Kanchanaburi
Kanchanaburi is a small town which boasts some of the country’s most spectacular waterfalls and intriguing caves via the exotic national parks in the territory, as well as the historic bridge over the glorious River Kwai and exciting activities like rafting trips. With a location at a fairly close distance from the capital city of Thailand, this elegant town affirms to be an ideal spot to explore the Thai countryside without travelling too far.
Kanchanaburi has lots of interesting features, one of which is that it is a great place to stay in raft houses on the river. There are innumerable places worth visiting around town. However, the best among them is the bridge and the war museums that chronicle the building of the infamous “Death Railway” across the River Kwai and on Myanmar during World War II. The magnificent hills and profound valleys are scattered with fascinating temples and glorious historic sites, and the emerald landscapes are perfect for cycling, trekking, raft trips or elephant rides. The prominent attractions to include in your tour package are:
The Bridge over the River Kwai
The bridge is known for its design and the significant history. The bridge was extensively damaged by Allied plane attacks in 1944 and 1945. However, there are some arches of the metal bridge which stood throughout and it was further repaired after the war.
JEATH War Museum
“JEATH” is an abbreviation which is formed with the initials of the six countries which were involved in the building of the Death railway-Japan, England, America, Australia, Thailand and Holland. The museum stands as evidence to the cruel torture methods used by the Japanese. It provides some glimpses of the terrible conditions of the Allied prisoners-of-war via the paintings, photographs and newspaper articles from the period.
World War II Museum
This museum is prominent for housing the war memorabilia in the form of interesting bomb shells, photos and sketches from the period. It further comprises some statues of the war leaders, and over 100 skeletons of Asian laborers which were found in a mass grave. There is another edifice beside the museum which displays some interesting images of Buddha, Thai weaponry from the Ayutthaya period and portraits of the kings of Thailand.
Wat Tham Mangkon Thong
The main attraction of this temple, apart from the architectural brilliance and natural ambiance, is the “Floating Nun”. This is the most intriguing as well as interesting sight one can have with a Buddhist nun who visits the temple and habitually meditates while floating in a pond. Apart from this magnetizing sight, one can explore the hillside and the caves around the temple.