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The third largest of Thailand’s 76 provinces, Kanchanaburi brings
with it both curiosity and fascination from people who may have heard or
seen war stories that were based on events that happened in the province
during more troubled times.
Home of the famous book “Bridge Over the River Kwai” by Pierre
Boulle and further immortalized by the movie of the same title by
filmmaker David Lean, Kanchanaburi remains for people, a place dedicated
to memories of courage, bravery, and patriotism. From whatever side the
fighters may have been, Kanchanaburi is not just a name or a place. It
is history.
Since the cessation of war, the province has been able to recover and
bring back the quiet serenity of the area before any of the haunting
memories even began. Today, the province is a perfect example of the
charm and beautiful nature not only of the surroundings, but also of the
people who live there.
Among its attractions are several waterfalls, mountains, and caves ready
for the intrepid explorer to choose from.
 The
famed seven tiered Erawan Waterfalls located in the Erawan
National Park ranks among the most beautiful and impressive
waterfalls of Asia.
Pra That Cave, also located within the Erawan Park, has beautiful
stalactites and stalagmites filling the cave’s four main chambers ready
for tourists to explore. While being home to some bats that populate the
area, the cave’s ceilings are high enough as not to disturb people
wishing to explore the cave.
The Challerm Rattana Kosin National Park on the other hand, while
being the province’s smallest park, still remains a favorite among
caving and hiking enthusiasts. The park itself is made up mainly of dry
evergreen forests and patches of bamboo groves. Over 60 species of birds
have been recorded to inhabit the park grounds. For some lucky hikers,
they may chance upon the queer animal called the “water dog” which is
also known as the “barking tree frog,” a rare type of frog that has a
croak that curiously
sounds like a dog’s bark.
Caving enthusiasts usually heat for the Park’s two Tham Than Lot
caves which are the Park’s main attraction. It is a 2.5 km walk on a
marked trail from the smaller Tham Than Lot Noi Cave to the
bigger Tham Than Lot Yai Cave at the top of the mountain. The
trail connecting these two caves follows the course of the three-tiered
Trai Trueng Waterfalls.
Memoirs of War
Even with the beguiling beauty of the Kanchanaburi Province, it will be
almost impossible to not stop and remember events, which have happened
in history and altered the course of many lives.
The Death Railway
 In
the year 1943, thousand of Allied Prisoners of War (POWs) and Asian
laborers were forced by the Japanese Imperial Army to work on the 415-km
long railway which was to connect Burma with Thailand. Prisoners were
subjected to the hardest of manual labor and were starved and treated
cruelly. Thousands died and were buried in mass graves. Later after the
war, the bodies were dug up and re-buried in War Cemeteries. This
remains to be one of the most poignant reminders of man’s capability to
inflict brutality and tragedy.
Bridge over the River Kwai
 Immortalized
in several books and movies, the Bridge was built as part of the
Burmese-Thai Railway under the supervision of the Japanese Imperial
Army. Once the constant target of Allied bombings during World War II,
parts of the bridge have now been reconstructed and is currently in use
with a daily train following the original historic route from
Kanchanaburi to Nam Tok Railway Station.
War Museum at the Bridge
Containing a host of artifacts from World War II, war instruments,
uniforms, weapons, and other paraphernalia are put on exhibit in the
museum. The Museum also has an art gallery which features old
photographs and paintings that relate the events of the Thai-Burmese
War. There are also murals depicting scenes from Thai history, portraits
of former presidents, examples of Khmer furnishings, elaborate Burmese
Buddhas, and beautiful paintings of Chinese deities.
JEATH War Museum
JEATH is actually an acronym which stands for the countries that have
participated in the local action felt in Thailand during World War II.
Artifacts and memorabilia from Japan, England, Australia, Thailand, and
Holland are kept on display in this Museum inside the Wat Chai Chumphon
compound which was originally used as an Allied Prisoner of War Camp
under the management of a Thai monk.
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