway No. 323 and Highway No. 3199. Highway No. 323 runs parallel to Maenam Khwae Noi to Sangkhla Buri District (approximately 230 kilometers from the city) via Sai Yok, Thong Pha Phum, and Vajiralongkorn Dam while Highway No. 3199 follows the Khwae Yai River to Sri Nakharin Dam (69 kilometers away from the city).

Travelling Between Districts

Transportation between the districts is also conveniently arranged by regular buses. Major destinations include Bo Phloi, Tham Than Lot (Than Lot Cave), Namtok Erawan, Namtok Sai Yok Yai, Thong Pha Phum, Sangkhla Buri, the Bridge over River Khwae and the War Cemetery. They are mostly non-air conditioned buses which leave every 20 minutes up to 2 hours. Others have their own fixed itineraries. Check for details at 0 3451 1182, Kanchanaburi Bus Station.

Traveling around Kanchanaburi by train is also popular. It is inexpensive, reliable and offers a more panoramic view of the area. The route from Kanchanaburi to Namtok Station near Namtok Sai Yok Noi Waterfall is recommended for visitors wishing to explore the notorious historic railway. Trains leave Kanchanaburi Railway Station 3 times daily and stops at the Bridge over the River Khwae, Tha Kilen (near Phrasat Mueang Singh Historical Park), Tham Krasae, Wang Pho and ends at Namtok Railway Station. For more information, call Kanchanaburi Railway Station at tel. 0 3451 1 285.

Alternate trips to out-of-town attractions

There are ferry services across Maenam Mae Klong that costs 5 baht per person. You can bring your motorcycle or bicycle on board in order to explore the other side of the town. Also in operation are boat services to several interesting destinations.

From the Pak Saeng Pier in Tambon Tha Sao, visitors can hire a boat (carrying capacity of 10-12 persons) to visit the Lawa Cave and Namtok Sai Yok Yai. The 1-hour boat ride to Namtok Huay Maekhamin starts from the Tha Kradan Pier, 12 kilometers from Sri Nakharin Dam.

Visitors are advised to check with the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) Office at 034 511 200 and 034 512 500 or email tatkan@tat.or.th for details on arranged transportation during public holidays and weekends.

 

The 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 prisoners of war labour as part of the Death Railway linking Thailand with Myanmar. 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. [MORE]

War Museum This museum, located near the River Kwai Bridge, displays the collection of weapons, tools and utensils of the Allied prisoners of war and Japanese soldiers during the Second World War.

The JEATH War Museum This enclave in the riverside precincts of Wat Chaichumphon has been constructed largely in the form of an Allied Prisoners 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, and physical memorabilia dating from the Second World War. The museum is open daily from 8.30 a.m. to 6.00 p.m. [MORE]

Kanchanaburi Town Gate This is located on Lak Muang Road near the meeting point of the Kwai Yai and Kwai Noi Rivers. It is built in 1833 during the reign of king Rama lll after the town was moved from the original site at Tambon Latya, 18 kms. away.

Kanchanaburi War Cemetery On Saeng Chuto Road, opposite the Railway Station, it contains the remains of 6,982 prisoners of war who perished during the construction of the "Death Railway". [MORE]

Chong Kai War Cemetery 2 kilometres south of town on the bank of the Kwai Noi River this occupies the former site of the Chong Kai prisoner of war camp. This second cemetery is more peaceful, attractively landscaped, and contains some 1,750 remains.

Wat Tham Mangkon Thong Situated 4 kilometres from town on the bank of the Kwai Noi River, it is well known for the incredible performance of the nun floating in a pool. There is small museum where a variety of ancient objects are on display.

Wat Tham Phu Wa The monastery in natural surrounding, famous for meditation, is 15 kilometres away from the provincial capital. There is a beautiful cave with plenty of stalactites.

Somdet Phra Sri Nakarin Park Situated in Kanchanaburi's Agricultural College at Tambon Nong Ya, 9 kilometres from town, it is also known as "the Stone Garden" which abounds with stones of different sizes and shapes in its large area.

Wat Tham Sua and Wat Tham Khao Noi Located at Tambon Muang Chum, 4 kilometres beyond Wachiralongkorn Dam, these two adjacent temples house very beautiful Thai and Chinese style buildings and a huge Buddha image situated on the mount.

Wat Pa Lelai This ancient temple is 18 kilometres away from the provincial capital. It is located at Tambon Lat Ya, which once was an ancient border town involved in battles between the Thai and the Burmese during the Ayutthaya period to the early Bangkok period. Another nearby temple called Watkhun Phaen houses a ruined pagoda dating back to the early Ayutthaya period.

Kanchanaburi Cultural Centre The collection centre of human lifestyles from the past till the present displayed at the Rajpatara institute of Kanchanaburi,14 Kilometres out of town on the route to Sai Yok.

Ban Kao National Museum The museum, some 35 kilometres from town, was constructed beside a Neolithic burial site discovered by Dutch prisoners of was during the construction of the "Death Railway". Specimens of Neolithic remains are on display. It is open daily from 9.00 a.m. - 4.00 p.m.

Prasat Muang Sing Historical Park This ancient site is 43 kilometres out of Kanchanaburi on the bank of the Kwai Noi River. The principal structure, the Khmer Prasat Muang Sing (Tower of the City of Lions), is believed to have been the westernmost outpost of the Angkor-centred Khmer empire. A wide range of artifacts including temple carvings, religious statues, implements, and pottery shards indicate the once-thriving city must have been inhabited from approximately the 12th to 14th centuries.

Namtok Sai Yok Noi Also known as Namtok Khao Phang, some 60 kilometres from town, this roadside cascade is best visited between July and September when water is most plentiful. Travelling by train from Kanchanaburi to Nam Tok Station is recommended for visitors wishing to experience trips on the historic railway, and then continue by local transport to the waterfall, which is only 2 kilometres away.

Hell Fire Pass This is a part of the Death Railway, constructed during the Second War now abandoned. The site is located in a thick forest near km. 66 of Sai Yok-Thong Pha Phum Road. A long passage made through the stone mountain by the Allied prisoners indicates the extreme difficulty in constructing the Death Railway.

Sai Yok National Park this park encompasses the famous Kwai Noi River and contains some waterfalls and caves on the river bank. Namtok Sai Yok Yai, 104 kms. from the town, flows directly into the river near the park office. lts idyllic beauty has been repeatedly celebrated in Thai poetry and song. Tham Lawa and Tham Daowadung are the two caves which house numerous stalactites and stalagmites. The smallest mammal in the world, Kitti's Hog-nosed Bat weighing just two grams, is found in the park area.

From the Pak Saeng Pier in Tambon Tha Sao, visitors can hire a boat with a carrying capacity of 10-12 persons to visit the Lawa Cave and Sai Yok Yai Waterfall. It takes around 4 hours for the return trip.

Thong Pha Phum is 159 kilometres north or the provincial capital. Besides limestone waterfalls, which are the major attractions in the area, there is the following:

Khao Laem Dam this hydro-electric dam is situated on the Kwai Noi River, 6 Kilometers north or Thong Pha Phum or 165 Kilometres north of Kanchanaburi. The dam, 1,019 metres long and 92 metres high, forms a scenic reservoir extending to the north towards Sangkhla Buri district. An overnight stay in comfortable resorts or raft-houses also offer a relaxing holiday for visitors.

Namtok Kroeng Krawia This roadside waterfall, 32 kms. north of Thong Pha Phum, is often visited by passers-by. The water cascades down a limestone rock face shady trees. It is most beautiful during the rainy season.

Namtok Dai Chong Thong Travel 2 kms. beyond Namtok Kroeng Krawia, then turn left and go on for 6 kms. It is rather a large waterfall which cascades down towards Khao Laem Dam.

Namtok Pha Tat This huge waterfall in the area of the national park is easily accessible. Visitors can travel north of Thong Pha Phum along Route 323 and turn right at km. 105, then go on for 12 kms. to the waterfall.

Hin Dat Hot Spring This hot spring with a pond for bathing is at km. 107 off Route 323 or 2 kms. beyond the entrance to Pha Tat Waterfall. It was discovered beside the stream by a Japanese soldier during the Second World War.

Pilok Some 70 kilometers west of Thong Pha Phum on Route 3272, there was once a lot of mining of wolfram and tin in the Tanaonwasi Mountains marking the Thailand-Myanmar border. Nowadays, temperate fruit and decorative winter plants can be seen and bought at Pilok and the villages en route. Visitors are advised to take four-wheeled drive vehicles for travelling along this route.

Sangkhla Buri This small settlement, some 225 kilometres from Kanchanaburi, edges on the northernmost extremities of Khao Laem Dam. The scenic 75-kilometre route from Khao Laem laregely parallels the reservoir passing several raft complexes and roadside cascades.

Wat Wang Wiwekaram This extensive temple on the southern outskirts of Sangkhla Buri edges on Khao Laeem Dam. The complex is constructed in an unusual mix of Thai, Indian, and Burmese Buddhist architectural styles, and the abbot "Lauang Pho Uttama" is highly revered among local people, including tribal folk and Burmese.

Mon Village This Mon community is linked with the district by a long wooden bridge. Mon is an ethnic minority whose origin is in Myanmar. Here, they live peacefully and their tradition has been continually practised.

Three Pagodas Pass 22 kilometres from Sangkhla Buri, this is a group of three similar pagodas which has been constructed as memorial for an important trooping route during the wartime of the Ayutthaya period. It also marks the rugged Thailand-Myanmar border and is the site of a small thriving border market. Visitors are allowed to enter the neighbouring Burmese settlement.

Elephant Trekking

Elephant Trekking Elephants in Sangkhla Buri are raised by Karen hilltribes for working purposes. When not working, they are available to tourists to ride. Some travel agents offer one-day elephant trekking in combination with rafting tours in the vicinity of Thong Pha Phum and Sangkhla Buri. [MORE]

Namtok Erawan

Namtok Erawan This is a 7-tiered waterfall, widely regarded as one of Thailand's loveliest cascades. It is in the area of the Erawan National park, 65 Kilometres from Kanchanaburi along route 3199. [MORE]

Tham Phra That This cave is 10 kilometres north of Namtok Erawan. It contains monumental stalagmites and stalactites.

Sri Nakarin 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.

Namtok Huai Mae Khamin This waterfall with many beautiful cascades is located by the Sri Nakarin Dam, some 108 kilometres from Kanchanaburi. The 1-hour boat ride to the waterfall starts from the Tha Kradan Pier 12 kilometres from Sri Nakarin Dam. Many resorts in the form of raft houses are available at Tha Kradan.

Chaloem Rattanakosin National Park - Tham Than Lot 97 Kilometres from Kanchanaburi, and north of Bo Phloi, along Route 3086, this 54-square kilometre park encompasses peaceful forests, waterfalls, and several caves. There is a 2.5-kilometre hiking trail along the stream which is laced with several small cascades. The stream flows through Than Loy Yoi and Than Lot Noi Caves which house beautiful stalactites and stalagmites.

Huai Ongkot Royal Project This is a site for the royal project which is planned to develop the infertile area around the Ongkhot basin. It is located at Tambon Somdet Charoen, Nong Phru district, 130 kilometres from Kanchanburi. The area also houses a Royal Residence and the excavation of Neolithic remains.