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KANCHANABURI

Chong Kai War Cemetery

Situated only 2 kilometers south of town on the bank of the Kwai Noi River, the cemetery occupies the site of the Chong Kai which once was the prisoner of war camp. Smaller in size, the cemetery attracts visitors to see its peaceful, well-designed landscape where 1,740 POWs rest in eternal peace.

Kanchanaburi War Cemetery (Don Rak)

This is the place where the remains of 6,982 POWs died during the construction of the Death Railway are buried. The cemetery, which is located on Saengchuto Road, opposite the Railway Station,
It is open daily from 8.30 a.m. to 6.00 p.m..

The Bridge on the River Khwae (the Death Railway Bridge)

The bridge spans across Maenam Khwae Yai which is a branch of Maenam Mae Klong. During the Japanese occupation of Thailand in World War II, the Japanese Imperial Army brought the iron bridge from Java. It was then resembled by Allied Prisoners of War (POW) under Japanese supervision. The bridge was part of a strategic railway route to Myanmar in which the Japanese aimed to secure supplies with which to conquer other western Asian countries. It was 415 kilometers long (about 303 kilometers in Thailand and about 112 kilometers in Burma) and passed through the Three Pagoda Pass in Sangkhlaburi District, the northern most part of Kanchanaburi province.
Construction started on September 16, 1942 at Nong Pladuk, and was completed on 25 December 1943. It is estimated that over 16,000 POWs from England, Australia, Holland and America died while building the bridge which was a target of bombing raids in 1945. In addition to this, approximate 90,000 laborers from Thailand, Myanmar, Malaysia and Indonesia died during its construction.

Rebuilt after WWII, the bridge is still in use today with the curved portions of the bridge being that of the original. An attraction of note is the annual light and sound event at the bridge to commemorate the Allied attack in 1945.

The JEATH War Museum

The name JEATH is derived from countries which engaged in the WWII death railway construction from 1942 to 1945, which included Japan, England, America, Australia, Thailand and Holland. Located in the area of Wat Chai Chumphon, the museum is a reconstruction of the POWs thatched detention hut with cramped, elevated bamboo bunks. On the wall of the huts, photographs and illustrations of the POWs living conditions are on display. POWs who survived from the camp have donated items to enhance the museums atmosphere and authenticity. The museum opens daily from 8.30 a.m. to 6 p.m

Tham Khao Pun Temple (Wat Tham Khao Pun)

Once a major POW camp, the temple where many Buddha images are enshrined is located in the middle cave and is surrounded by stalactites and stalagmites. The temple is 3 kilometers from Chongkai War Cemetery.

Krasae Cave (Tham Krasae)

This cave, which houses sacred Buddha images, is located approximately 55 kilometres from Kanchanaburi, beside the surviving remnants of the Death Railway overlooking Khwae Noi River near Wang Pho Railway Station. The cave is within walking distance from the railway tracks of Wang Pho Railway Station.

Erawan National Park

The national park is 65 kilometers from Kanchanaburi along Route 3199. The park, covering 550-square-kilometers, is the site of the seven-tiered Erawan waterfall, one of Thailands loveliest waterfalls. The second tier has a pool, which is ideal for swimming and is particularly picturesque. However, the most popular activity in the park is trekking.

Sai Yok National Park

The park covers approximately 300-square-kilometers and contains several interesting caves and the nations famous Sai Yok Yai waterfall. The park has dense forests, including majestic teak trees and an abundance of small mammals such as squirrels, bats and deer, as well as numerous bird species. IN addition, the park is home to what is probably the smallest mammal in the world, the two-grammed Kittis Hog-nosed Bat, which was first discovered in 1973 by a Thai naturalist. The park is 104 kilometers from Kanchanaburi via Highway No. 323 and can also be reached by chartered boat from the Pak Saeng Pier. The park is very popular during the weekends.

 

 
 

 

 

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