Kanchanaburi Nakhon Pathom Samut Sakhon Samut Songkhram Sangkhla Buri CONTENTS
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Kanchanaburi Nakhon Pathom Samut Sakhon Samut Songkhram Sangkhla Buri CONTENTS KANCHANABURI 8 City Attractions 9 Out-of-City Attractions 11 Special Events 20 Special Interest 21 How to Get There 21 NAKHON PATHOM 22 City Attractions 23 Out-of-City Attractions 23 Special Events 27 How to Get There 27 SAMUT SAKHON 28 City Attractions 29 Out-of-City Attractions 29 Shopping 31 Special Events 31 How to Get There 31 SAMUT SONGKHRAM 32 City Attractions 33 Out-of-City Attractions 34 Special Interest 37 Special Events 37 How to Get There 37 Kanchanaburi Kanchanaburi Nakhon Pathom Samut Sakhon Samut Songkhram Vajiralongkorn Dam Srinagarindra Dam Khuean Srinagarindra National Park Vajiralongkorn Dam Srinagarindra Dam Khuean Srinagarindra National Park Mon Bridge KANCHANABURI Located 130 kms. west of Bangkok, just at the loss of countless lives of prisoners-of-war a two-hour drive away, the small town of and local labourers supervised by Japanese Kanchanaburi is the capital of Thailand’s third- troops. The railway line was only used a few largest province, which covers almost 20,000 times before the Japanese surrender, after square kilometres and stretches as far west as which the British tore up part of the track, the border with Myanmar. The province boasts making it inoperative. These days it is some of the country’s most beautiful waterfalls possible to cross the bridge on foot or by train and caves in its national parks, as well as the on the way to the waterfall, about 100 kms. historic bridge over the River Kwai and exciting to the northwest. Steam train enthusiasts will activities like rafting trips. Thus, it is an ideal be delighted to see a few World War II era spot to explore the Thai countryside without machines displayed beside the bridge. travelling too far from Bangkok. Kanchanaburi Those with a particular interest in the history of has lots of character, and is a great place to the area should time their visit to coincide with stay in raft houses on the river. There are many the River Kwai Bridge Festival, late November places worth visiting around town, but top each year. of most people’s list are the bridge and the The Death Railway war museums that chronicle the building of the infamous “Death Railway” across the River The Death Railway originally started at Kwai and on Myanmar during World War II. The Nong Pla Duk Station in Amphoe Ban hills and valleys are scattered with intriguing Pong of Ratchaburi Province, passing temples and historical sites, and the lush Kanchanaburi across the Kwai Yai River wooded landscapes are ideal for cycling, and the Three Pagodas Pass on the west trekking, raft trips or elephant rides. to Tanbyuzayat in Myanmar. The historic railway built at the cost of lives and labour CITY ATTRACTIONS runs through fabulous sceneries on both sides, especially at Krasae Cave where the The Bridge over the River Kwai breathtaking journey runs along the high cli Situated just to the north of the town, this overlooking the Kwai Noi River. The railway bridge was made famous by the 1957 film presently ends at Ban Tha Sao or Namtok “Bridge over the River Kwai” by David Lean, (Waterfall) Station, a distance of about 77 though in fact the movie portrayed a wooden kilometres. The State Railway of Thailand bridge that was constructed earlier. Both (SRT) operates daily services on the route and bridges were badly damaged by Allied plane a special Bangkok-Namtok trip on weekends attacks in 1944 and 1945, but several arches and public holidays. For more information, of the metal bridge stood throughout and it contact SRT at Tel. +66 2220 4334 and +66 2621 was repaired after the war. The bridge was the 8701 or hotline 1690. key point in the so-called “Death Railway” that JEATH War Museum connected Thailand and Myanmar, intended to provide a supply line for Japanese troops in “JEATH” refers to the six countries involved in Myanmar, though the work was completed only the building of the railway-Japan, England, Kanchanaburi 9 The Bridge over the River Kwai Kanchanaburi War Cemetery America, Australia, Thailand and Holland and Kanchanaburi War Cemetery this museum located to the south of the town Perhaps even more moving than the bridge or centre next to Wat Chaichumphon gives museums are the lines of identical gravestones a vivid picture of the terrible conditions in in the cemetery located just near the train which the Allied prisoners-of-war lived. The station. The remains of almost 7,000 Allied museum building is a copy of the long that prisoners are buried here; many of the memorial ched bamboo huts that used to house slabs are unidentied, but several give details the prisoners during the war. On display are of the soldiers, showing that the great majority paintings, photographs and newspaper articles were very young indeed. A memorial service is from the period, detailing the cruel torture held each year on Anzac Day, 25 April. methods. The museum is open from 8.30 a.m. - 6.00 p.m. Thailand-Burma Railway Centre Located near the Kanchanaburi War Cemetery World War II Museum (Don Rak), it puts on an exhibition of history of This museum, located just south of the bridge, the Thailand-Burma railway from the invasion contains war memorabilia in the form of bomb of the Imperial Japanese Army, planning and shells, photos and sketches from the period, construction of the railway, its geography, living statues of important war leaders, and over 100 condition in POW camps, medical aspects, skeletons of Asian labourers found in a mass summary of deaths, operation, bombing grave. In a separate building there are displays bombing and end of the railway, as well as of Buddha images, Thai weaponry from the aftermath of the way. Open daily during 9.00 Ayutthaya period and portraits of the kings a.m.-5.00 p.m. For more information, please of Thailand. The museum is open from 8.00 visit www.tbrconline.com a.m. - 6.00 p.m. 10 Kanchanaburi Wat Tham Mangkon Thong OUT-OF-CITY ATTRACTIONS The main attraction of this temple, located Ban Nong Khao about 5 kms. east of the town centre, is the “Floating Nun”, a Buddhist nun who regularly Located at Tambon Nong Khao, about 12 meditates while oating in a pond. The temple kilometres from the city on Highway No.324 is located on a hillside, and there are caves above (Kanchanaburi-Suphan Buri), this village is the temple that oer ne views of the area. famous as the source of high-quality heirloom textile, the multi-coloured “Phakhao Ma” (all-purpose cloth) in particular. Residents lead Ban Kao National Museum simple lifestyle of a farm community, giving a 8 kilometres from Prasat Mueang Sing, and 35 unique experience to the visitors. Typical Thai kilometres from town, this museum overlooks houses of the old days are generally seen, with the Kwai Noi River. The museum was ancient practices and customs maintained; constructed beside a Neolithic burial site such as, paddy pounding in mortar, palm discovered by an Allied prisoner-of-war during sugar and traditional Thai dessert making, the construction of the Death Railway. About tonsure ceremony for kids reaching puberty, 4,000 years ago. Neolithic man lived, roamed manual rice planting, and the performance of and hunted beside the Kwai Rivers, sheltering the farmers’ songs. beneath rock overhangs or in nearby caves. Erawan National Park The Ban Kao Museum houses skeletal remains, Thailand has over 100 national parks, and one pots, axe heads, jewellery made from animal of the most visited of them all is Erawan, 65 bones, and other artefacts dating from that era. kms. or an hour and a half drive northwest Pak Phraek Road of Kanchanaburi. Flocks of visitors come to Straddling the Kwai Yai River, next to the city see the seven-tiered waterfall that gives the wall, Pak Phraek Road was the site of an ancient 550-square- kilometres park its name. The community in Kanchanaburi. Its history dates top level of the falls is thought to resemble back to the early days of Kanchanaburi itself. a three-headed elephant, called “Erawan” With its strategic location at the waterway in Thai, that is ridden by Indra in Hindu transport junction, the area was an important mythology. With milky turquoise waters trade hub of the city. It is presently a major tumbling over various cascades, the falls are connecting point of various destinations in wonderfully photogenic and thought by many Kanchanaburi, including the old city wall and to be Thailand’s most beautiful. Several of the gate, the Shrine of the City Pillar and the Wat pools below the falls are ideal for bathing in, Tai War Museum. This road is also close to especially level two, and they are much less the main river pier plied by tour boats and rafts. crowded on weekdays. About 10 kms. beyonds Tourists, however, prefer wandering through the park headquarters is Tham Phrathat, a large old architectures of wooden houses and cave adorned with beautiful stalactites. Tel. commercial buildings lining more than 1 +66 2562 0760-2 kilometre of the road. Kanchanaburi 11 Khuean Srinagarindra National Park Khuean Srinagarindra National Park Namtok Huai Mae Khamin Located just north of Erawan National Park, Located within the area of Srinagarindra Dam, this park covers over 1,500 square kilometres. about 10 kilometres from the city area, this Since it is more dicult to get to than Erawan, wondrous waterfall lies hidden in the pristine it is less frequently visited, but nonetheless has forest rich in ora.