Kanchanaburi Thailand Hotels & Resorts, Cheap Accommodation & Nightlife in Kanchanaburi Thailand

Arresting scenic beauty. Forested mountains. Waterfalls. Pristine national parks. Tranquil riverine and reservoir settings. Leisure opportunities including jungle treks employing elephants and rafts. Historical associations dating from Neolithic times to the Second World War.

There are several compelling reasons for visiting Kanchanaburi.
Thailand’s third largest province, Kanchanaburi covers some 19,473 square and oftentimes mountainous kilometres, and borders Myanmar (Burma) to the west of Bangkok. The compact provincial capital, some 130 kilometres, and a comfortable two hour drive from Bangkok, is both the site of the world-famous Bridge Over The River Kwae, immortalised in books and movies, and gateway to a region of rugged natural beauty. Countryside beyond the provincial capital is characterised by mountains and fertile river valleys (the Kwae Yai and Kwae Noi) which have inspired the development of hydro-electric power, and where labyrinthine dam reservoirs provide further scenic elements to the province’s natural beauty.

Distances from Amphoe Mueang (Town) to Neighbouring Districts

How to get there
By Car
From Bangkok, visitors can take a 2-hour drive along Highway No.4 (Phetkasem) via Nakhon Chaisi, Nakhon Pathom, Ban Pong, Tha Maka, Tha Muang to Kanchanaburi.

For an alternative route, visitors can drive along Highway No. 338 from Bangkok to Nakhon Chaisi and then proceed along Highway No.4 to Kanchanaburi.

By Bus
Non air-conditioned buses leave Bangkok’s Southern Bus Terminal every 15 minutes from 4 a.m.-8 p.m. The trip takes about 2 hours. Call :0 2434 5557 for more information.
There are 2 types of air-conditioned buses. Standard 1 buses (blue colour) leave Bangkok’s Southern Bus Terminal from 5 a.m. till 10.30 p.m. daily at twenty-minute intervals. Standard 2 buses (orange colour) leave at twenty-minute intervals from 5.10 a.m. until 8.30 p.m. daily. The journey takes 2 hours. Call: 0 2435 5012, 0 2435 1199 for more information.

By Train
Ordinary trains leave Bangkok’s Thon Buri Railway Station (Bangkok Noi Station) every day at 7.35 a.m. and 1.45 p.m. for approximately 3 hour journey to Kanchanaburi. Call Thon Buri Railway Station at tel : 0 2411 3102 or Kanchanaburi Railway Station at tel: 0 3456 1052 or visit.

The weekend special train leaves Bangkok Railway Station (Hualamphong) at 6.30 a.m. on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays. For more information, call : 1690, 0 2223 7010, 02 223 7020.

Bridge on the River Kwai, Kanchaburi
Kanchanaburi is a sleepy town 150 km. west of Bangkok. Driving there is a pleasure as there is an excellent, scenic highway to travel on. Kanchanaburi is most famous for the 1950's world box-office hit movie "The Bridge on the River Kwai". After the film hit the screens around the world, tourists started visiting Kanchanaburi to see this amazing bridge.

Half a century ago, the bridge was a link in the infamous 415 km Death Railway joining Thailand with Burma. The Imperial Japanese Army in WWIT, employing Allied prisoners of war and local forced labour, built it. Over 80,000 laborers and 13,000 Aliied POW's and thousands of Japanece soldiers lost their lives during its construction.

River Kwai Bridge Week
Once a year from the end of November to the beginning of December a festival is held to commemorate the notorious establishment of the Death Railway and the Bridge Over the River Kwai during WWII. Activities a the fair include a historical and archaeological exhibition, folk shows, booths of governmental offices, products sale, entertainment, and a light and sound presentation.

What's To Do
There are spectacular waterfalls, river cruises, and jungle tours for nature lovers. For the foot-loose traveler, there is the thrilling 200 km drive through newly opened jungle areas to the Thai Myanmar border to visit ethnic Mon and Karen settlements. For sporty types, Kanchanaburi provides the best freshwater fishing grounds in remote jungle backwaters and stremas. Rafting in wild river, and for golfers, a host of world standard courses in pastoral countryside.

The jungle, the rugged terain, and wild rivers now combine to make Kanchanaburi the most rewarding toursit destination for nature lovers and sportsmen. A large area of the province has been decleared a national wildlife sanctuary, called Thungyai National Park, which remains one of the most pristine areas in the whole country. The sanctuary war recently listed as a world natural heritage site by the United Nations.

If you choose to stay overnight out in the wild, there are the floating hotels on rafts moored off the banks of the River Kwai in remote jungle areas. A night on a float hotel is an unforgettable experience. By nightfall, a hushed stillness settles over the jungle, punctuated only by occasional night bird calls.

The route to Kanchanaburi also passes the historic town of Nakorn Pathom with the world's highest Buddhist monument. Kanchanaburi city, itself a popular resort town, is on the bank of the picturesque Mae Klong River a the meeting point of its two tributaries - Kwai Noi and Kwai Yai rivers. The city also serves, as overnight base for tourists to visit the province's many attractions besides the bridge on the River Kwai.

The Bridge over the River Kwai internationally famous, thanks to several motion pictures and books, the black iron bridge was brought from Java by the Japanese Army and reassembled under Japanese supervision by Allied prisoners of war labour as part of the Death Railway linking Thailand with Myanmar. Still in use today the bridge was the target of frequent Allied bombing raids during 1945, and was rebuilt after the war ended. The curved spans of the bridge are the original sections.

War Museum This museum, located near the River Kwai Bridge, displays the collection of weapons, tools and utensils of the Allied prisoners of war and Japanese soldiers during the Second World War.

The JEATH War Museum This enclave in the riverside precincts of Wat Chaichumphon has been constructed largely in the form of an Allied Prisoners of War camp. The name JEATH is derived from Japan, England, America, Australia, Thailand, and Holland. The thatched detention hut with cramped, elevated bamboo bunks contains photographic, and physical memorabilia dating from the Second World War. The museum is open daily from 8.30 a.m. to 6.00 p.m.

Kanchanaburi Town Gate This is located on Lak Muang Road near the meeting point of the Kwai Yai and Kwai Noi Rivers. It is built in 1833 during the reign of king Rama lll after the town was moved from the original site at Tambon Latya, 18 kms. away.

Kanchanaburi War Cemetery On Saeng Chuto Road, opposite the Railway Station, it contains the remains of 6,982 prisoners of war who perished during the construction of the "Death Railway".

Chong Kai War Cemetery 2 kilometres south of town on the bank of the Kwai Noi River this occupies the former site of the Chong Kai prisoner of war camp. This second cemetery is more peaceful, attractively landscaped, and contains some 1,750 remains.

Wat Tham Mangkon Thong Situated 4 kilometres from town on the bank of the Kwai Noi River, it is well known for the incredible performance of the nun floating in a pool. There is small museum where a variety of ancient objects are on display.

Wat Tham Phu Wa The monastery in natural surrounding, famous for meditation, is 15 kilometres away from the provincial capital. There is a beautiful cave with plenty of stalactites.

Somdet Phra Sri Nakarin Park Situated in Kanchanaburi's Agricultural College at Tambon Nong Ya, 9 kilometres from town, it is also known as "the Stone Garden" which abounds with stones of different sizes and shapes in its large area.

Wat Tham Sua and Wat Tham Khao Noi Located at Tambon Muang Chum, 4 kilometres beyond Wachiralongkorn Dam, these two adjacent temples house very beautiful Thai and Chinese style buildings and a huge Buddha image situated on the mount.

Wat Pa Lelai This ancient temple is 18 kilometres away from the provincial capital. It is located at Tambon Lat Ya, which once was an ancient border town involved in battles between the Thai and the Burmese during the Ayutthaya period to the early Bangkok period. Another nearby temple called Watkhun Phaen houses a ruined pagoda dating back to the early Ayutthaya period.

Kanchanaburi Cultural Centre The collection centre of human lifestyles from the past till the present displayed at the Rajpatara institute of Kanchanaburi,14 Kilometres out of town on the route to Sai Yok.

Ban Kao National Museum The museum, some 35 kilometres from town, was constructed beside a Neolithic burial site discovered by Dutch prisoners of was during the construction of the "Death Railway". Specimens of Neolithic remains are on display. It is open daily from 9.00 a.m. - 4.00 p.m.

Prasat Muang Sing Historical Park This ancient site is 43 kilometres out of Kanchanaburi on the bank of the Kwai Noi River. The principal structure, the Khmer Prasat Muang Sing (Tower of the City of Lions), is believed to have been the westernmost outpost of the Angkor-centred Khmer empire. A wide range of artifacts including temple carvings, religious statues, implements, and pottery shards indicate the once-thriving city must have been inhabited from approximately the 12th to 14th centuries.

Namtok Sai Yok Noi Also known as Namtok Khao Phang, some 60 kilometres from town, this roadside cascade is best visited between July and September when water is most plentiful. Travelling by train from Kanchanaburi to Nam Tok Station is recommended for visitors wishing to experience trips on the historic railway, and then continue by local transport to the waterfall, which is only 2 kilometres away.

Hell Fire Pass This is a part of the Death Railway, constructed during the Second War now abandoned. The site is located in a thick forest near km. 66 of Sai Yok-Thong Pha Phum Road. A long passage made through the stone mountain by the Allied prisoners indicates the extreme difficulty in constructing the Death Railway.

Sai Yok National Park this park encompasses the famous Kwai Noi River and contains some waterfalls and caves on the river bank.

Namtok Sai Yok Yai, 104 kms. from the town, flows directly into the river near the park office. lts idyllic beauty has been repeatedly celebrated in Thai poetry and song. Tham Lawa and Tham Daowadung are the two caves which house numerous stalactites and stalagmites. The smallest mammal in the world, Kitti's Hog-nosed Bat weighing just two grams, is found in the park area.

From the Pak Saeng Pier in Tambon Tha Sao, visitors can hire a boat with a carrying capacity of 10-12 persons to visit the Lawa Cave and Sai Yok Yai Waterfall. It takes around 4 hours for the return trip.

Thong Pha Phum is 159 kilometres north or the provincial capital. Besides limestone waterfalls, which are the major attractions in the area, there is the following:

Khao Laem Dam this hydro-electric dam is situated on the Kwai Noi River, 6 Kilometers north or Thong Pha Phum or 165 Kilometres north of Kanchanaburi. The dam, 1,019 metres long and 92 metres high, forms a scenic reservoir extending to the north towards Sangkhla Buri district. An overnight stay in comfortable resorts or raft-houses also offer a relaxing holiday for visitors.

Namtok Kroeng Krawia This roadside waterfall, 32 kms. north of Thong Pha Phum, is often visited by passers-by. The water cascades down a limestone rock face shady trees. It is most beautiful during the rainy season.

Namtok Dai Chong Thong Travel 2 kms. beyond Namtok Kroeng Krawia, then turn left and go on for 6 kms. It is rather a large waterfall which cascades down towards Khao Laem Dam.

Namtok Pha Tat This huge waterfall in the area of the national park is easily accessible. Visitors can travel north of Thong Pha Phum along Route 323 and turn right at km. 105, then go on for 12 kms. to the waterfall.

Hin Dat Hot Spring This hot spring with a pond for bathing is at km. 107 off Route 323 or 2 kms. beyond the entrance to Pha Tat Waterfall. It was discovered beside the stream by a Japanese soldier during the Second World War.

Pilok Some 70 kilometers west of Thong Pha Phum on Route 3272, there was once a lot of mining of wolfram and tin in the Tanaonwasi Mountains marking the Thailand-Myanmar border. Nowadays, temperate fruit and decorative winter plants can be seen and bought at Pilok and the villages en route. Visitors are advised to take four-wheeled drive vehicles for travelling along this route.

Sangkhla Buri This small settlement, some 225 kilometres from Kanchanaburi, edges on the northernmost extremities of Khao Laem Dam. The scenic 75-kilometre route from Khao Laem laregely parallels the reservoir passing several raft complexes and roadside cascades.

Wat Wang Wiwekaram This extensive temple on the southern outskirts of Sangkhla Buri edges on Khao Laeem Dam. The complex is constructed in an unusual mix of Thai, Indian, and Burmese Buddhist architectural styles, and the abbot "Lauang Pho Uttama" is highly revered among local people, including tribal folk and Burmese.

Mon Village This Mon community is linked with the district by a long wooden bridge. Mon is an ethnic minority whose origin is in Myanmar. Here, they live peacefully and their tradition has been continually practised.

Three Pagodas Pass 22 kilometres from Sangkhla Buri, this is a group of three similar pagodas which has been constructed as memorial for an important trooping route during the wartime of the Ayutthaya period. It also marks the rugged Thailand-Myanmar border and is the site of a small thriving border market. Visitors are allowed to enter the neighbouring Burmese settlement.

Elephant Trekking Elephants in Sangkhla Buri are raised by Karen hilltribes for working purposes. When not working, they are available to tourists to ride. Some travel agents offer one-day elephant trekking in combination with rafting tours in the vicinity of Thong Pha Phum and Sangkhla Buri.

Namtok Erawan This is a 7-tiered waterfall, widely regarded as one of Thailand's loveliest cascades. It is in the area of the Erawan National park, 65 Kilometres from Kanchanaburi along route 3199.

Tham Phra That This cave is 10 kilometres north of Namtok Erawan. It contains monumental stalagmites and stalactites.

Sri Nakarin Dam 69 kilometres from Kanchanaburi, and just 4 kilometres north of the Erawan National park, this massive structure marks the southernmost extremity of an extensive reservoir, which is part of yet another national park.

Namtok Huai Mae Khamin This waterfall with many beautiful cascades is located by the Sri Nakarin Dam, some 108 kilometres from Kanchanaburi. The 1-hour boat ride to the waterfall starts from the Tha Kradan Pier 12 kilometres from Sri Nakarin Dam. Many resorts in the form of raft houses are available at Tha Kradan.

Chaloem Rattanakosin National Park - Tham Than Lot 97 Kilometres from Kanchanaburi, and north of Bo Phloi, along Route 3086, this 54-square kilometre park encompasses peaceful forests, waterfalls, and several caves. There is a 2.5-kilometre hiking trail along the stream which is laced with several small cascades. The stream flows through Than Loy Yoi and Than Lot Noi Caves which house beautiful stalactites and stalagmites.

Huai Ongkot Royal Project This is a site for the royal project which is planned to develop the infertile area around the Ongkhot basin. It is located at Tambon Somdet Charoen, Nong Phru district, 130 kilometres from Kanchanburi. The area also houses a Royal Residence and the excavation of Neolithic remains.

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