Journey Information To Kanchanaburi For 1, 2, Or 3 Days

Kanchanaburi is neither an enormous metropolis nor a sandy seashore however has extra to show you about Thailand’s latest historical past than some other vacation spot inside 2 hours of Bangkok.

Kanchanaburi’s undisputably wealthy heritage mixed with its 7 nationwide parks, dozens of waterfalls, caves, and scorching springs make it a compelling location.

Even in case you are not involved in any of those, the city itself is a pleasant respite from the busy capital. Sit by the river, open a Chang beer or a milky Thai tea, and benefit from the sundown.

Most go to Kanchanaburi as a day journey however you gained’t run out of latest locations if you happen to spend 2 or 3 days and I’ll show it to you!

Why Go to Kanchanaburi?

Kanchanaburi is ridiculously well-liked primarily due to its proximity to Bangkok. I’m not downplaying its connection to World Conflict II and the pure endowment of the area however the variety of guests wouldn’t be the identical if it weren’t such an easy-to-organize day journey.

This will sound like a cause NOT to go to Kanchanaburi. Maybe darkish historical past and pure parks aren’t your cup of tea.

However Kanchanaburi can be a small city with a clock that runs sluggish and a river that lulls the floating homes constructed on stilts alongside its banks. Come night time, the townfolk fill the waterfront and the energetic night time markets. Isn’t being a part of that simply as interesting?

A go to to Kanchanaburi is rewarding in a number of methods. The sacrifice and energy of the desire of hundreds of troopers will humble you. Sizzling springs and brisk waterfalls will rejuvenate your physique. You’ll take pleasure in a laid-back Thai city with out visitors jams and noisy boulevards. And when it’s time to depart you’ll look again with an appreciation for all times’s easy joys: freedom and peace.

Solely 1 Day in Kanchanaburi (or a Day Journey from Bangkok)

Use your 1 day journey to Kanchanaburi as a possibility to study extra about its darkish historical past between 1942 and 1945.

Kanchanaburi had a militarily necessary location in WW2. It was house to a whole bunch of hundreds of slave laborers, civilian staff, and prisoners of struggle as they constructed a strategic practice monitor connecting Thailand with Burma – the Loss of life Railway.

As a result of huge variety of casualties, Kanchanaburi is entrenched within the collective patriotic reminiscence of a number of nations. It’s a reminder of the horrors of struggle and a testomony to human spirit and perseverance. You will notice many sights related with WW2 and the plight of troopers and civilians within the area.

These are somber locations which have became vacationer points of interest. If that’s what it takes to recollect, so be it however method them with respect and humility.

The Bridge on the River Kwai

As WW2 intensified, the Japanese Empire regarded for various methods to produce Burma from Thailand. The water route was constantly beneath the specter of Allied submarines, so prisoners of struggle had been put to work on a projected 400 km railway route with greater than 600 bridges.

Bridge 277 in Kanchanaburi was one of many deadliest to assemble. The dearth of appropriate gear, horrible residing circumstances, malnutrition, and mistreatment led to a median loss of life charge of 20 males per day over 16 months.

The bridge obtained its well-known title in 1957 after the discharge of the eponymous Oscar-winning film, though on the time the river wasn’t referred to as Kwai both – it too was renamed. And a vacationer attraction was born.

Right now, you’ll be able to both journey the practice or stroll over the bridge. You’ll be able to even stand on one of many facet platforms on the bridge itself because the practice passes lower than a meter away from you. Don’t fear – it solely goes at round 10 km/hour. It’s even doable to high-five a passenger via the window!

If you wish to take a video of the practice crossing the bridge, test the Loss of life Railway Timetable.

The Kanchanaburi Conflict Cemetery

No less than 16,000 Allied prisoners of struggle died in the course of the development of the Thailand-Burma Railway, i.e. The Loss of life Railway. Most succumbed to illness and malnutrition, some had been overwhelmed to loss of life, others drowned.

The US repatriated the stays of its fallen troopers however the different allies – Australia, the UK, and the Netherlands created memorial cemeteries in Thailand.

The Kanchanaburi Conflict Cemetery (Don Rak) is within the heart of the town, inside strolling distance from the practice station. Entrance is free, in fact.

Proper subsequent to the cemetery is the Loss of life Railway Museum which prices 160 THB to enter and shows private tales, data, dioramas, and information boards about its development and the human sacrifice vital.

The JEATH Conflict Museums

You could be actually into museums and struggle historical past as a result of the two JEATH museums are nothing spectacular. They lack the right curation and are extra akin to storage locations for all types of wartime memorabilia.

JEATH is an acronym for the nationalities concerned: Japanese, English, American, Thai, and Dutch (Holland).

This title, nevertheless, overlooks the over 250,000 Southeast Asian victims of compelled labor. It additionally ignores the 800 South Korean guards employed to supervise the development, usually with brutal coercion techniques.

The older museum is close to the temple space of the town and incorporates a hall of images from the struggle and a few bombs and ammunition. It’s poorly maintained.

The newer one is close to the Kwai Bridge the place, sadly, a whole lot of the knowledge is simply in Thai and the group is lackluster. It’s a random array of artifacts, photos, and weaponry.

Each museums have an entrance payment of fifty THB however chances are you’ll be higher off visiting the Loss of life Railway Museum subsequent to the Cemetery.

Kanchanaburi Historic Strolling Road (+ City Gate)

This nickname of Pak Prak Highway is a bit deceptive.

It was a strolling avenue when the night time market was there on Saturdays. It has since moved to the riverfront (see under) and Pak Prak Highway is now for vehicles, bar the pavement.

It’s the most important artery of Outdated Kanchanaburi. On each side are conventional retailers in Chinese language model – shops on the bottom stage and residing quarters on the primary flooring. Lots of the buildings date to the Nineteen Twenties and stay untouched by human hand – solely by time. A bygone Kanchanaburi.

About 20 of them have indicators in entrance about their historical past, significance, and house owners, a lot of who had an necessary position to play in the course of the struggle.

Saturday Evening Market

Don’t scroll away if you happen to aren’t going to Kanchanaburi on Saturday – there’s a night time market on the town day by day!

It’s simply that the one on Saturday is way greater and with extra attention-grabbing choices than the peculiar each day night time market. If you happen to can someway regulate your schedule, go to Kanchanaburi on a Saturday – the handfuls of scrumptious snacks make it worthwhile!

The Saturday Evening Market strains up alongside Music Kwae Road, whereas the nightly one is close to the practice station.

Day 2: A Bike Day Journey

Keep a second day in Kanchanaburi to make use of it as a gateway to the area. There’s extra than simply navy historical past, though a number of extra websites about WW2 and the Loss of life Railway are price a go to.

A number of the locations talked about under are reachable by public transport however for optimum freedom and adaptability, you’ll be able to lease a motorbike for a day. Rental retailers on the River Kwai Highway lease scooters for round 200 THB per day.

For many who can’t journey a scooter, a superb different is a bicycle tour round Kanchanaburi’s countryside.

Hellfire Move

The Loss of life Railway was ultimately accomplished in late 1943 (forward of schedule!) and related Thailand to Burma. It doesn’t anymore – it was discontinued as a result of security issues. Right now, the practice terminates at Nam Tok Station.

About 20 km after Nam Tok is what stays in historical past as Hellfire Move – a spot the place the practice tracks lower straight via the rock, in some unspecified time in the future as much as 25 meters deep.

The laborers themselves gave it this title. They’d few drills and dug principally by hand. Across the clock. Hell, they mentioned. Throughout the night time, their guards would gentle torches so work might proceed. Fireplace, they exclaimed.

In 1998, the Australian Authorities allotted cash for the development of a memorial website and a state-of-the-art museum (Interpretative Heart) with views over the valley the place Hellfire Move is positioned.

Chances are you’ll stroll half-hour over the previous practice tracks from the Interpretative Heart to the struggle memorial listening to an in-depth audio information. The rocks stay as they had been throughout 1943 – blasted, chipped, lower.

For these with extra time and power, comply with the monitor till the top of the Move, some 3 km every means.

The Heart and the Move are each free to enter.

You may get there by direct bus #8203 from Kanchanaburi. On the return, decide to get a songthaew to Nam Tok after which hop on the Loss of life Railway itself (in the present day now not deathly) again to Kanchanaburi. The final practice from Nam Tok is at 15:30.

For a guided journey to the Hellfire Move, think about this personal tour, which already contains River Kwai.

Sizzling Springs

If you happen to go by scooter, you’ll be able to journey slightly farther from Hellfire Move to one of many scorching springs that Kanchanaburi is known for.

Choose between these 2:

The most well liked pool in each is 43 levels – scorching sufficient to calm down your muscular tissues so effectively that you simply gained’t be capable to stroll afterwards!

Each have clear altering rooms and showers. Better of all, they’re principally frequented by locals and aren’t simply one other vacationer lure!

Tirumala Barachi Buddhist Temple

Make a fast cease at this comparatively new Buddhist temple close to Nam Tok.

Not all temples in Thailand are historic and even simply outdated. It goes to indicate that Buddhism is an ever-evolving a part of Thai tradition, not a static a part of historical past.

Discover how completely different the types are from older temples in Thailand. It’s not tacky-new, it’s orderly and fairly.

Pay homage to the Big Buddha Statue and bear in mind: by no means flip your again in the direction of the Buddha!

Entry is free however the temple closes at 16:00.

Locations to Skip on Day 2

You’ll move by Sai Yok Nationwide Park in your technique to the recent springs. Regardless of its standing as a nationwide park, it’s not well worth the 300 THB entrance payment for foreigners.

The waterfall there may be unimpressive, the strolling trails aren’t maintained effectively, and the meals is overpriced.

It’s higher to avoid wasting your cash for the Erawan Nationwide Park on Day 3.

Day 3

Erawan Falls

The waterfall Erawan is a 7-tiers marvel. Even if you happen to’ve seen your justifiable share of waterfalls, Erawan continues to be fairly thrilling.

Situated within the Erawan Nationwide Park, it’s a massively well-liked place in Kanchanaburi. The decrease 2 tiers and the final one on the high get fairly busy, particularly on the weekend.

In contrast to Sai Yok (see above), Erawan is well-maintained and the paths are a pleasure to stroll alongside. The entire distance from the doorway to the seventh tier is round 2.5 km.

You’ll be able to swim within the swimming pools of water beneath each step of the waterfall however you have to at all times put on a life vest. A bit strict if you happen to ask me, however security first.

The plastics coverage is enforced with simply as a lot rigor: It’s essential to pay a refundable deposit to take plastic bottles with you and completely none are allowed previous tier 2! That is why the Nationwide Park is unspoiled by humanity’s crude oil innovations.

To succeed in Erawan, take public bus #1870 from Kanchanaburi. It prices 50 THB and runs as soon as per hour. The final bus again is at 17:00.

9 Military Battle Historic Park

Do you have to go to Erawan by bike, you may make a cease at a struggle historical past website that’s not about WW2.

The 9 Military Battle Park commemorates the struggle of 1785/86 between Siam and Burma. One of many struggle’s decisive battles was fought within the plains under the hill the place the museum now stands.

Try the large battle drum on the highest of the command hill, then go to the customer heart for the reenactments, dioramas, and historical past.

There isn’t any entrance payment. The Park is open from 8:00 to 17:00 on the weekend and 10:00 to 16:00 in the course of the week.

Locations to Keep away from on Day 3

Chances are you’ll be tempted to go to Taweechai Elephant Camp because it’s on the way in which to Erawan. Don’t.

The elephants are at all times chained aside from when carrying vacationers round. Which they don’t do on their very own volition – it’s a results of years of abuse and violent management.

In order for you a face-to-face meetup with an elephant, go to a sanctuary as an alternative – close byElephants World is probably the perfect in Kanchanaburi.

For a guided expertise, take this tour, which leaves from Bangkok and contains each Kanchanaburi and Elephants World.

Tips on how to Get to Kanchanaburi from Bangkok

Kanchanaburi and Bangkok are extraordinarily effectively related. Buses and minibuses run across the clock departing from Mochit New Van Terminal.

However why go by bus when you’ll be able to journey on the Loss of life Railway itself?

Two trains each day depart from Thonburi Station in Bangkok certain for Nam Tok at 7:45 and 13:55. Tickets price 100 THB no matter which station you get off.

You may get off at Kanchanaburi Station however you’ll miss out on the scenic portion of the journey – the method in the direction of Nam Tok.

For the reason that value is identical anyway and you should have the privilege to select a window seat earlier than the practice is swarmed by vacationers (sit on the left-hand facet for the view!), you’ll be able to as an alternative proceed to Nam Tok, then go to Hellfire Move and return to Kanchanaburi.

If you happen to choose a guided expertise that features transportation from Bangkok, think about the next excursions: