Just three hours from Bangkok, the greatest appeal of the western Thai town of Kanchanaburi is its accessibility, making it an ideal destination for a weekend trip. The town offers a mixed selection of attractions with its World War II (WWII) history its most famous drawing card. With stunning national parks in the Kanchanaburi province adding to the appeal, it’s not difficult to see why this small town attracts both international and Thai tourists alike.
 Situated close to the Thai-Burmese border, Kanchanaburi is where the Japanese built the Bridge Over The River Kwai, for which the famous book and movie were created to dramatize its strategic importance. The bridge’s purpose was to enable trains supplying Japanese troops with weapons and provisions to travel between Burma and Singapore, at that time under Japanese control. Nicknamed the ‘Death Railway’, the Japanese chose to build a prisoner of war (POW) camp in Kanchanaburi to support the building of both the bridge and Hellfire Pass in the nearby hills. Today the POW camp museum and the reconstructed bridge have become the town’s foremost attractions.
 There are several other locations memorializing of the atrocities of WWII, including war cemeteries and museums with displays relating to the war. Hellfire Pass and its accompanying museum relay the extent of the misery, hardship, pain and suffering that those who worked on the railway were forced to endure.
Erawan National Park offers a refreshing change from the sombre yet moving war-themed attractions. Offering some fantastic scenery and an abundance of forests and green areas to explore, the park offers a fine example of the lush natural environment that the Thai climate affords. The multi-tiered waterfall is the park’s pièce de résistance, presenting not only striking beauty but also a place to bathe and cool off from the daytime heat.
 The Sai Yok National Park is another notable attraction and includes a tiger sanctuary, safari park and various Buddhist temples. Besides the obvious attractions, there are opportunities to participate in a variety of outdoor activities including trekking, white-water rafting, swimming, golf, bird watching and fishing.
Kanchanaburi is highly accessible with both public buses and trains providing regular connections from Bangkok as well as a variety of private companies offering air-conditioned minibuses between the two destinations. The journey takes around three hours in normal traffic conditions and services operate throughout the day, seven days a week.
 The town has a variety of accommodation options with everything from inexpensive guesthouses at the riverside to upmarket hotels and resorts offering modern luxuries and conveniences. There’s no shortage of place to eat at either, with good quality, affordable meals available at a number of popular tourist joints as well as an abundance of roadside vendors and traditional Thai eateries. The River Kwai is the setting of many accommodations and eateries.
Whether travelling on a budget or in a position to splurge, Kanchanaburi is a town that is able to accommodate you. This, combined with a variety of attractions and easy access from the capital, make Kanchanaburi one of the country’s most popular short-break destinations.
History
One of the country’s newer provinces, Kanchanaburi first obtained status during the reign of King Rama I when the town became one of western Thailand’s key locations for battles against Burmese invaders. Its location close to the border between the two countries made it an important defensive area where soldiers stationed themselves to keep the Burmese from reaching Bangkok and taking control of the Kingdom of Ayutthaya. As Thailand’s power and status in Southeast Asia grew, Kanchanaburi developed accordingly.
 The town’s greatest historical events are much more recent, dating back to WWII. During the conflict, the Japanese occupied strategic positions across the Malay peninsula and posted garrisons in Burma. In order to transfer supplies to between the two key points a railway was constructed, which became infamous ‘Death Railway’ between Thailand and Burma.
 Construction on the Thai side began in Ban Pong in Ratchaburi, Kanchanaburi’s neighbouring province, with the line built as an offshoot of an existing track. The new line was to travel through Kanchanaburi to Burma (now Myanmar) by way of the Three Pagodas Pass.
Difficulties were encountered when construction got as far as the River Kwai, since there was no way around it, the only option was to build a bridge. Thus began the building of the famous ‘Bridge Over the River Kwai’ that has since been the subject of Hollywood movies.
 The Japanese made use of both Asian labourers and POW, all of whom were forced to work in unbearable conditions leading to the death of some 25,000 persons. Typically, workers died from malnutrition, cholera, malaria, dysentery and exhaustion. The two ends of the bridge were finally joined on the 17th October 1943, some 15 to 16 months after the project began.
Kanchanaburi’s greatest attractions to this day are the war cemeteries, museums and monuments connected to the bridge and those who died building it. The original bridge was destroyed by Allied bombing raids, and what stands today is a reconstruction, built following the end of WWII.
Weather
Kanchanaburi experiences three distinct seasons. From November through to February, Kanchanaburi sees its lowest temperatures, although daytime highs are still often in excess of 30°C. Nights and mornings can be chilly, but it rarely gets cold. This is the most popular time of year for visitors to arrive, and is commonly known as the cool season.
As March arrives, temperatures increase steadily and by April the hot season peaks with daytime highs often reaching the mid-30s (°C). Humidity levels are also high and anyone unaccustomed to such conditions might find the climate uncomfortable.
 Showers may occur in May, but it isn’t until June when the rainy season begins. Temperatures during this season can often be blisteringly hot but the rains bring some relief. Humidity levels are consistently high throughout this period. The rainy season is the best time to visit if you want to see Kanchanaburi’s waterfalls at their finest.
Whatever time of year you choose to visit Kanchanaburi, you can be sure of some sunshine and high temperatures. Be sure to apply plenty of sunscreen when out and about or cover up with light cotton clothing rather than risk prolonged exposure to the sun.
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