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Truly a peaceful and friendly country that has never been colonized or invaded or war torn as all it's neighboring nations have been.
Peace (Sawasdee),
RS
KANCHANABURI City Attractions
Major tourism attractions within the provincial capital are inextricably connected with the Second World War years of 1942 through 1945 when the Imperial Japanese army occupied Thailand.
Kanchanaburi War Cemetery (Don Rak)
The immaculately maintained Kanchanaburi War Cemetery, opposite the main railway station on Saeng Chuto Road, contains the remains of 6,982 Allied POWs who perished during the construction of the âDeath Railwayâ. An estimated 12,339 Allied POWs, and between 70,000 and 90,000 forced Asian labourers, including many Thais, died during the construction of the âDeath Railwayâ and the bridge over the River Kwae. It is believed that one out of every five people who laboured on the railway perished during its construction.
The Bridge Over the River Kwae
The major landmark is the black iron bridge spanning the Khwe Yai river which was brought from Java by the Japanese army and reasssembled under Japanese supervision by Allied prisoner-of-war (POW) labour as part of the âDeath Railwayâ intended to link Thailand with Myanmar. Still in use today, bridge was the target of frequent Allied bombing raids during 1945, and was rebuilt after the war ended. The curved spans of the bridge are the original sections.
World War II-vintage steam locomotives, and a peculiar hybrid road/railcar from the 2 same era, comprise a small open-air Railway Museum on the bridgeâs eastern approach.
War Museum
The museum, located near the River Kwae Bridge, displays the collection of weapons, tools and utensils of the Allied POW and Japanese soldiers during the Second World War. It is open daily from 8 a.m.-6p.m. Admission fee is 30 baht.
The JEATH War Museum
The JEATH War Museum comprises another reminder of the wartime past. The enclave, in the riverside precincts of Wat Chaichumphon, has been constructed in the form of an Allied POW camp. The name JEATH is derived from countries inextricably associated with the years 1942 through 1945, namely Japan, England, America, Australia, Thailand and Holland. The thatched detention hut with cramped, elevated bamboo bunks, contains photographic, pictorial and physical memorabilia dating from the Second World War. POWs who survived the ordeal have donated items from that period to substantiate the museumâs authenticity.The museum is open daily from 8.30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Admission fee is 30 baht.
