Kanchanaburi Destination Guide

The Bridge over the River Kwai   Death Railway

The Safari Park

The Safari Park is located approximately 40 kilometers from town along the Kanchanaburi-Bo Phloi route. It is home to numerous African and Asian mammals, including giraffes, zebras, lions, tigers and bears that dwell in beautifully landscaped environs. Visitors can drive their private car to explore the park or use the bus service provided by the park. Open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission fee is 300 baht for adults and 150 baht for children. Call 0 3453 1888, 0 3453 1999, 0 3450 0089 or fax. 0 3450 0088 for further information.


Ban Kao National Museum

A small Tambon (sub-district) located on the bank of the Kwai Noi River approximately 35 kilometers from the city is a site where some ancient Stone Age tools were found. In addition, a Neolithic burial site was discovered by the Dutch Allied POW, Dr. Van Hickderen who was forced to build the Death Railway. The consequences of findings revealed that tambon Ban Kao was once a dwelling of prehistoric men. Some critical discoveries included skeletons of prehistoric men, tools made from gravel stone and axes. The Ban Kao Museum houses skeletal remains, pots, axe heads, jewelry made from animal bones, and other artifacts dating from that period.

The museum is open from Wednesday through Friday with the exception of public holidays from 9 a.m. to 4.30 p.m. Admission is 30 baht. Call 0 3465 4058 for more information.

Kanchanaburi War Cemetery

The Kanchanaburi War Cemetery (known locally as the Don-Rak War Cemetery) is the main Prisoner of War (POW) cemetery associated with victims of the Burma Railway. It is located on the main road (Saeng Chuto Road) through the town of Kanchanaburi, Thailand, adjacent to an older Chinese cemetery. 

It was designed by Colin St Clair Oakes and is maintained by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. There are 6,982 former POWs buried there, mostly Australian, British and Dutch. It contains the remains of prisoners buried beside the south section of the railway from Bangkok to Nieke apart from those identified as Americans, whose remains were repatriated.

There are 1,896 Dutch war graves, the rest being from Britain and the Commonwealth. Two graves contain the ashes of 300 men who were cremated. The Kanchanaburi Memorial gives the names of 11 from India who are buried in Muslim cemeteries.

Wat thawonwararam

Wat Thawonwararam (a little tongue twister) is proof for a big Chinese influence in Kanchanaburi town. 

The architecture and signage is Chinese, Inside the temple is Phra Buddha Sathapornmongkol or Luang Phor To, a beautiful late U-thong period image. 

The temple sits quietly along the famous river Kwai. 

Well, not so quiet because of the dogs. The temples of the town are a nice alternative to visit after all the River Kwai attention.

The JEATH War Museum is one of two war museums in Thailand about the Death Railway built from 1942 to 1943 by Allied POWs under the direction of the Japanese, a part of the famous Thai-Burma railways.
Founding

The museum was founded in 1977 by the chief abbot of Wat Chaichumpol Venerable Phra Theppanyasuthee. It is located on the grounds of a temple at the junction of the Khwae Yai and Khwae Noi rivers in Kanchanaburi and it is a part of the famous Bridge over the River Kwai[1] saga.

The acronym JEATH stands for the primary nationalities involved in the construction of the railway: Japanese, English, Australian, American, Thai and Holland,[2] whereas the Thai name is Phíphítháphan Songkhram Wát Tâi (Wat Tai War Museum).
The museum is divided into two sections, depicting the construction of the Death Railway is meant to recreate the quarters used by Allied POWs, the reconstructed bamboo huts contain such items as paintings, drawing and photos of and by the prisoners, weapons, tools, maps and so forth.[4] It includes a prehistoric view on the province as well as the Miss Thailand contest room.

Tourist photos are not permitted in the museum.