River Kwai

The River Kwai flows through the famous Kanchanaburi region, it owes its existence to two tributary rivers, Kwai Noi and Kwai Yai. This is one of the most popular areas in Thailand. On the River Kwai west of Bangkok, thousands of prisoners of war worked on the railway during Thailand's World War II invasion of Myanmar. Daily fluctuations in the water level in the river reach one and a half meters.

Brief description

The famous Bridge over the River Kwai is the reason why many people come here. This is one of the most famous points in Thailand, about which a film has already been made based on the book of the same name. The film was filmed by David Lean in 1957, and today the film is included in the list of the 100 best films of all time. A group of British prisoners of war are shown in a Japanese camp tasked with building a wooden railway bridge. However, in real life, POWs were forced to build two bridges. First they built a wooden bridge; five months later there was also a steel bridge that crossed the Hwae Yai River at Kanchanaburi. Both structures were destroyed by the Allies, but the steel bridge was rebuilt by a Japanese company in 1946 and is still in use today.

Hellfire Pass

Hellfire Pass is also called Konyu Cut, it is 600 meters long carved into the rocks. The passage was cut by several workers under extreme conditions of heat and hard physical work. Prisoners worked from 16 to 18 hours a day, seven days a week. The glow of the flaming torches creates an ominous spectacle, from which the name Hellfire Pass comes.

War Cemetery

This is the place where the prisoners of war who built the Kwai Bridge are buried in terrible conditions. It contains many moving personal stories, photographs and videos about this dark piece of Thai history. It is not only a museum, but also a war grave, also known as the Don Rak War Cemetery, where approximately 7,000 British, Dutch and Australian prisoners of war died during the construction of the Death Railway.

Erawan Falls

Erawan National Park in Thailand is located near the Bridge over the River Kwai and is best known for its impressive waterfalls. The waterfalls descending here gradually reveal a unique corner of nature. It was named Erawan because of the waterfall, which resembles Erawan, the three-headed elephant from Hindu mythology.

Tham Tan Lod National Park

The park, known to most locals as Tham Than Lod, is a wild, magnificent place a few hours' drive north of Kanchanaburi. Elephants and tigers still roam the mountains, and it is not uncommon for villagers living in the park to be frequently visited by these fascinating animals. Passing through Tham Tan Lod Noi, you can see hundreds of wooden steps that will take you high into the mountains.

The sunken temple of Wat Sam Prasop

There are a number of attractions near the River Kwai, the most popular of which is the famous sunken temple of Wat Sam Prasop. In the 1980s, the Vajiralongkorn hydroelectric dam was built, flooding the region and creating the Khao Laem Reservoir. Many villages were destroyed in the lowlands, and some temples were completely or partially flooded. Today, when the lake level is low, the pinnacles of some of these temples can be seen protruding from the surface, making it an intriguing place to visit.

Mon Bridge for Sunrise

The most iconic landmark on the River Kwai is the 400-metre Mon, the longest hand-carved wooden bridge in the entire country. A walk across this bridge is a must at any time of the day, but it is especially magical in the morning at sunrise when the monks descend to collect alms from the locals. This is a very ancient tradition, in some places, such as Luang Prabang, it has become a tourist attraction, but in Sangkhla Buri it has retained its authenticity.