Kanchanaburi

Traveling to Kanchanaburi by Bus or Train

Kanchanaburi Information

Going to Kanchanaburi: History and Transportation Options

Located at the confluence of two rivers called Kwai Yai and Kwai Noi, Kanchanaburi is a town in west Thailand with an interesting history that spans decades. There are many ways to get to this town. One of the ways you can get to Kanchanaburi is by train especially if you’re located in Bangkok, multiple trains leave from Thonburi Train Station in Bangkok to arrive in Kanchanaburi. Another budget-friendly option is taking a minivan or bus, luckily, Kanchanaburi has a bus station that receives a lot of buses from locations all across Thailand like Ayutthaya, Chiang Mai, Bangkok, Hua Hin, Ratchaburi, Nong Khai and much more. Unfortunately, boat and plane transportation can’t be directly used to get to this destination.

Discover Kanchanaburi: A Blend of History and Adventure

Being a town of rich history, Kanchanaburi has many stories to tell all its intrigued visitors. From the Death Railway built during World War II, the JEATH War Museum to The Thailand-Burma Railway Centre, the west Thailand town proves its important existence by carrying a piece of history that will be remembered forever. However, those are not the only things making Kanchanaburi an interesting place to visit, as it offers you multiple activities you can enjoy like visiting Khmer temple ruins, bamboo rafting, shopping at gemstone village along with many more.

Kanchanaburi's Historical Landmarks and Attractions

Kanchanaburi River Kwai Bridge (Death Railway Bridge)

River Kwai Bridge (Death Railway Bridge)
The most popular landmark in Kanchanaburi, River Kwai Bridge is a monumental sight resembling Kanchanaburi’s deep and rich history with World War II. It was given the name Death Railway Bridge due to the many men who passed while it was being constructed. Now, you can ride a train or walk across the bridge. As the bridge sets on River Kwai, the view is unbeatable. Many establishments surround the river such as luxurious resorts, and accommodation. Enjoying a delicious meal on one of the river’s famous floating restaurants is definitely a must-do while you’re there.

JEATH War Museum
Located on the grounds of a temple at the junction of the Khwae Yai and Khwae Noi rivers within Wat Chai Chumphon Chana Songkhram (Wat Tai), the JEATH War Museum is a historic museum in Kanchanaburi dedicated to the Death Railway which is built from 1942 to 1943 by POWs under Japanese direction. It is split into 2 sections, one of them depicts the Death Railway’s construction and the other section contains paintings, photos of former prisoners, drawings, weapons, tools, and maps. The museum’s name JEATH stands for the warring countries involved in the railway which are: Japan, England, America/Australia, Thailand, and Holland.

ElephantsWorld
If you’re a nature lover or an animal rights supporter, you will surely love this place. ElephantsWorld is an elephant sanctuary truly designed for the elephants. While other sanctuaries treat animals poorly, separate elephant mothers from their babies, and use small cages among other ways, ElephantsWorld rescues them and frees them from inhumane treatment as they provide the elephants with the best care possible. This sanctuary is a great place for a day-trip, as you can take pictures, interact with elephants ethically while enjoying the amazing view of the gorgeous scenery.

Wat Tham Sua
You can’t go anywhere in beautiful Thailand without seeing some incredible temples. Wat Tham Sua is yet another magnificent temple where you can enjoy a serene atmosphere and quite a fantastic view. Wat Tham Sua, in fact, translates in English as “Tiger’s Cave Temple”. It is not to be confused with Krabi’s tiger temple. Situated on a hilltop, the temple will require some climbing to get to it, but, believe me, it is so worth it. You can see the giant golden Buddha statue from far away protected by a uniquely stunning shell-like structure.