by Justine Southwick

Created on: November 05, 2008   Last Updated: July 26, 2011

Kanchanaburi should be on everyone's must-see list when in Thailand.

Close enough to Bangkok to be an easy day trip, Kanchanaburi is a quaint little town packed with history. It was here that, in WWII, the Japanese army forced its Allied prisoners to build the Bridge on the River Kwai, part of the Death Railway that joined Thailand and Burma and was used to transport supplies to Japanese soldiers in Burma. More than 100,000 Allied soldiers died building the railway.

Visitors can walk across the bridge, but be careful - it's usually crowded and the gaping holes on the sides are best avoided. A tourist train still uses the bridge but travels really slowly so walkers will get plenty of warning. If you're lucky there may be elephants (closely watched by their Thai masters) you can feed on the other side. If you want to ride one, elephant trekking tours are available at various places around town.

A WWII cemetery not far from the bridge contains the graves of the Allied soldiers who died on the railway. Some were still teenagers; it's a heartbreaking place that will move even the hardest heart.

Also near Kanchanaburi is Wat Pha Luang Ta Bua, known to visitors as Tiger Temple. Buddhist monks raise tigers here, protecting them from poachers in the wild. Visitors are permitted to pat the tigers under close supervision and the temple is a popular tourist attraction. No bright colours are allowed though, as they can inflame the tigers. The monks are firm on this point - I turned up wearing a red and orange t-shirt and was denied entry.

The Jeath War museum is also worth a visit. This features a comprehensive history of the town and the war.

The scenery in and around Kanchanaburi is stunning and there are plenty of outdoor activities on offer. Kayaking, golf, you name it. Kanchanaburi is about 150km from Bangkok. Buses leave Bangkok at regular intervals every day, and take two hours to get to Kanchanaburi. Local trains run between the two places, but these are third-class trains that don't make for the most comfortable journey.
You could also get a taxi from Bangkok, but this is by far the most expensive option. If you've got money to burn, though, it is the fastest way.

However you choose to get here, Kanchanaburi is a charming little town that's definitely worth a visit. I did it as a day trip from Bangkok but for those who want to stay, there's accommodation galore at reasonable prices.

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