Things to see and do Kanchanaburi

This modern museum, located next to the war cemetery, was created on the initiative of an Australian survivor of the Japanese labour camps. It traces the history of the construction of the Siam-Burma railway, also known as the Death Railway, which became infamous in 1943. This establishment is a counterpart to the Jeath Museum. This museum, located just next to the POWs cemetery in the heart of the city centre, was set up thanks to long and methodical documentation searches. Its creation was primarily intended for the survivors and the memory of the victims. It traces in detail the history of the military operations launched in Asia by the Japanese. We learn that the Thai government of the time had signed a cooperation treaty with Japan in January 1942, and even declared war on the Allied Forces! Of course, most of it explains the cruel fate of these tens of thousands of men (Australians, English, Dutch and Americans, but also Malay, Indians, Thai and Chinese!) who died in atrocious conditions during the seventeen months (instead of the three years initially planned!) that the construction of this strategic railway took between 1943 and 1944. The models on display are remarkable, and the explanatory texts give an accurate idea of how things went. Allow at least one hour for the visit.

Tourists go there to take the inevitable souvenir photos, but what exactly do they remember? The bridge is famous for David Lean's eponymous best-selling film (1957), actually shot in Sri Lanka, which took great liberties with Pierre Boulle's novel and even more so with historical facts. This bridge on the Death Railway actually crosses the Kwai Yai River, which was simply part of the Mae Klong River before the 1960s. This bridge is not spectacular, but the trip on the train that takes it is worth the trip.

Kanchanaburi War Cemetery, locally known as Don-Rak War Cemetery, is the largest cemetery in the region, with several in memory and in memory of the soldiers who died in action or during the construction of the bridge. Nearly 7,000 Allied prisoners of war are buried here, mainly Australians, British and Dutch. Chungkai Cemetery, a former base camp, is located south of the city and has 1,690 graves.

An agency that has a very good contact and offers similar excursions to other agencies but with competent staff. Plus, the two-day trek and one night in the discovery of a Karen village. In the programme, 6 hour trek in the jungle, elephant dos, bamboo rafting, visit the Hell Fire Memorial and the bridge of the river Kwai with part by train, night in the village, traditional meals, song, dance, in brief. This looks like what is happening in the North, for those who don't have time to go to Chiang Mai. Don't look at prices on the Internet, you need to see directly on the spot to the Agency: prices are 3 times cheaper.

The temple is housed in a cavern accessible by a long red staircase, flanked by dragon (mangkon) carvings on either side, with 95 steps. The temple has a small museum displaying a variety of ancient objects found in the area. The temple's popularity, however, is due to a Buddhist nun who, from time to time, performs a plank in a deep pool, assuming various poses of contemplation. It's more carnival than meditation, but the Thais love it!

Attention, the area's points of interest are fairly scattered and far away from the city centre.

"Japanese English Australian & American Thai War Museum", this modest establishment was created by a Thai monk in memory of the prisoners of war who worked on the Japanese construction of the Siam-Burma railway during the last world war. We can see various tools or weapons of the time, maps, some paintings (naive but realistic) and especially interesting photos dating from the construction of the famous bridge of the Kwai River. An authentic and moving exhibition in its simplicity.